Tecnique Issues

[david1701]

Climbing off road is really hard, I added a beautiful coast path section to my ride home today (to test to see if its suitable for my niece - not yet ) and I had a lot of trouble keeping the front wheel down on the steep tight uphill sections, is there a knack to getting the weight forwards? (I will admit I had panniers on )

My (lower) back really really hurts now I'm home guessing I wrenched it somehow are there any knacks to staying relaxed?

sorry for being noobish but most of my riding is on easy farmtracks/roads

riding hardtailed mtb (commuterised with rack and guards)

 

[LosingFocus]

I found that adding barends to my bike really helped me move forward over the handlebars and get more weight forwards on offroad climbs.

 

[david1701]

k, I've been meaning to get some for a while

 

[Muddy Ground]

Move your bum forward so that you are sitting right on the nose of the saddle. Try and crouch down as well - kind of like trying to put your chin on the handlebar stem. Pedal in circles - sounds daft but a lot of people just mash the padals on the downstroke, where to find grip and stop the front end lifting you need to apply torque in a reasonably constant manner. Bar ends allow you to move your mass forward towards the front axle a bit, so do help but they're a bit anti-fashion these days for some reason. And what gear are you in? Sounds like you're a torque monster so could try a harder gear.

Some bikes do kind of wander and lift when faced with a steep bit, so you have to use body English to counteract this. Also if you have a lot of spacers under the stem, swop things around in an effort to lower the front end a bit.

A lot of this is nothing more than forward planning. You'd be surprised how many people kind of go "oh a hill" and go all wibbly.

And remove the panniers!

www.muddyground.com

 

[david1701]

Panniers stay - I was on my way home with a laptop and all kindsa crap in them (though I ditch it if I'm riding for pleasure)

I do have some spacers I think so I'll kill those, bike has different cranks each side (though the same length) so style is not its strong point anyway.

So smoother and maybe a higher gear if possible smoothly.

I can work with that.

 

[david1701]

I am definitely not a torque monster couldn't get the pedals to turn (while staying on the bike) so had to push for a section

tried the same route but going the other way (and cutting off the rolling grass section by going via road - late) and my back is twinging again, I wonder if its just not used to the abuse?

 

[david1701]

did it again today (going home so exactly the same as yesterday) and did it in an hour instead of an hour and a half, which can't just be losing 1 pannier with the laptop. Also while my back hurts a bit its a lot better.

I reckon both are down to experience/technique of having done it a few times now

 

[lukesdad]

Longer stem flat bars Bar ends

 

[ThePainInSpain]

Nearly all of my riding is off road, albeit rough tracks. Climbing is a lot 'easier' since I fitted bar-ends.

The biggest problem I get is not getting weight onto the front to keep it down, it's how to stop wheel spin on loose surfaces when standing up in the pedals.

 

[lukesdad]

Nearly all of my riding is off road, albeit rough tracks. Climbing is a lot 'easier' since I fitted bar-ends.

The biggest problem I get is not getting weight onto the front to keep it down, it's how to stop wheel spin on loose surfaces when standing up in the pedals.

Higher cadence lower gear

 

[david1701]

got a heavy run tomorrow but after that I might have a crack at losing a few spacers, again working on bar ends for the future

 

[palinurus]

If you don't already do it try doing a few simple core-strengthening exercises a few times a week. My back and shoulders would hurt after taking up cyclocross, just a couple of quick- and pretty easy- sessions a week and I started feeling better.

 

[david1701]

My sister does Yoga and I asked her to show me some as a way to improve flexibility to avoid hurting myself any more, what kind of core strengthening were you thinking of doing? I have a set of dumbells but thats it for fitness specific equipment

 

[david1701]

google is my friend this looks like a good shout with its quick workout of 7 exercises I'll do it a few times a week with maybe some upper body stuff thrown in to balance out my fitness a little so I don't just have massive legs

 

[deaksie]

your back pain might just be down to you being a bit tense and stiffening up? I know it sounds rubbish to say this when all your focus is on getting up the hill, but try to just chill out and enjoy it?
Regarding keeping the front wheel down, I definitely agree with the others about getting your weight over the front as much as possible. Also, sometimes slowing down just by 5 or 10% can give you that bit more time/space to stay on the bike and finish the hill rather than getting off and walking.
Good luck with it -you'll get there