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Hill climb tactic question.
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 2010-07-07 2:30 PM |
Expert  758    Morgantown, WV |  Subject: Hill climb tactic question.Have a tri coming up in 4 weeks, no big deal, except the first 3.6 miles of the short 13 mile bike are up-hill. after this, in 1.2 miles, it immediately loses 90% of this elevation and is pretty much flat. steepest grade of the climb is 3% for ~1 mile. (I have not seen and don't really know what this looks like) I'm not a great climber, but ok, better on flats. i no longer have (will again soon) a tri bike, roadie with clip-ons. I'm looking to do well in this race, at least top 5, and I'm debating what tatic I should take- do I hammer the climb? moderately up the hill and then slay the flat? Ease into it? 13 miles is pretty short, so it's going to be muscles that burn out not cardio. Other details: I'm a good technical rider, and my strength is really my running.
I'm interested to hear what people have to say about tactics of hitting the majority of climbing first in a race.
Thanks! |
| 2010-07-07 2:34 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
Champion 10668 Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. Steady metered effort throughout the ride, regardless of flat or uphill. |
| 2010-07-07 2:37 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
Elite 4048 Gilbert, Az. | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. If you have access to the course, I would go out and hammer up the hill as soon as possible, and see how it leaves your legs feeling. Then finish the course, and see how your legs feel. If hammering up the hill gains you 2 minutes on the field, but you lose 4 on the run because your legs are thrashed, it would be better to not hammer so hard, and be able to put the hurt on the run. Since it is almost all uphill in the beginning, and then you lose most of it, you do have an opportunity to recover on the downhill. (Is this a point to point? Or a loop, rather than out and back?) Then you can put in some good pacing on the ride to prep for the run. What might be good for me, might be bad for you, you need to figure out your best strategy. John |
| 2010-07-07 2:41 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
Elite 2645 Phoenix, AZ | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. In your head, divide the hill into 1/3's. Start the hill by spinning quickly in a low gear. Ride each 1/3 of the hill faster than the previous. Finish strong, getting up to speed as you crest the hill. The goal is to get to the downhill portion and back up to a cruising speed quickly. |
| 2010-07-07 2:48 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
New user 6 | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. The first couple of miles on the bike course I usually take it easy, gives me time to find my bike legs after the swim. The up hill section (first mile or so) gives you the perfect opportunity to settle in at a moderate pace, then maybe pick up the pace second half of the climb, then really hammer the rest of the way since it's a short race. You then may find yourself putting time into people on the climb. Good Luck! |
| 2010-07-07 4:51 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
New user 74 | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. I think it's an increase of 5% power on the hills is what is recommended. That is of course assuming you're trying to maintain a constant power output for the bike ride. |
| 2010-07-07 5:16 PM in reply to: #2966957 |
| Master 5557 , California | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. 3% grade is not too bad - I would focus on staying in aero position the whole way and riding smooth. |
| 2010-07-07 5:30 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
Master 2355 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. 3% grade is nothing and I would ride it like I would on the flats. In aero and keeping the same effort/cadence. |
| 2010-07-07 6:11 PM in reply to: #2967015 |
Master 1366 PNW | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. smilford - 2010-07-07 3:30 PM 3% grade is nothing and I would ride it like I would on the flats. In aero and keeping the same effort/cadence. This. The 'steepest' grade is only 3%? Are you sure about that? That doesn't sound all that hilly to me...even for a tri course. I agree that riding the course before the event would be your best bet. |
| 2010-07-07 6:16 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
Master 2356 Westlake Village , Ca. | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. I would also recommend trying to make a point to warm up on the bike before the race. You don't want to sit on a bike and start hammering cold....You could really trash your legs and might not be able to recover. |
| 2010-07-07 6:18 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
Member 55 Oak Harbor, WA | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. There are quite a few short (LT 1 mile) steep (8-12%+) climbs on most of my local rides. A steady high cadence is the way to go. If I feel like I am going too slow I'll stand up but only for 15 pedal strokes. Don't stop pedaling as you crest over the top and keep your cadence high on the downhill sections (don't coast). |
| 2010-07-07 7:13 PM in reply to: #2967015 |
Expert 758 Morgantown, WV | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. smilford - 2010-07-07 6:30 PM 3% grade is nothing and I would ride it like I would on the flats. In aero and keeping the same effort/cadence. Wondered how long it'd be before someone picked this up! Ha, so as I was posting this, looking at the profile of the race course. That's when I realized, although it appears to have a long climb right off- it's actually only ~375ft over 3.6 miles- avg. only 1.9%!!! Like smilford said- it's nothing. But I 3/4 the way through posting, and thought this might bring up some interesting conversation. So, hypothetically, if it WAS a big climb right off, what would you do? Steady and even is good for me. But is that the best tactic when you're racing against other people? What if I'm a weak climber? Then what tactic? Thanks for the replies! |
| 2010-07-07 7:23 PM in reply to: #2967138 |
| Master 5557 , California | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. So, hypothetically, if it WAS a big climb right off, what would you do? Sprint distance I'd hammer it. But I like climbing  |
| 2010-07-07 8:00 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
Master 2355 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. I just did a race that has a 9% climb 200yds out of transition on the ride... I basically went all out on it. |
| 2010-07-07 8:32 PM in reply to: #2967209 |
Expert 758 Morgantown, WV | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. smilford - 2010-07-07 9:00 PM I just did a race that has a 9% climb 200yds out of transition on the ride... I basically went all out on it. don't you have to in that situation!?!? |
| 2010-07-07 9:23 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
Champion 7595 Columbia, South Carolina | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. In a sprint, if I'm not hammering all the way regardless of grade, then I screwed up. Even in an Oly, I would go quite hard on an initial big climb, assuming that the course afforded an opportunity to recover slightly from that later on. I think that a more difficult situation would be a hard climb at the END of the bike. Then I would not necessarily hammer. |
| 2010-07-07 9:35 PM in reply to: #2967247 |
Master 2355 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. greenmtnman - 2010-07-07 8:32 PM smilford - 2010-07-07 9:00 PM I just did a race that has a 9% climb 200yds out of transition on the ride... I basically went all out on it. don't you have to in that situation!?!? No, I had quite a few gears left. Could of gone easier, but who wants that! |
| 2010-07-07 9:50 PM in reply to: #2966519 |
Expert 1215 Austin, TX | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. For me, in a sprint, if i don't feel like I am on the rivet for the whole race, I am not placing. So if there is a hill, I hammer up and take advantage of the downhill and hammer some more. |
| 2010-07-08 5:54 AM in reply to: #2966519 |
Champion 9407 Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: Hill climb tactic question. The studies on run performance as related to bike pacing would indicate that an even pacing model is best. The course profile will dictate the pacing to some extent but not to the point that you should be hammering any one section of the course. I would expect that any time you gain hammering up a hill is going to be lost either later on the bike or on the run. Shane |
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