Hilly Ride next Saturday 22nd Jan

[DavidKennett]

Well done Rob, obviously taking on the advice you've been given.

If big gears were the way to go wouldn't Ullrich have beaten Armstrong? As it is 6:1, for spinning!

[Brett P]

Let's test this theory then. I'll come along on and climb EVERY hill in my big ring........

Actually, let's not!

[DavidKennett]

We can always try Thursday evening?

See you then

[David Findlay]

This is getting too serious...

Hardly think Ullrich failed to beat Armstrong due to the gears he uses for training. How about weight, fitness and illness being the main factors for last years poor performance?.

Anyway, I'm not one to give advice as I 've only ever managed 2nd cat 13yrs ago! I do it just for fun as age is somewhat a barrier now to great achievement.

Do what works best for you and enjoy...

[Nick]

My I interupt here?

All I know about cycling up hills is.........................................it's bloody hard work not matter what GEAR YOU TURN, no matter how STEEP it is and no matter how LONG it is.

Also it is still hard work for the fittest of the fittest, the greatest of the greatest and the BEST of the BEST.

My INPUT done.

Nick.

[Brett P]

Dave, does this mean you're gunna come to the chain gang tonight?

Brian Tidey was out last Thursday & managed to stay on for most of the way, he even did quite a few turns.

I won't be out tonight, not feeling the best. Heart rate up & coughing up gunk!

If you are out, give Brian Taylor a kicking..... he murdered me on Tuesday night up the hills! Maybe something to do with me giving him lip about looking overweight & tired!

Note to self: Don't joke about with fastest guy in country!

[David Lombari]

If I could add my tuppence worth.

There?s a big difference between climbing the Surrey Hills and climbing a mountain. There?s also a big difference between racing up a climb and riding up it.

A lot of it comes down to knowing what your body can do and do efficiently.

If your knees can take it, and your feeling good, why not power up a hill on the big ring?

However, those in the know will tell you that the idea is to climb OVER a hill/mountain, rather than just UP it. There?s no point hammering yourself going up only to spend the next ½ mile recovering (though on a training ride you?d probably have to slow down or stop anyway). The main selections in races such as Tour Of Flanders normally come immediately after the Muur or Bosberg, rather than up it because that?s where the fitter and stronger riders can really get away from the weaker riders.

I read some advice once that it?s better to choose a lower gear than you need at the bottom of a climb and change up if/as you feel stronger than being over geared and have to change down. I think that?s probably common sense though.

Me, I struggle either way!!

[siwickm]

Wise words from Mr Lombari. When I was in Poland over the summer I did a race which went up a steep and long hill about 6 times. Going up the hill was okish but it was following the hill that I struggled and eventually got dropped from the pack on the fourth time around.

Not really sure how to train to improve on that, maybe it is just taking it easier on the hill and then leaving enough to catch up with those who are stronger climbers on the flat.

Cheers

Marek....

[David Lombari]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id= ... tters10-04

First letter, Marek.

[Nick]

[size=150]Me and Paul both went over Boxhill using the BIG GEAR[/size].......[size=59]THE ONE ON THE REAR WHEEL THAT IS [/size]

[Marek]

Cheers to all those who braved the cold weather for the long hilly ride today. Nice group of around 10 and although a few sloped off at various places throughout the route we ended with a group of 7 all who arrived back with their limbs in tact.

Had a Scot join the ride today who was very quick up the hills. He was working down here and borrowed a bike from his boss which was too large, he also was wearing shoes three sizes too big. He still managed to whip most of us up the hills, with the exception of that pesky New Zealander whose name I cannot remember.

Hope you all enjoyed the route

Cheers

Marek....

[David Findlay]

Great ride Marek but would not want to do it every weekend. I might not survive the season.

Don't know what enhancer Simon H has found but it certainly works. Could not keep up with him on the steep ones.

Brilliant ride by Tamar. She must have been sharing Simons water bottle when we weren't looking.

Hopefully see you all out next Sat for the extended club run.

[Tamar]

Totally agree - excellent route Marek - although I have to say it rather scuppered any plans I had for the afternoon and evening. I was rendered utterly immobile for the remainder of the day.

Let's do another one soon.

[Marek]

Tamar, the route that Dave has planned for Saturday takes in a few hills which will be good following the weekend ride, the hill that goes up past the bluebell railway just outside East Grinstead is pretty long.

Cheers

Marek....

[Paul on the Pearson]

Sounds like it was a good (if thats the right word, probably didnt feel like it at the time when grappling with gravity) ride. Other than White Down,Cold harbour what other hills are there in the environs so i can get a bit of practice in so IF I do the next next Hilly ride wont get completely left behind.