Slow on the steep hills, faster on the not so steep hills.

alex1rob
alex1rob Posts: 95
So yesterday I rode the dragon in Wales and I noticed something odd, any hill that was a steady 5-7% I could keep a good pace compared to others and I'd pass some guys up those hills (without my HR rising). Then when we would hit a steeper hill those same guys would come past me as I struggled up the 12% ramps.

What am I missing? Do I need to weight train? Is it psychological?

Comments

  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Could be that your power for several minute efforts is good compared to those you were riding with, but your power for shorter efforts is maybe not so good (assuming the steeper ramps were short-ish). If that is the case then some short intervals would help, perhaps on the sort of hills you were struggling with.
    More problems but still living....
  • doyler78
    doyler78 Posts: 1,951
    Or simply could be that you haven't got a gear low enough to actually climb those steeper ramps without expending all your energy on fighting the bike. This could be the case if your sustainable power is lowish and you could also do with losing a few kg as the steeper the climb the more that extra weight acts against you and the lack of sustainable power means you end up deep in the red very quickly. Whether that's you or not I haven't a clue. If that's the case losing the extra weight and increasing your sustainable power will improve your riding across the board, not just on the steep climbs.
  • Southgate
    Southgate Posts: 246
    Gear selection? Are you spinning the right gear on the gentler slopes but grinding too big a gear on the steeper ascents? Or if you already in the smallest gear maybe you need a compact or a triple? If your gearing is fine, maybe you should consider doing squats in the gym to build your strength.
    Superstition begins with pinning race number 13 upside down and it ends with the brutal slaughter of Mamils at the cake stop.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Southgate wrote:
    Gear selection? Are you spinning the right gear on the gentler slopes but grinding too big a gear on the steeper ascents? Or if you already in the smallest gear maybe you need a compact or a triple? If your gearing is fine, maybe you should consider doing squats in the gym to build your strength.

    No.
    More problems but still living....
  • alex1rob
    alex1rob Posts: 95
    It could be a strength issue I perhaps could have done with an extra cog, but that would mean I'd go slower right? 1 minute power could be an issue although these hills were pretty long. Maybe it's just an issue of the guys passing me on the steeper hills are going all out to get up it while I was saving some in the tank and on the longer drags I ride at the same intensity whereas they slow down a bit.

    Who knows, I'll just keep at it and do more intervals to improve power and recovery. It's my first real season training and am only really working on an aerobic base at the moment.

    Thanks for the tips guys
  • Herbsman
    Herbsman Posts: 2,029
    Definitely more gym work required. Also, have you tried pedaling harder?
    CAPTAIN BUCKFAST'S CYCLING TIPS - GUARANTEED TO WORK! 1 OUT OF 10 RACING CYCLISTS AGREE!
  • Herbsman
    Herbsman Posts: 2,029
    I have the opposite problem - I'm slow on long hills but faster on steep hills. I'll swap you.
    CAPTAIN BUCKFAST'S CYCLING TIPS - GUARANTEED TO WORK! 1 OUT OF 10 RACING CYCLISTS AGREE!
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    It's psychological, have you tried EPO :?:
  • cyco2
    cyco2 Posts: 593
    This explains it well....
    http://www.sportsci.org/encyc/cyclingup ... pdown.html

    Weight is a significant factor. So work on that as well as your climbing technique. To improve hill climbing you need to attack them rather than just ride them. It's not easy to do because you can only do so much before 'blowing up'. Some you can sprint all the way, others you can only do at the top. I used to like to be sat spinning at the bottom of a hill and then near the top out of the saddle in a higher gear.
    ...................................................................................................

    If you want to be a strong rider you have to do strong things.
    However if you train like a cart horse you'll race like one.
  • Southgate
    Southgate Posts: 246
    Here's an interesting piece on the 'should cyclists weight train?' debate
    www.epicidiot.com/sports/weights_cycling.htm
    Superstition begins with pinning race number 13 upside down and it ends with the brutal slaughter of Mamils at the cake stop.
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    not another cyclist weight training debate PLEASE!

    I have the same issue as the OP and really noticed it on 2 long events the last couple of weeks where both had 8500-900ft climbing over 100+ miles, mostly in short steep sections of up to 25%.

    All my training the last couple of years has focused on endurance and threshold development for some long rides in Europe, and I can push the pace over long distances and steady climbs, but just dont have the power on the short steep ramps. I'm fairly certain its simply that my <5 min power is pretty poor compared to my FTP as a result of zero training on that area to date. Being 6' and 75kg doesnt help, but its all about the w/kg you can push for those short periods, and then recover from afterwards. Its certainly going to be a focus area for me moving forward as cyclocross season approaches :D
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • GiantMike
    GiantMike Posts: 3,139
    One of these is the answer:

    Do more weight training. Or do more riding.

    Lose weight and try harder.

    Get lower gears so you can ride up a steep hill at 80rpm.

    Care less.