Tips on making it up steep section of hill?

[fallstoclimb]

Being a still-somewhat-new rider, I feel like I'm fairly okay at climbing. I'm not GREAT, I'm not super strong or fast, but walking hills is not something I am used to experiencing. However, we just moved (and bought our first house so I haven't had the time to train like I would like), and there is this one hill in our area -- and I just CANNOT get up that sucker!

It's maybe .2 miles long (maybe? I really have no idea), but the only section I struggle with is right in the middle where it suddenly pitches super steep. Strava has it at a 15% grade, I don't know if thats accurate or not. The first attempt up I tried to stay seated, the second time up I knew where the steep section was coming and stood for it, but both times I just could. not. turn. the pedals. It isn't even really that my legs are hurting or I'm out of breath, its like I just don't have that type of power in my legs to begin with. Both times I panicked that the bike was about to tip over so I bailed and unclipped.

Does anyone have advice for learning how to tackle this type of hill? I'll keep riding the long, more gradual climbs in my area but I feel like that won't help me handle the super-steep section on this hill. I could keep trying this hill every week or so but I don't want to keep trying and failing and then get it in my head that I really CANT do it. Has anyone overcome this type of challenge before?

FWIW, my bike doesn't have super generous gearing on it, but I still feel like this should be doable with better technique or maybe a mental trick -- I'm guessing my biggest enemy is the fear of the bike tipping over....(but, like, its really about to).

[Skippyak]

You really need to define your gearing, however, I live in the wasatch so 15% on my first bike (standard double with 12-25 in the back, so stingy for sure) was fine with practice. All you do is find hills and ride them, try less steep hills for practise and work up (try map my ride for route planning, and I would only use a garmin with barometric as a reliable indicator, not strava or MMR on the bike) and keep trying at your steep bit, I always stay seated unless I feel I am about to fall.
so things you should answer first:
what kind of bike (including weight etc)?
what is your gearing? What gears are you using? (this might be a dumb question, I never have enough gears LOL, so I never have any left, but people so strange things)

The thing that helps you in hill climbing is hill climbing, weight loss if you are heavy, and optimal gearing would be nice. My most recent bike is standard double with 11-28 so it is nice to have a bit more range for sure. I have never ridden a triple or a compact, but my friend has 11-32 on her cassette and it is lovely to watch her spin up the canyons, but I am always faster LOL. I am a masher by nature though. When I climb, say canyons, I try not to look ahead to far, take it a bite at a time. I don;t really have short climbs so I do think the longer climbs really help. There is nothing wrong with stopping and unclipping and taking a breather but not on 15% because it sucks to try to get going again at that point.

[fallstoclimb]

OK so apparently I have 50/34 up front and 12/25 in the back. I'm definitely in the easiest gearing I can do for this hill (I too always run out of gears!). My bike is a Specialized Dolce, so a proper entry-level road bike. I'm 145 lbs and 5'3", I'd like to lose 15 lbs but 5 is more realistic.

So, my gearing is also stingy in the back, but with training I should still be able to power through it right? Or is there a technique I can use for the standing climb to get me over the real steep section. Like I said I just get so slow I feel like I'm about to fall over - its not that I need a breather, I just don't feel like I currently have the strength. And I for sure can't stop for a breather and get going again on that section without falling over!

[Crankin]

Everyone is different, but I never stand to power up a hill. But, on the subject of gearing, I have one bike with a triple, which has gone from a 25 to a 27 to a 28 and one bike with a compact that has an 11-32. I don't care if someone passes me. I get up anything.

[OakLeaf]

With the caveat that I learned all this stuff by feel and I'm not sure how much thinking about it helps ...

Increase your cadence by around 5 rpm as you approach the climb and spin into it. Are you already in your bottom gear on the shallower beginning? What cadence do you maintain on the flats? Make sure you're not shifting under hard pedaling, which will lose you momentum, besides being hard on your drivetrain. When the road steepens, use the increase in grade and your momentum to help throw your body weight forward into standing. Unless you're *very* tiny, once you're standing muscle power really isn't an issue, because you're using gravity and your entire body weight to turn the pedals. It will take more cardio energy but *less* muscle power to climb standing.


