Still Room For Improvement

No more excuses. I know where my weeknesses are now. I've improved my downhill technique, upped my speed on the flat, have greater endurance and have conquered any fear of tackling exceptionallly steep inclines. I'm doing about 160Km a week. I have a 9 to 5 job. My weekness is now climbing speed. Its been evident now since I kept getting overtaken on the climbs in the little lumpy sportive - only to retake my position on the downhill.

I was staggered at how this lack of climbing speed affected my ability to keep up with main group in a club ride out to Box Hill the other week. Whilst on the flat, although difficult enough, I kept nicely in with the main group. Come the hills and I was lagging behind.

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=412395

The magazines tell me to do the following:

1) Lose weight and Thus Increase My Power to Weight Ratio. I'm 6'8" and 90KG. Any thinner and I'd be starting to look unwell. I could lose a few more Kilo's maybe.

2) Reduce Bike weight. At about £1 for a gram reduction in weight, on an already fairly light bike (8.5ish Kg) weight reduction is going to be expensive and probably not worth it. Having already fitted Kysirium Elite wheels, the best I could hope for is shaving off another meagre 300grams with a new crank. They cost about £380. This doesn't seem like good value.

3) Climb in Low Gears. Already got that one in the bag. I run a 12-27 on a compact. Any lower and the crank would double up as a winch. Spinning up hills, although easy on the kees, isn't improving my climbing speed. I could fit an ultegra 11-28, but as I have found with this configuration on my tourer, the gaps are too big for smooth gear changes.

4) Change Up if You Stand Up. Check. I've been deploying this technique for a while. The trick is not to go too early. Most people go too early. I like to sit as long as possible, which brings me to point 5.

5) Sit For as Long as Possible. Nature dictated that this was always going to be the best way for me. What I have found is that by going on to the drops and sitting, I can spin in a higher gear whilst going up hill. I believe this to be counter intuative but effective.

There is another point, which the magazines and internet fail to mention however, and that is by riding hills more often youwill improve your climbing ability, simple. I havent been avoiding any hils for sure, but this could be the first year of sustained training. I'm expecting a result through the natural course of events. This includes, eating and sleeping well and most of all, maintaining a thrice weekly ride programme.

http://www.active.com/ Get on Up: 5 Ways for Cyclists to Improve Their Climbing.