Over the years that I have been cycling, I’ve met various types of endurance riders from those who ride more for recreation to the hard core, competitive types who view endurance rides as journeys into their very souls. Regardless, most of us can be classified as "weekend warriors" and among our ranks there is bound to be a rider or two who will advise the rest of us to "kick the training up a notch"’ by trying hill repeat workouts (known as just "hill repeats").
Hill repeats are exactly as they sound – ride up a hill, turn around, descend the hill and repeat.Of course, there is a more formal method to this type of training that is very beneficial to cyclists, including cadence control and heart rate monitoring. Although I’ve tried this type of training and from time to time still do, I’m lucky to just get up a hill more than three times and call it a day. Therefore, I am not here to tell you how to complete a hill repeat workout. For that, I recommend reading Coach Al Lyman’s article on hill repeats, checking out his website or contacting a qualified coach who specializes in the sport of cycling.
In the meantime, what I can recommend are several excellent hills located in Southern California that cyclists may use for hill repeat workouts. I’ve personally ridden all of these hills and will describe them from the standpoint of a beginner to intermediate level rider in various articles over the next two weeks. All of these hills (with an exception of one) are open to motorists, so it is wise to follow all safety rules of the road, wear a helmet and carry ID.
The first two hills I recommend trying are “Trash Truck Hill” and Mt. Hollywood Canyon in Griffith Park. For beginners, these hills are ideal as well as convenient. They are both located in an area where parking is plentiful and free. Most cyclists park in the Los Angeles Zoo parking lot and ride from there. The parking attendants patrolling the lot seem to take no issue with this. There is also parking available along the roadside within the park, just be careful when opening your door as cyclists and runners are aplenty out training.
“Trash Truck Hill” is the section of Griffith Park Drive just off of Zoo Drive past Travel Town. It is short, not too steep, and if you descend down off the back side, you will be able to lengthen and vary your workout on that hill. It is the easiest route to Mt. Hollywood Canyon as well, providing quick access for you to climb into the canyons for an extended workout and amazing views.
Mt. Hollywood, a longer climb perfect for repeat training, is closed to motorists, so you must hop a utility gate. Don’t worry, no law is being broken and many cyclists ride up in those hills. The climb on Mt. Hollywood involves several switchback curves, so watch for descending cyclists and be careful as there is often sand and gravel on the road. The trade off is that there are no cars, making for a stress-free ride. However, wildlife is present in those hills, so you may wish to ride with a partner or group.
The two hills I just described are well-known among experienced cyclists, easy to get to and highly recommended for training and recreation. In Los Angeles, it can be hard to find a fairly quiet, less trafficked areas to ride. Griffith Park provides this as well as scenic views. So, if you are looking for two great hills to try hill repeats on, now is the time to try the hills in Griffith Park before the summer months get too hot!
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