How do you climb?

[rb58]

Whatever suits the situation, for instance if its a short sharp hill and I'm all going a decent pace I like to stand up and power through them, on longer hills I prefer to sit down and spin, standing up occasionally to switch muscles. I also like to sit up and relax again using different muscles. I'll tend also to do something in between when the situation is right.

In response to CapnAhab, I like to use a higher gear when I stand up and lower when I sit down, if you can get into this pattern it helps on long climbs but you have to keep your momentum up.

Likewise. Keep your grip on the bars light, not the tight 'death drip' which comes from tension. Find your own rhythm. Also, spinning a high cadence takes a little practice, at least it did for me. My average is now about 85 rpm, higher on the hills.

 

[Dayvo]

I spin on steep inclines, otherwise I prefer a medium grind and try and maintain a smooth rythym.

Occasionally I get out of the saddle for a bit of a blast on the pedals, but at 6' 1" and 100 kg I don't 'dance' for too long! But I can certainly 'bomb' down the hills!

 

[Darbo]

Sitting inthe saddle spinning away with a low gear and breaking the climb into segments i.e. make it to one lamppost then the next lamppost and so on right tothe top

 

[Darbo]

Sitting inthe saddle spinning away with a low gear and breaking the climb into segments i.e. make it to one lamppost then the next lamppost and so on right tothe top

 

[swee'pea99]

Darbo's 'next lamppost' reminds me of a similar trick I was taught which may help - keep your eyes fixed on the road a few metres ahead of your front wheel - don't look up. Just Keep Going. 

 

[MontyVeda]

if they're short and steep I'll stand up and act like a man, anything more and I'll sit down with a low gear... if i need to stop to admire the view half way up I don't mind... I am after all only stopping for the view and not having a rest

 

[Hacienda71]

Depends on how steep the hill is. Too steep and you will be out of the seat in your granny gear!

 

[jig-sore]

Sit, relax and spin.

+1

 

[Globalti]

With short hills momentum is your friend; sprint hard down and up the other side and you can see off most of the hill with accumulated energy and be dropping into a climbing gear as your speed begins to reduce.

 

[redflightuk]

Depends on the hill and the bike. On the ICE i just find a comfortable gear and keep going on to the top. On the road bike or mtb a bit of both, standing and sitting.

 

[sarahpink]

if the hills fairly short I will do it out of the saddle. it took me a few months to feel brave enough to climb out of the saddle didnt have the leg strength. on longer climbs I usually do a mixture of the both depending on how im feeling and the hill incline find on really steep ones have to get out the saddle. im trying to work on my breathing on hills and find im gasping on long climbs and wheezing a bit.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Thought of this thread tonight on my detour on the homeward ride, climbing out to Hollow Meadow and then back up to Surprise View and Fox House, and noticed that I have started to get out of the saddle a little more than normal.

I think it's that I'm getting back into the habit that standing doesn't necessarily mean trying to sprint

 

[skudupnorth]

Does a slight lift of the arse out of the saddle count as standing ???? I normally sit as i climb,but the odd time i seem to rise just a tad and it feels fine.

 

[Rob1984]

My old hybrid has 28 teeth on the smallest chain ring and 28 teeth on the largest cog of the rear cassette. I just started using a road bike, a Specialized Allez Double Sport, which has 34 teeth on the smallest chain ring and 25 teeth on the largest cog of the rear cassette. I'm finding it really hard or not able to go up the steepest hills, which I often used the lowest or 2nd from lowest with my hybrid.

Is it worth changing the chain rings to a triple with a smaller smallest cog on, or changing the rear cassette so it has a larger largest cog? Or is what I have acceptable for cycling up the toughest of hills?

PS. I'm a complete beginner at road bike riding, I thought I was good on the hybrid tho.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[HLaB]

My old hybrid has 28 teeth on the smallest chain ring and 28 teeth on the largest cog of the rear cassette. I just started using a road bike, a Specialized Allez Double Sport, which has 34 teeth on the smallest chain ring and 25 teeth on the largest cog of the rear cassette. I'm finding it really hard or not able to go up the steepest hills, which I often used the lowest or 2nd from lowest with my hybrid.

Is it worth changing the chain rings to a triple with a smaller smallest cog on, or changing the rear cassette so it has a larger largest cog? Or is what I have acceptable for cycling up the toughest of hills?

PS. I'm a complete beginner at road bike riding, I thought I was good on the hybrid tho.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

34front 25rear is IMO a small gear (its lower than the gears on my road bikes), before you go any expense I would give it a while for you too build up your fitness. The steepest my compact (a 36 front 25 rear) has been up is a 26% and my other bike (a38 front 25 rear) the steepest it has been up 21% and you'll get a lot of folk who'll go up steeper with an even higher gear.

If after a while things aren't working for you consider first putting a larger cassette on; this will be cheaper no changes to sti levers etc although a longer cage may be required; if it not too a dramatic change, it'll just be a straight swap. Converting to a tripple will do the same job but will cost more, new shifters and front derailleur will be required.