How to get better at climbing with no hills...

[berserk87]

I saw this today and had to laugh:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/get-good-climbing-dont-live-near-hills-video-235605

It may be effective, but...hilarious.

[Tickdoc]

I saw this today and had to laugh:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/get-good-climbing-dont-live-near-hills-video-235605

It may be effective, but...hilarious.

Ha! I thought I was going to see this:

http://www.gagnesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/parachute-bike.jpg

[MattTuck]

That guy is hungry. Too many people want easy results. This guy is willing to put in the work.

[Saint Vitus]

Or pull a trailer full of bricks...

[Dead Man]

An injury has kept me out of the hills for a couple of weeks... But the Columbia River Valley is so freakin windy, I swear I'm grinding just as hard on the flats sometimes. Was in my small ring, full mash, just trying to hold 13mph the other day. So hateful.

The return trip was nice, though (also much like hills!)

[teleguy57]

That guy is hungry. Too many people want easy results. This guy is willing to put in the work.

Yes. I was reminded of this thread across the hall (http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/f2/prepping-mountains-prairie-26186-2.html), particularly post #23.

If you want it, you can make it happen. Now I just need to figure out how to want it enough to really do the work.

[CampyorBust]

What kind of tire is that?

[invertedhog]

Aren't there resistence trainers that you can elevate the front wheel and up the resist?
Don't know if that equates at all to actual climbing...

[Joxster]

We used to use a tractor tyre that was filled with concrete for standing starts on the track, that was back in 1986

[Dead Man]

Aren't there resistence trainers that you can elevate the front wheel and up the resist?
Don't know if that equates at all to actual climbing...

As far as I know, just cranking up the gears on any trainer should simulate climbing just fine. Fluid anyway.. I guess I haven't used any other variety.

I've never bothered to elevate the front wheel, but yea.. You could certainly do that.

[bikinchris]

A masters rider from New Orleans area used to do that back in the 80's. He became world champion in his age group. He was also wired different than anyone else I had ever met. He made my time as district rep for USCF very hard.

[unterhausen]

interesting post on VS. I have found that mountain biking really helps my climbing because at some point you can either really dig and put out the power or fall over and break your body on the rocks.

I have ridden with plenty of Florida riders that climb much better than me, but then again almost everyone climbs better than me. I'm a natural sprinter.

[slidey]

At some point, I had played around with the idea of ankle weights.

Logically, seems flawless...but I left it at the idea-inception stage :D

[berserk87]

What kind of tire is that?

A big one. Looks tubeless. Non-folding.

[Ralph]

A lot of Florida riders train very effectively in Florida. Although can't duplicate the altitude change.

Just here in the Central Florida area (W of Orlando), we have some 15% grade short hills.....1/8-1/4 mile or so. I know a guy who trains over there on a particular hard hill. Up and down 30 times or so on a training ride. On a weekend....hundreds of Florida riders over there doing that. Some train on bridges, etc. Not the real thing....but it's all we got.

[berserk87]

Imagine going around a corner quickly with that tire in tow. That could get ugly.

[tiretrax]

... but then again almost everyone climbs better than me. I'm a natural sprinter.

Be happy about that - I climb like a sprinter and sprint like a climber.

[unterhausen]

we don't really have any trouble finding hills around here, but I find that if I climb a lot, my sprint gets better. Wish I knew that back when I was racing.

[Louis]

A big one. Looks tubeless. Non-folding.

The key question is whether or not to go with a tubular.

I hear they provide "magic carpet" resistance.

[bcroslin]

A lot of Florida riders train very effectively in Florida. Although can't duplicate the altitude change.

Just here in the Central Florida area (W of Orlando), we have some 15% grade short hills.....1/8-1/4 mile or so. I know a guy who trains over there on a particular hard hill. Up and down 30 times or so on a training ride. On a weekend....hundreds of Florida riders over there doing that. Some train on bridges, etc. Not the real thing....but it's all we got.

I know that hill....

I've heard of dudes here in FL riding hills with water bottles full of pennies

[smontanaro]

But the Columbia River Valley is so freakin windy....

I live in the Chicago area (aka Flatlandia), though like to ride the Dairyland Dare from time to time. I've developed this little mantra:

Hunt for hills, embrace the wind.

That doesn't make me a better climber, but helps me appreciate the wind when I find it (which is often in these parts).