Tips for faster/better hill climbing

[phil_hg_uk]

Climb some hills then when you have done that climb some more hills and repeat ............... after a while you will be able to go up said hills in a higher gear and you will be fitter

 

[Wayne Tully]

Start doing some running,dont just concentrate on improving fitness on your bike,its a long drawn out process losing weight simply cycling unless you are doing miles of hills everyday
You will immedietley gauge your real fitness when you try and run up the road which cycling can never do,i doubt many cyclists could manage even a couple of miles jogging without becoming completely knackered,the strength you gain through a running regime coupled with hill climbing on your bike gives you a holistic fitness and is far better than just solely cycling
Try and do a few miles running a week to complement your cycling,running is way more effective in losing weight than cycling and as the weight drops off your hill climbing will improve

This is true, I'm a runner first and a cyclist second, I have found since I have been on the bike my running is quicker, they defiantly compliment each other.

 

[Flying Dodo]

All of the above. Plus if you've got a triple, change it for a compact or avoid using the granny gear.

 

[ColinJ]

"What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger!"


Load of old b*llocks that - my last forum ride to Otley nearly killed me, and I haven't been strong since!

All of the above. Plus if you've got a triple, change it for a compact or avoid using the granny gear.

Do you have many steep climbs near Luton!

 

[RAYMOND]

Before you get to the hill get the bike in a low gear but keep the legs going at a steady cadence.
Don't wait until your half way up the hill to change gear.
The hill will be easier to get up,you just won't get up quick.But over time you can up it 1 gear until your upto speed.
But as most say practise practise practise.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Which is your favourite ?

 

[bozmandb9]

This is true, I'm a runner first and a cyclist second, I have found since I have been on the bike my running is quicker, they defiantly compliment each other.

I'm a sprinter, and I've found that I've become slower since starting cycling, think I'm improving fitness, but losing strength/ fast twitch muscle!

 

[Milzy]

I'm a sprinter, and I've found that I've become slower since starting cycling, think I'm improving fitness, but losing strength/ fast twitch muscle!

I'm an all rounder with a sprint finish. I've noticed running helps my cycling but not the other way around. Long rides really take the turn over out of my legs even if I'm feeling good.

 

[Wayne Tully]

I'm a sprinter, and I've found that I've become slower since starting cycling, think I'm improving fitness, but losing strength/ fast twitch muscle!

I'm long distance. You'd think all exercise would help not hinder. Strange

 

[Winnershsaint]

"What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger!"


Load of old b*llocks that - my last forum ride to Otley nearly killed me, and I haven't been strong since!



Do you have many steep climbs near Luton!

Had to take some of my daughter's Spanish friends back to Luton Airport last week, Terrain seemed to be like a lot like High Wycombe to me, so possibly yes. Chalk downland you see. Usually convex in profile so very steep at bottom getting more gentle towards top. A good example is the Windmill climb out of Fingest in the Hambleden valley
Or these two I came across in Dorset this weekend.

 

[Winnershsaint]

Btw only last two are in Dorset, two others are in the Chilterns. I lost my small chain ring after 15 miles and went up the last two on a very noisy 50-27 gear. Do-able, not pleasant, and most of time stood up, but bizarrely distancing those in inner ring in most cases.
This gave me a totally different perspective on climbs. Don't go too low a gear too early.

 

[ColinJ]

Which is your favourite ?

The Horsehold climb at the bottom of the map is a road to nowhere. Well, it goes to the Hamlet of Horsehold, and on to a few cottages and farms, but then you have to turn round and come back down unless you are on a mountain bike. TBH, I don't think I have ever done it on a road bike, and it is many years since I did it on my MTB. I'll give it another go when I am well enough.

The climb of Birchcliffe on the lower right of the map is pretty tough. I used to get a lift from a man who lived 3/4 of the way up it and one day on the drive to work he commented that he had never seen a cyclist manage to ride up past his cottage - they were always walking their bikes. I couldn't let that one go, so when he dropped me home that evening, I got on my bike, rode up it, and I made sure to give him a wave as I rode past his window!

The upper climb on the right goes up the first part of Birchcliffe Road, and then goes off to the left up Sandy Gate. I find that easier because there is some low gradient road between the steep ramps.

The toughest one is the climb on the left - Church Lane a.k.a Mytholm Steeps. If you search my old posts for "Mytholm Steeps", you will find a link to a slideshow of the Steeps climb which I created after walking up it with my camera. I have made it up the climb every time on my mountain bike, but even with a triple on my road bike, the score is only something like Colin 3 - Steeps 3!

I really want to get fit again and try these brutish climbs which I avoided when I was 16.5 stone. I'm under 14 stone now but I haven't got the fitness yet to have a go.

 

[PaulSB]

I have a lot of sympathy with the OP. I recently joined a new club and have been getting on fine till one club run was +5,000 climbing over about 50 miles. By the 3,000 foot point I was totally knackered and people were waiting for me. That's never happened before and I felt very embarrassed.

My problem I think is the combination of higher average speed and more climbing as I can climb all the hills we tackled individually but not joined up! The average speed of most club runs is 16-17 with much of the ride at 19+. I know this is out of my comfort zone and want the challenge. Plus if I go out on my own I might climb 2-3 hills and feel "that was OK" when I should have done more till it wasn't OK!

So I've resolved to beat this. I've planned two short routes of 25 and 30 miles which include a combination of the local climbs - some short and sharp, others just a long grind. Doing each route once a week. The two routes link up easily. Once I can get round these individually pain free I will link them together and so on. I've concluded to get better I have to get home "feeling" the effort but not completely wiped out.

I'm also targeting my gearing and trying to complete each climb with at least three gears to spare. The theory being when I need it out with the club I'll have something in reserve.

Any observations would be welcome.

 

[Hill Wimp]

It really is riding hills and then riding more hills. I hated them, don't particularly like them now but they are getting easier.

If i can get two rides in at the weekend i try to make one of the rides hillier than the other just to concentrate on doing them. I have to pace myself carefully as my aim is to get up it not speed up it, well not yet anyway.

Since my bike fit things improved dramatically and have kept on doing so.Keep riding them

 

[Rob3rt]

Bah.... I am just going to come out with it. You need never go near a hill to get good at riding hills.

Decrease weight, increase sustainable power through any means available.

Do that and you will beat 90% of the technique and "ride hills" crowd up the hills. Some might call it ironic!