Climbing technique

[Joshua Plumtree]

I find the secret to hill climbing is to get faster on the flat!

Once you've reached a certain level of fitness it's then much easier (comparatively!) to spin up most hills. Seated in a low gear, under geared initially - the complete opposite of what was recommended in that cycling article - and keep the cadence high as the gradient increases.

Head and body as still as possible. No rocking. Again this is easier if you're spinning fast in a low gear and not having to apply too much force/weight/pressure through the pedals.

Only time I would get out of the saddle would be close to the summit and only then if I've misjudged the steepness of the hill and my cadence has dropped too low.

 

[nappadang]

I like to remain in the saddle on long climbs though I often try to sit more upright once in a while to change riding position. Throwback from mountain biking. I climbed hills better on the bar ends which always made me feel I was sitting more upright.

 

[Citius]

Throwback from mountain biking. I climbed hills better on the bar ends which always made me feel I was sitting more upright.

Bar ends are supposed to move your hand position further forward...

 

[Boon 51]

I find climbing easy but then I don't weight sod all, but I have found on most hills its the bends that are steeper so a good trick is to sit on the straights and stand on the bends..

 

[nickyboy]

2-3 minute maximum effort climbs I'll do out of the saddle. Also if I'm in a bit too high a gear on a shortish upslope I'll get out of the saddle to make it more comfortable. Otherwise I'll climb seated. On long climbs (20 minutes plus) I'll probably do a few seconds out of the saddle every now and then to vary my posture

 

[Dogtrousers]

I find climbing easy but then I don't weight sod all, but I have found on most hills its the bends that are steeper so a good trick is to sit on the straights and stand on the bends..

I really like standing on the pedals on uphill hairpin bends. I can pretend I'm going up the Alpe d'Huez. From an extremely long distance I can be mistaken for Alberto Contador's much larger, much older brother.

 

[Boon 51]

That would make a good thread... Who do you think you are when riding.. lol

 

[bozmandb9]

You won't put out much power without putting weight on the pedals.

So the heavier you are the more power you can put out?

 

[totallyfixed]

So the heavier you are the more power you can put out?

I would normally answer with something witty, but there has already been so much utter tosh said on this thread that I am struggling to come up with anything sufficiently funny. Carry on, at least it is entertaining.

 

[Citius]

So the heavier you are the more power you can put out?

er, no. That's not what I meant by 'weight'

 

[Citius]

I find the secret to hill climbing is to get faster on the flat!

Basically this.

 

[bozmandb9]

I would normally answer with something witty, but there has already been so much utter tosh said on this thread that I am struggling to come up with anything sufficiently funny. Carry on, at least it is entertaining.

I trust it was obvious that my post was sarcastic?

 

[totallyfixed]

I trust it was obvious that my post was sarcastic?

Obviously. Not everyone might get it, perhaps insert a smiley in future, some will need a clue.

 

[Citius]

Sarcasm aside, there is a correlation between size and power.

 

[Ian H]

Sarcasm aside, there is a correlation between size and power.

A kind of bell-curve?