Which gear for climbing

[Part time cyclist]

Hi folks
When climbing a hill on the road is it better to have it in a bigger gear on the crank and a smaller gear on the rear or a smaller gear ring on the front and a larger gear on the back. Thanks in advance

 

[HLaB]

A small at the front and larger at the rear is generally more conclusive for long hills (it gives you a lower gear), for some folks its better to have the opposite (a higher gear) for short sharp hills but they too will have to drop to a lower gear for a sustained climb.

 

[Alembicbassman]

If you get a cadence computer try and stick to around 90 revs per minute in any given gear as a rule of thumb.

This is generally the aerobic zone where your lungs can provide enough oxygen to your muscles. If you start to push too hard your muscles work an-aerobically and start burning sugars which results in lactic acid build up which hurts.

 

[slowmotion]

In my case, the best gears for climbing are those that I do not have.

Invariably.

 

[Rob3rt]

Hi folks
When climbing a hill on the road is it better to have it in a bigger gear on the crank and a smaller gear on the rear or a smaller gear ring on the front and a larger gear on the back. Thanks in advance

Is this a serious question? Can you not tell by trial and error :S Its pretty obvious what the answer is when you try to climb a hill.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

Hi folks
When climbing a hill on the road is it better to have it in a bigger gear on the crank and a smaller gear on the rear or a smaller gear ring on the front and a larger gear on the back. Thanks in advance

This depends on your approach speed, stamina, power and the hill itself (gradient, length etc).

Try a middle gear, and adjust either up or down depending on how it feels. If you are happy crawling or spinning go to a really low gear; if you are flying up or like to beast your way up go for a higher gear. Best way to find out is to ride, and reflect.

What are you riding?

 

[Black Sheep]

on my mountain bike, gear 1
its the same gear to be used for downhill
its also the same gear to be used for on the flat.

on my road bike, gears 2-3 for uphill, gears 4-5 are used for everything else.


I think i need more gears

 

[DiddlyDodds]

I prefer to have the gear that allows my legs to go round, as the gear that doesn't is the wrong one , so just play with the levers till your legs go faster and youve cracked it

 

[Angelfishsolo]

The easiest gear will be the smallest front cog and largest rear cog. This may not be the optimal climbing gear however. As others have said play with the gears until you find the one(s) the feel right for you. Also anticipating gear changes will help you greatly (eg realising the road ahead is getting steeper and changing just before you reach that point)

 

[darth vadar]

Is this a serious question? Can you not tell by trial and error :S Its pretty obvious what the answer is when you try to climb a hill.

The poor fella was simply asking a question.

Have you had a bad day or something ?!!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Is this a serious question? Can you not tell by trial and error :S Its pretty obvious what the answer is when you try to climb a hill.

If the OP has powerful legs he may find grinding better than spinning. If you stop and think for a moment it is not such a stupid question.

 

[Part time cyclist]

Is this a serious question? Can you not tell by trial and error :S Its pretty obvious what the answer is when you try to climb a hill.

Yes this is a serious question, been riding for approximately 4 months and tried to climb a category 4 hill last weekend without success as I ended up dropping down to first gear and was cycling so hard my legs felt they were going to explode, so OBVIOUSLY this was the wrong gear, I plan on doing the same route tomorrow morning and was just asking the cycling community for advice. I appreciate it may be different for every body, but was just intrested what the general concensus was :/

By the way thankyou everyone for your help and advice.

 

[billy1561]

As others have said just try different combinations of gears but invariably try and keep spinning. Hills wipe me out because of the weight I carry. Plenty of power for the flat but up a hill there is usually only one winner and it ain't me.

 

[John90]

I guess it depends of you want to get up the hill very quickly, or give yourself the best workout. It's not just the gear combination however - the mistake I usually make is to charge at the hill at the beginning instead of holding something back for the last part of the climb. Slow and steady every time in my book, if you are not sure of making it.

 

[thehairycycler]

find the gear your legs are going round with cruising effort then go up another one or two and push it like salt n peppa