Getting a Handle on the Hills

busyliving

Hey all,

I'm currently trying to improve my ability to complete climbs on the bike...

This route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/78052348

The above route is the first such route I'd done to attempt to improve my ability...

I've done the route twice this week
- |DST|Max Speed|Ave Speed|Time
Day 1 |41.672|59.4|27|1.32.11
Day 2 |41.707|53.2|25.9|1.35.19

I was very happy with the fact that I was able to do the climbs on both days without having to stop half way up the hill for a breeder...

Is the route good enough to help me improve my climbing ability? Also let it be noted that I'm only cycling properly since January really:D

Cheers in advance

Beasty

Moved from training logs sub-forum

Beasty

Cookie_Monster

6km of constant climb and a grade (plus others), seems a pretty decent course to me

Beasty

Moved back to training logs at OP request

busyliving

Beasty wrote: »

Moved back to training logs at OP request

Cheers Beasty...

So with today being so nice, I decided to mix it up and do a Monday cycle...

Same route as in my OP...

- |DST|Max Speed|Ave Speed|Time
Day 1 |41.672|59.4|27|1.32.11
Day 2 |41.707|53.2|25.9|1.35.19
Day 3 |41.701|56.5|27.3|1.31.05

So since my first day of that route, I have taken 1 minute 6 seconds which I am very happy with...

So lets hope tomorrow is a nice day and I'll tackle woodcock hill, led to believe there is a cat 4 on one of the roads up which should be more of a challenge and more fun of course

busyliving

So I pu$$y'd out of doing woodcockhill...

So continued to do the same route as in my OP...

- |DST|Max Speed|Ave Speed|Time
Day 1 |41.672| 59.4 | 27 | 1.32.11
Day 2 |41.707| 53.2 | 25.9 | 1.35.19
Day 3 |41.701| 56.5 | 27.3 | 1.31.05
Day 4 |41.705| 59.4 | 26.2 | 1.35.00
Day 5 |41.703| 59.4 | 26.2 | 1.34.17

So far I've been very happy with my attacks on this route, will probably look at doing a more distance focused route tomorrow, just something stretch the legs:D

Can anyone suggest a good gym program for my legs...

Cheers in advance and thanks for reading

Lumen

busyliving wrote: »

Can anyone suggest a good gym program for my legs...

Leave the gym and ride your bike.

There's a thread in the main forum on core exercises. Those might be worth doing, but the force demands in normal cycling are so low that weights won't do anything for you.

kennyb3

What weight are you? lose weight = better on hills.

And anyway if your only cycling since january you ll improve naturally the more time you spend on your bike.

busyliving

kennyb3 wrote: »

What weight are you? lose weight = better on hills.

And anyway if your only cycling since january you ll improve naturally the more time you spend on your bike.

181lbs/82kg...

But I do go to the gym, and enjoy the gym and don't want to neglect a body part

busyliving

Spin to stretch the legs today out to Ennis and back again...

Route here:
Route 2 -
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/79173464/?open_ive_done=1&new_route=1

- |DST|Max Speed|Ave Speed|Time|Route
Day 1 |41.672| 59.4 | 27 | 1.32.11|1
Day 2 |41.707| 53.2 | 25.9 | 1.35.19|1
Day 3 |41.701| 56.5 | 27.3 | 1.31.05|1
Day 4 |41.705| 59.4 | 26.2 | 1.35.00|1
Day 5 |41.703| 59.4 | 26.2 | 1.34.17|1
Day 6 |71.838| 53.2 | 28.8 | 2.27.56|2

busyliving

Lumen wrote: »

Leave the gym and ride your bike.

There's a thread in the main forum on core exercises. Those might be worth doing, but the force demands in normal cycling are so low that weights won't do anything for you.

this thread?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056589180