rob99
Reged: 26/01/2008
Posts: 42
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Can anyone advise me on climbing?
On flat/rolling roads/short climbs I have no problems with strength or fitness. However on longer more steep climbs I tent to start to gasp for air. Sometimes I feel my lungs just don't take in enough o2.My legs don't seem too bad (obviously I feel the exertion)but that is not a problem. When I get to the top of the climb I soon recover and continue on my merry way.I rode up the Wizard in Alderly Edge at week end and and HAD to stop 30 yards from the top!!
I was very unimpressed.Any advice is welcome.  
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 732
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How long have you been riding and are most of your rides hilly or flat? Could it simply be lack of exposure to that type of riding? Just trying to look on the bright side!!
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johnstrac
Reged: 05/11/2006
Posts: 761
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Possibly setting off too hard at the bottom of the climb ?
It's better to pace yourself to get up the hill and then speed up if you're able to once you reach the top.
Racers attack over the top of a climb and open a gap while the rest are trying to recover.
Well that's where they drop me anyway.
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Nobody wins unless everybody wins.
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rob99
Reged: 26/01/2008
Posts: 42
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Most rides are rolling with small climbs.i try and throw in bigger climbs but not possible every ride. I have been riding since Feb this year.
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 732
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Well certainly don't rule out the likelihood that it's simply lack of experience if you've only been going a few months.
Try riding your common rolling hills in a harder gear, stick with it, and see if a few more weeks sees any improvement. Concentrate on controlling the breathing, relax the upper body, etc...
As a side note, when I started out I had a standard double chainset which left me bursting my lungs on steep hills. I admitted defeat and got a compact. Big confidence boost. Don't know if this applies to you, but little things can make a big difference.
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 3653
Loc: Sticks ,Scotlandshire
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I like to try and sing when cycling up hill, just a simple repeating chorus which helps steady your breathing, sounds daft but it works, you get the odd funny look though but I live in the sticks so people are a rare sight! Try it!
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I now accept PAYPAL!!!!
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 732
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In your case, does this singing resemble Cradle of Filth or Rammstein???
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 3653
Loc: Sticks ,Scotlandshire
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I listen to european power metal my un educated friend, they sing well not vomit on a microphone!!!
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I now accept PAYPAL!!!!
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rob99
Reged: 26/01/2008
Posts: 42
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Thanks for the advice.I will try the ideas out.
Cheers
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paulypaul0
Reged: 10/12/2006
Posts: 329
Loc: West Sussex
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On long hills I tend to not look too far ahead. I glance up and pick a landmark just a short distance away and tell myself that I'll pass it very soon. When I do it's a boost so I pick another..... works for me. If I know it's a long slog I usually focus on watching the tarmac roll under my front wheel looking down. Also if I'm in my biggest gear and the climb flattens out a bit change down, then you'll know you've got somewhere to go if it gets too hard again. If you recover as quickly as you say when over the top I reckon it's just a question of pacing yourself properly.
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 732
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Quote:
I listen to european power metal my un educated friend, they sing well not vomit on a microphone!!!
But when you're powering up those Scottish mountains, I imagine your singing isn't exactly melodic!
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 4042
Loc: Man of Kent
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I don't sing but occasionally on long climbs, there aren't many round here, I find myself repeating lyrics/ rhymes. It used to be punk lyrics, the only ones I know, but now its nursery rhymes. (These can be a bit irritating).
This only goes on in my head. The alternative is to tell myself to push, ankle it! or just go on! I am fairly good on hills, or used to be, but I used to find that I was breathing harder than nearly everone else. Obviously this is not a problem if you can do it.
I think some people are better suited to pushing themselves when going uphill, some are much better descenders(cos they're mad) and the best racers are fairly good at both these things and rolling along fast on the flat.
It depends what you're looking to do really. If you just want to get fit and enjoy the countryside etc, then maybe lower gears is the way to go. If you want to get quick enough to race then you need to find a way to get up hills quicker or "learn to love the pain" as Armstrong probably said.
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Invicta
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 732
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Good luck, Rob - please post back with updates!
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buzz
Reged: 27/01/2007
Posts: 1189
Loc: Wicklow, Ireland
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Yep.
Just suffer.
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'Bingo's the man'
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MagnersCattlegridCon
Reged: 25/04/2008
Posts: 648
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make sure you've been drinking enough too, if you are as you say gasping for breath it could be that you've tackled the climb without drinking enough beforehand. after running out of water 20miles from home the other day (no pubs) i was fighting for breath by the time i got home.
get some fluids in you a short distance before the hill and that should help combined with the other advice.
as for the song lyrics it seems to be a very common thing, usually i only remember between 2 and 4 lines of a song and generally it is the most bizarre/crude song i can think of, which really doesn't help when tackling a hill. i've always wondered why this happens, perhaps it's the rotating of the pedals that keeps the same few lines going round and round and round....etc.
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Only a true cyclist knows the taste of tarmac.
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TrekTraumaChris
Reged: 04/10/2008
Posts: 93
Loc: Cornwall
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Sit upright on bike with hands on top of bars ( this allows chest to open up ) then you must breath deeply, not little gasps, as this will not put enough o2 into the body. If you can, start this a couple of minutes before the hill (oxygen loading).
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