So I have a question about how to train to get better at climbing. I have had a search but can't seem to see anything, I may be not looking in right place so if someone links to info that works for me.
Living in Colorado one has to get better at climbing to enjoy riding here and the alt makes it even harder.
I have lived at sea level for 35+ years and now live in colorado and want to climb better.
What things should I be doing to get better?
Does a HR monitor help?
I have cadence and try and use that to stay consistent but wonder if I am not trying hard enough or too hard?
Increase climbing speed by increasing power and reducing weight.
Increasing power:
-Ride more often and gradually increase volume
-Integrate hills into that volume for some specific work
Reduce weight:
-Run a slight calorie deficit. Clean up your diet.
After my third consecutive 50+ hour month, I'm getting some PRs at our midweek races, along with corresponding podiums. It appears to be that simple: ride more, do better.
You adjust to altitude within a pretty short period, so the altitude does not make it harder once you have adjusted, physiologically. To get better at climbing, keep climbing. You can optimize your gearing/bike, see what the pretty boys ride if you don't already have a compact, triple, nice cassette or whatever. I have a HRM and a cadence monitor and neither actually HELP me climb (but I am only in the Wasatch). I pick a nasty climb to do once a week or more, I suppose even in the Wasatch I average 8-10K feet a week, but at the minute I am trying to get a bit extra to practice for a 6000 ft century in Park city. I am a middle aged chubby chick though, so I am not burning up any races, I ride for calories. I just have a standard double with 28 in the back. I haven't ever ridden a compact or a triple so I dunno how much nicer that would be. The thing is to really love the climbs, not hate them. It helps if there is something nice at the top, like a cafe , pub or a view. I suppose I love to collate the stats so a computer with actual barometric altitude is vital for me, I have a Garmin 500.
This. That's one of my favorite things about cycling. You get out of it what You put into it. If you want to get better at climbing, you climb more. Want to get better at sprinting? You sprint more.
To be a little more in depth, climb progressively longer distances. Also pick a couple climbs and work on riding them progressively faster.
Thanks for the input guys. I am just going to continue to climb and climb and climb I guess .
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