LouisN wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2019 5:28 pm
RocketRacing wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2019 1:36 am
So i like hills. I was wondering about strapping on a backpack with some weights and doing a few climbs. Then i thought... why not just pedal harder (bigger gear). “Cycling doesn’t get any easier, you just go faster”.
Thoughts?
You like hills.
What's your goal ? Going faster uphill ? How long are those hills ? Any climb in particular ?
Then simple physiology principles will be your friends.
LOuis
I will bite.
My goal is to go faster. Most of my local hils are limited to 2-4kms. But I like to crush the longer KOM's on Zwift (if I had local real world access, I would prefer those types of climbs as they play to my build/strength). THe longer ones just tend to be less steep... as they are all doing roughly the same elevation, just over a longer distance. The climbs most local to me are my main goals out of convenience, and most are similar in the region (a valley). They are basically 6-8min efforts going 100% (4+w/kg for me).
but my real goal is higher FTP. Climbs/segments are just the most entertaining way to get there for me.
Right now I just use strava/segments to time my climbs, and I simply go faster each time. I use a power meter to keep me honest (easy to let power drop on longer efforts). I rotate segments I wish to improve on (hills, flat, climbs) for variety, and ride routes that have variety for personal interest. Depending on my goals and time available, I will hit 2-4 segments at full gas per ride, most in the 3-12 minute duration. I am not so focused on average ride speed or such numbers because I play safe on descents. I basically use segments as interval training, because true interval training bores me somewhat, and riding for riding is just not how my brain works when I am riding alone (group rides are more social in my world).
and I don;t add weight when I climb, I just push harder and go faster each time. That naturally gets me in larger gears.