Hill Climb Training

Hello.

Didn't know where to post this but I need to get some serious miles in as I try to get ready for the Col Du Tourmalet this summer.

I commute to work on my SS but haven't been out on a weekend ride since last summer. Fucking lazy I know but I now need to kick it up quite a few gears.

My question is this, the ride up the col will be on geared bikes but I love my SS so would hill training on the SS be useful for the climb or should I be using the road bike?

Can't really bring myself to get on the road bike anymore!

Here she is:

I think that may be the Stelvio…

But to answer your question, it sounds as if any time on the bike would be useful. How come you can't bring yourself to get out on your geared bike?!

Hill training on the single-speed would be OK, but probably not the most targeted and effective training. Assuming you've got a do-it-all gear on it, then you'd be riding up the hills over-geared, which would help most at building strength.

On a climb like the Tourmalet you'll have to be putting in an effort sustained over 1.5 hours or whatnot. So in my book it sounds like it'd be a good idea to put in some time building general endurance and cardio-vascular fitness too. Long rides and sustained climbs at tempo, not just explosive efforts.

That's a completely unscientific opinion BTW… :-)

A "hill climb" does not equal a Col.

Get a HRM and ride for an hour or more at top end of Zone 3

Ha thanks for the advice. I just like the SS much more, it may be something to do with the riding position/style but the Langster just feels better to me.

So you suggest my weekend training should be on the road bike? I already commute on the SS so I guess thats fine. I do agree I need some really long mileage rides so hill repeats of Swains Lane will be slightly useful but repeats of Box Hill would be better?

All too short; you probably want to be doing dull non-stop laps on the flat whilst keeping your heart rate up.

And wearing bin bags to simulate the horrible heat.

Training should be specific to the task at hand.

Since there's no long climbs here, hill repeats at threshold (just ride around where it's difficult to talk) are your friend (no slacking on the descent).

Training on the road bike would be better if that's what you're riding but if the Langster feels better perhaps you should be questioning the setup of the road bike.

Ah not selling it to me one tiny bit!

Is this going to be tougher than I give it credit for?

What adoubletap said. You're going to be doing a long ride at threshold intensity, that's the sort of training you need to do, no?

If the position isn't good on your road bike, shouldn't you try to change it? That's the bike you're committing to riding up a mountain, probably a good plan to get as comfortable as you can on it…

It took me about 1.5 hours, basically cruising up with a stop or two for photos. It's easy enough if you have low enough gears for your legs.

What adoubletap said. You're going to be doing a long ride at threshold intensity, that's the sort of training you need to do, no?

If the position isn't good on your road bike, shouldn't you try to change it? That's the bike you're committing to riding up a mountain, probably a good plan to get as comfortable as you can on it…

Nah, I think you should do a long ride at threshold intensity and if the position isn't as good on your road bike perhaps you should change it?

Or, instead, how about doing some 1-2hr rides at threshold intensity and consider changing your road bike setup.

I would imagine it is slightly different climbing Swains Lane in under 3 mins, for example on a fixed than riding up a mountain.
Long rides would be the way to go to get your endurance up surely?

On the other hand, changing your road bike setup and training on that would be more specific to the task at hand. Get use to training up hills at threshold for 1-2 hours.

The road bike is one size too small for me, but the problem occurred when I changed tyres from the Conti 23s to Bontrager Hardshell 25s. Since then the bike just doent feel as good or responsive.

Either way I wont be using my bike, bikes will be supplied for us at the event so I dont need to worry about set up, but that was another thing, if my training bike is set up one way and the bike I use is slightly different wont that be detrimental to me?

I would imagine it is slightly different climbing Swains Lane in under 3 mins, for example on a fixed than riding up a mountain.
Long rides would be the way to go to get your endurance up surely?

All riding will help, but lower cadence climbing for as long as possible will help more. 25 mile TTs + hill repeats would be great for getting all your little bits working hard.

I will definitely be getting out for longer rides, at least 50 miles so hopefully endurance shouldnt be a problem.

What does threshold intensity mean?

The road bike is one size too small for me, but the problem occurred when I changed tyres from the Conti 23s to Bontrager Hardshell 25s. Since then the bike just doent feel as good or responsive.

Either way I wont be using my bike, bikes will be supplied for us at the event so I dont need to worry about set up, but that was another thing, if my training bike is set up one way and the bike I use is slightly different wont that be detrimental to me?

It depends on the individual but specificity is good. Change the tyres on your road bike or train on your SS and then set the hire bike up as per the SS. It's not rocket surgery.

Sorry for being a noob. I always been one for just riding rather than the technical bits!

What does threshold intensity mean?

Read. Do you even?

"just ride around where it's difficult to talk"

Sounds as if a change in set-up and some training for an hour or more at threshold are the best plan.

Sorry for being a noob. I always been one for just riding rather than the technical bits!

Perfect. Just get some decent rides in and make sure you've either got a compact on or your legs are as big as mine. ;)

Sounds as if a change in set-up and some training for an hour or more at threshold are the best plan.

Totes. Why didn't we think of that sooner?! :)

Ok got you, think I've got enough to get by on. Thanks to all

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Either way I wont be using my bike, bikes will be supplied for us at the event so I dont need to worry about set up, but that was another thing, if my training bike is set up one way and the bike I use is slightly different wont that be detrimental to me?

If it's not even your bike, then it throws it all into the imponderables. You need to get out there on what you have, and then make sure you get the bike set-up as well as possible when you're there.

How long is the whole ride?