Originally Posted by
cyclinfool
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So here is the question. How do you climbers approach a hill you have never climbed before?
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Usually when I know a hill I can time my power output to exhaust my reserves when I crest the top - keep my momentum up and standing only when I have to. On long hills where I don't know what's coming mentally I just hunker down and crank it out making sure I don't spend it all in one place. This typically results in getting dropped.
Whats your strategy for those long climbs?
i'm coming from a 'non-climber' who likes to climb... yeah, I know, weird...
so many variables on a ride, its hard to say what might be my best approach for a longer climb. How long is the ride, ride temps? when in the ride do the climbs come along? Who else is on the ride?
Given all that, I never go on a ride without some fore-warning of what to expect... not the full details, but at least what the general profile might look like. Then I ride accordingly.
Things I do (on a climb 3 miles or longer and some gradient above 7-8% avg)
bring the heart rate up slowly - once I blow up, itz near impossible to get back down to some semblance of 'aerobic'.
look up at the expected terrain often - topography often reveals the more difficult sections.
never much above 60 and never much below 50 for any length of time. spinning too much just sends my HR over the limit.
in unknown groups, pick someone who seems at my fitness level and temperament and just hangout for the 1st mile or so...
if my heart is in my throat, that's OK; if its in my ears, I'm goin too hard for a joy ride.
'stand' more often than I think I need to...
drink more often than I think I need to...
don;t eat just before or during a climb, grab something immediately at the top
if I smell Asbestos on the down passing cars then I know it a long and/or pitched road ahead...
look forward to the rippin descent which is sure to come at some point
(in a loop ride...)