I will be going to California in June. The ride will take me from the shore in San Francisco, to the Valley in Paso Robles, and back to the shore towards LA. Basically up and over the big hills.
As far as ease of access from the GWB (and cars not running me off the road), is the Alpine climb on River Road my best bet for hill repeats? I am looking for some long slow climbing hills that can help teach me patience.
Another Hill Question (repeats)
Mon, 03/14/2005 - 2:54pm
Mon, 03/14/2005 - 4:46pm
#1
River Road is good
The Alpine climb on River Road is excellent for hill training and it has the convenience of being easy enough to get to from Manhattan. You can do repeats on it, or just ride the whole length of it, as it is up and down most of the way, turn round and ride it in the opposite direction, or go back down 9W and ride it again.
But on days when you have limited time you can also do hill repeats at the top end of Central Park, depending on where you live.
If you have the time, it is worth taking a train to Garrison and riding over the River over Bear Mountain Bridge to Perkins Memorial Drive and doing hill repeats there. This will give you a longer climb.
I'm not sure whether Perkins Memorial Drive is yet open. Be careful on the descents as the road surface is very poor, although I thought I read somewhere that it was resurfaced last year. I didn't ride it last year, but it was certainly bad in 2003.
Mon, 03/14/2005 - 5:07pm
#2
Climbs out west are generally long and not as steep. So you're better off tackling anything a mile or longer. River Road is the closest candidate. To make the most of it, make sure you start at the boat basin and go past the police station to the intersection with 9W. I also recommend Little Tor, the Rockland Lake hill on 9W (southbound), the climb to Tiorati Circle on the Harriman road race course, or the Nyack College climb aka Bradley/Tweed (either northbound or southbound).
If you can go further afield, there are many climbs in the Catskills and the Gunks, such as Slide Mountain, Minnewaska, Peekamoose or Mohonk.
I'm not a fan of Perkins, and would not recommend it, unless the new pavement is velvety smooth (highly unlikely).
Mon, 03/14/2005 - 5:09pm
#3
It has been resurfaced
I heard someone say that it wasn't open yet. (But what's to stop you from carrying your bike around the gate and riding up, except snow and ice slicks?)
Mon, 03/14/2005 - 5:46pm
#4
Perkins
Yep, before the winter Perkins was magic.
Mon, 03/14/2005 - 6:28pm
#5
mileage
Sounds like you might be doing the AIDS ride, which I have done a couple of times. I would focus less on hill repeats and focus more on doing as many 50+ mile rides as you can.
Mon, 03/14/2005 - 6:43pm
#6
That's the one
I will be doing ALC4. I did the ride by motorcycle in 2001, but I really wanted to pedal it one day.
I will get plenty of 50+ mile rides in the sig i am doing. I am hoping to do a few weekends of back to back rides. I just really hate the long slow climbs. I want to do the hill climbs more for the mental training than the strength training. My mind gives up before my legs give up.
I really want to get out to Perkins, time permitting. I should have mentioned that I am looking for something I could do in under 2 hours from the GWB. I think I will stick to River Road for now.
Tue, 03/15/2005 - 7:51pm
#7
three things to help you
"1. Do some research about the types of hills you will encounter. A hill that is 3 km long with a 6% grade should be approached differently than a 6km long climb at 3% grade. A continuous steady grade is handled differently from a climb with steps. once you know that, we can probably find you the local climbs that will approximate your West coast climbs.
2. On this web site is a list of hills and grades. Click on RESOURCES at the top of the NYCC page, then click on Regional Hill Grades.
Or
3. Most important basic rule of climbing -- Don't try to attack a hill at the beginning by going hard in a high gear. Get in a low gear and start spinning up the hill, and try to keep the level of effort (in terms of POWER, not heartrate,) steady throughout the climb. At the top of the climb be ready to continue the effort in the larger gear as you either level out or go downhi"
Mon, 03/14/2005 - 7:00pm
#8
Whiteface (nm)
Mon, 03/14/2005 - 7:09pm
#9
I need a ride
I would like to do the hill climb race. But I do not want to pay $200 to rent a car for the weekend. If someone has a spot in their car, I would like to come along for the fun.
Mon, 03/14/2005 - 7:31pm
#10
Maybe
No promises but I am sure that there will be some space somewhere.
