work-out to improve hill climbing? (Page 2)

Pretty freekin hard.  If I'm racing Sprint/Olympic then my NP is normally in the 88-93% range and I don't get passed too often, but we reach a hill and people are going past me (and I'm fairly light to begin with) and I'm above threshold climbing.  So folks are really surging on those hills, which I'm sure hurts them, but it hurts me trying to keep my position on the hill, or make it back up again on the downhill/flat. 

Neil...if guys are dumping you on hills, it's likely they are just more fit on the bike or they weigh less than you.  Just because they accelerate hard on the hills while you don't, it doesn't mean it's the fastest way for them to get to T2 and you should simulate their pacing strategy.  

If you're concerned about following other's you're racing with as to "not let them go," then that really has nothing to do with skills on hill climbing but rather your overall bike fitness and ability to handle riding the edge.  These situations can also happen on the flats, out of corners, or on the downhills.  I would say the best way to acclimate yourself to that type of stress is not to climb hills but to join a hard group ride...that may or may not be riding over hills.  Or do some crazy suffefest video that simulates a group ride type effort.

I've just signed on to a Carmichael Training System (CTS) session on Strava ... the 60+ Minute Climb Session.  I'm doing a baseline test today and will start the actual sessions on Monday.  There are 5 sessions per week; total time per week is between 6.5 - 7 hrs and overall runs for 4 weeks.  I've been doing the Jorge' plan and am about 2/3 of the way complete.  Jorge's has been a good plan; it's steady and consistent, but I need to prep for a tough 100m ride in May and need to up the intensity level for some serious climbs. 

One strong cycling friend has done the CTS plan and in his words ... it drives you to the 'puke' level.  If you're interested ... happy to provide some feedback. 

I did the 30 minute climb plan earlier in the year.  It's definitely a solid plan that mixes in good intensity and volume.  A little more focused towards pure cyclists though as it assumes you aren't doing very much other than riding.  I found that actually taking the two rest days, or riding *stupid easy* on those optional days were very important to actually keeping up with the prescribed workouts.

I did the 20s plan in February, and the Descending interval set was easily the hardest workout I've done in cycling.  The 60 minute plan feels easier, but maybe that's because all the tempo workouts are closer to what I'm used to.