Wind smacking pain
Brain freeze
Icy roads
Yogi is hungry
Winter is sadly coming to an end. Spring is here, but you wouldn't know it with the pile of slushy, icy, rain and snow that crept in during the night the other week. Now they are calling for another 6-12 inches by tomorrow night. Is this a cruel April Fool's joke? We shall see.
Typically, I'm like these two in the winter:
Typically, I'm like these two in the winter:
 |
| Yogi always packs a picnic basket-Photo by Gene D |
I eat well and go into hibernation. There is great joy in watching snow fall softly and the comfort of lazily passing the cold harsh days until the buds peek out and the birds sing. It is also a time of great awakening to the reality that I have been slovenly all winter and need to get back in bike shape. Trails get snowed in early and the roads become unrideable from December til March. It remains sketchy even as April fools looms.
When I resided in the flat lands, hills were my enemy. Sprinter at heart, loather of anything that went upward. Anytime I was out on a group ride, I dreaded the "climbs", struggled to keep up and mentally defeated myself before I even began the inevitable ascent upward. Pigpen always said, "race your strengths, train your weakness". I always said, "screw you". Now that I live in the mountains, my options for a flat escape are few. So I have come to embrace my arch enemy. Hills. They have become my friend.
When I resided in the flat lands, hills were my enemy. Sprinter at heart, loather of anything that went upward. Anytime I was out on a group ride, I dreaded the "climbs", struggled to keep up and mentally defeated myself before I even began the inevitable ascent upward. Pigpen always said, "race your strengths, train your weakness". I always said, "screw you". Now that I live in the mountains, my options for a flat escape are few. So I have come to embrace my arch enemy. Hills. They have become my friend.
As much as they may hurt, it's the quickest way to get my spring bike legs. Since I can't ride 6 days a week, I get the most bang for my buck. I'm not looking to blow any doors off. My goal is to ride my bike for the sheer joy and not have it be too painful. Thus begins spring training:
 | |
| I'm not proud |
It is clear to me that you can do anything for 10 minutes. At least this is what I have always told my pals whenever I wanted them to follow along on some hair-brained training regimen. Now these are words to live by. (You know who you are)
I used to think I had to kill myself to climb. In hind site, this is truly not the case. Everyone climbs differently and is at a differing level of fitness at any given time. So why torture myself? I'll get there when I get there. While I am no fitness trainer, nor coach, I have learned a few things.
Do I need to attack every climb? No. All it does is pushes me into anaerobic debt and crushes my legs with lactic acid. In turn, I am ruined for the rest of the ride. Instead I have adopted the old tortoise and the hare technique. Slow and steady wins the race. When climbing, I actually try to stay within an aerobic zone. What I have learned is that over time, I train my heart and legs to efficiently do more work with less suffering.
When climbs are attacked, lactic acid quickly builds, leaving nothing left to get over the top. It's different if you are already in climbing shape. However, If you are just getting your legs moving, I have found this tactic to actually hurt more than help.
 |
| What goes up, must come down |
The other discovery is this ten minute thing. Everything comes down to mental perception. If you know you are going to be climbing for an hour with crows screeching at your back, waiting to peck your eyes out as they bleed in pain, do you forge ahead or run for cover? Of course you go forward, cuz your a cyclist and you like to suffer.
 |
| As if! |
By twelve weeks time, I start to see vast improvements. I am climbing faster, with less effort. Climbing actually feels fun. Now all I need is some clear weather. At this rate, I should be feeling good by July. Just in time to piss and moan about the sweltering summer heat.
Some things to remember:
- High RPM
- Easy gear
- Sit back, relax, enjoy
- Drink a lot of water
- Pack a small picnic basket
Want more info on climbing? Check out this video from Cannondale:
Here are some other helpful links:
Bicycling Magazine-Alex Stieda's Tips for Climbing
Harvard University Cycling Association-Tips on Climbing
