Originally Posted by obie

FWIW: two seasons into training out here with local club and some mountain regulars - what I've picked up to be useful for my riding.

If you have the time do the long mountain climbs with experienced riders. 60-120 milers with 8000'+ climbing. 2-3 months, 1x a week, every spring (before the summer heats up). Take that for your base and then work with the group rides - shorter (50-60 miles) at a good clip. Do some hill repeats 1x a week, year-round (4000'+) to keep your climbing strength up. Do a few climbing events that are timed. Keep records of your miles, times on hill repeats, events and group rides. You'll see the results in a year or two.

Get a CF bike, compact crank and 11-28. Learn to spin, don't mash anything over 5% and longer than 2 miles. Watch your liquids, food intake. Force yourself to eat/drink on long climbs - you're pushing the limit on these rides.

Take your HRM along on hill repeats - know where you are on those climbs - max.effort?, 80%? etc. - keep these numbers and general overall feeling in the forefront when you go out on a heavy duty climb. Stay within yourself and don't get worked up when you get dropped and then start pushing to 'get back on it.'

Take some time off in the summer. Rest is important to me. Hammering long climbs takes most people a few years of training before they can go hard, long and high without burning themselves out.

Get your weight down and/or be realistic about your abilities, age/time to train and your size. There are very few 50+ y.o. climbers who can hammer long, mountain rides/events at a good pace (100 miles/9000'+climbing in less than 8 hours) that are over 175 pds. I know a few 50+ guys at 160+ who climb exceptionally well but, they have years of cycling/climbing in their legs and they are the exception.

But, most of all....Enjoy the Views...the mountains are the best!