How do you train for hills?

[reohn2]

For hills make sure you're gearing is low enough,think round(as in pedaling) and then keep riding up them.
It will become easier after a few years

[JohnW]

You can only really train for hills by riding up them.

That's the absolute truth.

You need to get all aspects of your position on the bike right, and don't be reluctant to lower gear ratios, but you'll only learn how to climb hills by practice and experience. There's more to it than being fit and strong - you need to learn to know how.

And - never attack a hill, because it will only get you back - and if it doesn't, it's mate a few miles further on will do.

It's easier if you know the hill personally.

[thirdcrank]

.... There are very few steep hills near me, so I'm looking for alternative training methods. ...

You could try a few days holiday somehwere like Pateley Bridge. This is the streetview at the top of Greenhow Hill. The sign says two miles down - it's ten times that coming the other way

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 84,,1,4.27

For some reson the streetview camera hasn't been up most of the hills around the town - faint-hearted driver, probably.

[Deckie]

Your position on the bike can have a huge effect on hill climbing. If your saddle is too low, even by 1/3 inch, you will not be able to put the power from your legs through the bike efficiently. Your legs need to be nearly at full extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke, that is when they are at their most efficient and powerful. (think about it, you don't walk up stairs with your legs permanently bent!)

Otherwise I use a number of strategies, rarely glance at the top of the climb - look too often & you're dispirited, an occasional glance and you're surprised at your progress, when it gets hard, look for something on the road about five to ten yards ahead of you & tell yourself you're not getting off to push until you reach that, then find another mark & do the same. You will be amazed at your progress!

Keep at it though and one day you'll sail up a hill and wonder what all the fuss was about!

[Nutsey]

When conquering the pennines i use the brompton hill climbing method - i hopped on the train at the bottom and got off at buxton

[Jonty]

The advice I gave above was based on the regime I adopted about 25 years ago when I was a sprightly 40 year-old and it may be suitable if you're a competitive cyclist.
Now I get up the hills by simply spinning a very low gear of 20 inches and less.
The lowest gear on my touring bike is about 17 inches. This is obtained by having a 22t grandad chainwheel combined with the 34t cog in the rear cassette.
At my age I don't want to get fitter, only slow down the rate of decline and remain active.
I can go up the steepest hills without over-exerting myself at 4 mph which I find much easier that getting off and pushing the bike up the hill.
My Moulton TSR has a low of 17 inches and my Stumpjumper has a low of about 18 inches. My TSR 30 at present has a low of 24 inches and I hope soon to have a new cassette fitted with should provide a lowest gear of about 20 inches on that bike. I would prefer even a lower gear but it's difficult to do on that particular bike.
So there you have it. Get stronger and fitter or spin lower gears or a combination of both.
jonty

[hamster]

Even triple chainring road bikes can be too tall-geared. I fitted a 26T inner to my road bike, and often climb faster when spinning to someone grinding the pedals in a higher gear. What matters is not what the manufacturer puts on the bike, but what is right for you.

As a second part to improving, I ride a singlespeed. It has definitely made me stronger and fitter. It's amazing what you can get up if the only other option is walking! I am now stronger, fitter and definitely more determined. It's not for everyone, but I find it very productive to get the maximum training out of short rides - with a young family I am definitely time-limited. Riding a regular route gives me milestones for improving and also a "come on, you can get up this one" feeling on the worst climbs!

[Michael R]

Simply aim to climb every hill in your area.

Get an ordnance survey map and gradually climb all the hills with arrows i.e 1 in7 or i in 5.

I have only one defeat on a hill - just to the south west of the gliders on the Long Mynd. Has anyone pedalled up it?