hill simulation for distance training

I had a brainstorm which I need to confirm with the more experienced
riders: If I live in a flat area but want to prepare for hilly riding
conditions, would any of the following tricks be of any use?

~ fitting a drag brake and setting it to drag just enough to feel, and
leave it on for a few miles here and there

~ letting some air out of the tire, riding it softer than usual

~ putting some weight in a backpack (or on the frame of the uni)

I know that for the RTL qualifying rides there is a mileage factor to
compensate for lack of mountains, but I can't help thinking that riding
a few extra miles isn't quite the same, and when I hit a real mountain
incline I won't really be ready for it. Would any of the above
techniques do me any good for this purpose? (or is there something
else I haven't thought of)

Some options I considered but crossed off the list because they'd be
impractical for me: riding against the wind all day, traveling to a
hilly spot to practice.

Thanks for any advice!


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I think any of those would work, especially the drag brake.
Another thing you could do is ride with a small parachute in tow, some
runners do this for resistance training. it might throw your ballance
off a bit though.

The best thing to do would be to find a really big hill and ride it
over and over again.

Peace
Seamus


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Hill climbing doesn't only require exerting yourself more. You also
have to pedal on an incline. So, your pedals line up differently when
you climb, and so does your body.

I think your ideas will make you stronger and more ready to climb
hills, but the only way to improve your hill -technique- is to actually
ride on hills.


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if you have a treadmill maybe set it to the hill setting and ride on it?


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Your first suggestion should definitely help with the fitness level,
though it may lead to stinky brakes.

Your second suggestion will probably just annoy you and wear out your
tires faster.

Your third suggestion might be good in terms of balance training, but
probably won't have any effect in terms of riding hills.

There is no substitute to actually riding hills, and the best thing you
can do is go find some. I have the same problem, living in the Central
Valley it's very flat, nothing like the larger group of Bay area riders
who mostly have hills right out the door. I have to drive half an hour
or more to get to "real" hills. Depending where in the Detroit area you
are, there must be something you can head for, at least some of the
time. When in doubt, ride around where the rich people live; Bloomfield
and Beverly Hills. Or a little farther north, around the lakes there
are plenty of hills, though they're not mountains. For best results,
talk to your local road bikers. Ask around in the bike shops that cater
to roadies and they can probably hook you up with route maps or web
sites.

A drag brake won't simulate the narrower range of balance you have when
riding uphill, or any of the psychological factors of dealing with long
or steep climbs. Also there's no good way to simulate the downhill, and
that takes getting used to as well.


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A good headwind is the next closest thing. Don't pass up the windy
days.


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Do you live in an absolutely flat area? No little hills at all?

If there are any little hills, find the steepest paths up them, and
ride them repeatedly without stopping. That's good hill training that
is.

Joe


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Although maybe not the safest place to ride, you might try a local car
parkade that has numerous levels with lots of ramps.


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Harley

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through a rock.
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tomblackwood wrote:
A good headwind is the next closest thing. Don't pass up the windy
days.



Tom's right. When you're training hard on a unicycle, don't pass
wind.

The thing about riding up hill is that the wheel doesn't roll so much
with momentum. On the flat, once you are rolling along, you can keep
spinning smoothly. On a hill, at the weak part of the pedal stroke,
the wheel slows down. Therefore, riding up hill is a series of
deliberate accelerations and forced decelerations.

The nearest equivalent is riding into a strong headwind.


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I think the parashoot would force you to lean forward more, partially
simulating a hill. The slightest gust could throw you off though (like
a care driving by).

For strength, riding standing up for long periods should work, or an
UW.


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skilewis74

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are going within a hour, do it, and if you can do a trick 50-75% of the
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