tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608571576503539294.post1901193260969960351..comments2014-04-22T14:31:45.611-07:00Comments on Cycling My Way to a Healthier and Happier Life: The Queen StageAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15703643471619340478noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608571576503539294.post-80097863338477759482014-04-22T14:31:45.611-07:002014-04-22T14:31:45.611-07:00Thanks for the support! Glad to know that others a...Thanks for the support! Glad to know that others are enjoying my blog, which started just as a way for me to keep track of all my training rides. <br /><br />I love that I can see my own progress and I try to remember all that I learned from your Bike Skills 101 while I'm out there on the road. I know that climbing isn't necessarily my strong point and I'm coming to terms with that. I've been fortunate enough to ride with some amazing people who are always willing to wait for me at the top or the somewhere along the way. I'll have to try out the handicap climb at some point. Thanks for all of your tips and suggestions! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15703643471619340478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608571576503539294.post-28373381290804783582014-04-22T11:08:48.572-07:002014-04-22T11:08:48.572-07:00Love reading your blog! Don't beat yourself u...Love reading your blog! Don't beat yourself up about climbing. Try to compare yourself only to you, not to others. Find your motivation for climbing. Maybe it's those zippy descents? Or the feeling of doing something that seems impossible? I used to HATE climbing and it took a few years before I learned to embrace the pain.<br /><br />If you want to improve your climbing, climb more. Climb every opportunity you get. Improve your power-to-weight ratio (increase power through training, reduce weight). Improve your technique. Dig deep and find your motivation to climb.<br /><br />One tool I use with groups is the handicap climb. This means folks start a climb based on the slower climbers starting first and the faster climbers following. This gives you motivation (as a slower climber) to work hard not to get caught. It also motivates the faster climbers to catch you. If you start a climb at the back (as you do), once you're off the back, there's little motivation to work hard. You know you won't catch the other climbers. So, get a head start on the climbs and make it your goal not to get caught.<br /><br />You're gonna kill it on ALC. Congratulations on a great training season.<br /><br />LorriLorri Lee Lown -- velogirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16206645828472852633noreply@blogger.com