As much as I love bicycle riding, I wasn’t looking forward to a 46-mile ride that my husband and I signed up for over the summer. The distance, while it would be the farthest ride to date, didn’t bother me, but the idea of climbing hills did. Dreading the four climbs on the route wasn’t helpful, so I thought of ways to prepare for this ride and improve my outlook.
Assessing Previous Rides
To get a more realistic expectation, I assessed my previously completed rides on my Ride with GPS app. I compared the hills I walked up (there were more than a handful) to any I successfully climbed. Reviewing the metrics (e.g., the length of the climb, the elevation, and the grade) was helpful in comparing them to the upcoming ride. For example, I could see how long or steep the hills were and remember how I handled them regardless of whether or not I walked them.
According to the route preview for the upcoming ride, even though some hills were over a mile long, all were under 3% grade (and less steep than the ones I’ve walked up), helping to alleviate my fear and improve my outlook.
A Reminder to Myself
I also reminded myself that the ride was not a race and that I could take my time. When I attack a hill faster than I can sustain, I lose juice before I reach the top, and I typically end up walking up. I just had to pace myself, ensure I was fueled and hydrated, and remember that there’s no hill I can’t walk up if I have to. That made me feel better.
The Day of the Ride
When my husband and I signed up for the event about a month out, maybe 30 people had registered. A week before the ride, registration was still low, so I was pleasantly surprised there were 170+ riders on event day. We even saw some people we knew.
Slow and Steady
I went very slowly on the climbs. While keeping a slow and steady cadence, to my surprise, I completed all four climbs without stepping off my bike. By pacing myself throughout the ride, I finished the 46 miles! It turned out not to be as bad as I expected.
It helped to review past rides and mentally prepare. Interestingly, my post-ride metrics indicated slightly higher elevations and hill grades ranging from 3.2% to 4.3% compared to the route preview of <3%. Since that ride, I have, in effect, climbed more hills, albeit slowly. (I still walk up the steeper ones). That ride helped me become more confident on hills and realize what I could accomplish. Instead of dreading them, I have a better outlook on hills. I get stronger with each hill, and anytime I don’t walk up one, it feels like a personal victory.
