‘never believe a hill climber who says they enjoy it.‘ Of course you enjoy it, it may be a bit masochistic, but you enjoy it otherwise you would not do the amount you do, especially in the unpaid ranks.

I love my hill intervals, especially after taking your advise and climbing longer ones but with a bigger rest interval. My one today is a 15 mile ride out to it and then 3 reps ( 1.8 mile @ 5.5% with 8 min rest in between) and then two big climbs (for our area) 2.3 & 3 miles @ 3% flat out on the way home, 40 ish miles and tired legs, but it gives a purpose to go and ride.

My biggest problem is, I haven’t the courage to put myself into the red zone, I don’t think people realise what guts it takes to do that, to ignore the brain when it tells you to stop. Climbers such as yourself Tejvan can do that and that’s what sets you apart from other equally as fit riders.