Also, doing the shallower hills *will* help you. You'll improve your shifting technique, your cardio endurance and your leg strength. Every one of those translates to steeper sections. If you want to actually "train," you can do repeats on one of the shallower hills, as well as practicing powering up them as hard as you can.

[Veronica]

Practice standing as Oak described on the shallower hills so it feels more natural and comfortable, before trying it on that section where you feel like you're going to fall over.

Standing to climb will make your heart rate climb quickly. I rarely stand for that reason and since most of my climbs tend to be long. But it is kind of fun to power over a small hill while standing.

Veronica

[goldfinch]

I sometimes switch back up steep hills. However, you can only do this on roads with no cars. Or where you can stay in your own lane. I've managed to get up some pretty steep hills that way seated.

I do have lower gearing than you do and would prefer even lower. 11-28 and 50-34 is what I have.

[Eden]

As long as it's not a busy road - you can always do the paper boy - zig, zag up the steepest section. It's like skiing in reverse, by cutting across the slope, you taking a path that is less steep.

Otherwise I agree with Oak - anticipate the hill, make sure you are geared down before you hit the steep spot, try to take as much momentum into as possible. If you feel like it's hard to stand and pedal, you may want to get your bike fit checked.

[TigerMom]

My Specialized Amira Elite 2012 is a compact 50/34 in front and 11-28 in back. At 15% grade, I am definitely out of gears and can barely make it up the hill even though I am also a masher by nature.

So, I agree with the others... I think that it is a combination of training, weight loss, and not enough hill gears

[lph]

It's maybe .2 miles long (maybe? I really have no idea), but the only section I struggle with is right in the middle where it suddenly pitches super steep. Strava has it at a 15% grade, I don't know if thats accurate or not. The first attempt up I tried to stay seated, the second time up I knew where the steep section was coming and stood for it, but both times I just could. not. turn. the pedals. It isn't even really that my legs are hurting or I'm out of breath, its like I just don't have that type of power in my legs to begin with. Both times I panicked that the bike was about to tip over so I bailed and unclipped.

when you say you felt the bike was about to tip over, was that sideways, because you were moving slowly, or backwards, because the hill is so steep?

15 % is steep. I ride stuff like this by gearing all the way down, standing and moving my weight way forward until I'm standing on one leg at a time, with hips directly above and weighting straight down on the pedal. I just use my hands to guide the front wheel and to pull a little when starting a new pedal stroke. I may end up practically bumping the bars, but the falling over backwards feeling goes away. If I ride over loose gravel I can sometimes feel my rear wheel slipping a little, I have so much weight on the front. I can still fall over sideways if I can't keep up enough speed :-) but I don't unclip until I'm actually standing still. For me it's a balance thing.

[SheFly]

You can climb at 2.5 miles per hour and not fall over :D. I've watched ants climbing up a hill faster than I am pedaling, but have still not fallen over.

If you decide to stand while climbing, since it is a short section, do as LPH suggests and keep loose on the handlebars and keep your weight over the pedals. Then pedal as if you are dropping your leg - pushing instead of pulling. If you are seated, you again want a loose grip on the bars - I climb steep sections with my hands positioned on the tops of the bars close to the stem, and try to ensure I keep pedaling circles.

I did A LOT of climbing this past weekend, and these techniques certainly helped. You will get there - as others have said it just takes practice and training.

SheFly

[denda]

I have a triple, that's what gets me up the hills:)

[thekarens]

I can attest 3mph up a hill is perfectly doable :-) I can stand just fine, but I prefer the sit and spin method.

[OakLeaf]

I will say that being able to stay upright in the saddle at extremely low speed depends a lot on having low gears. The taller a gear you have to push, the harder it is to keep from wobbling side to side. It can be done, but that's practically trials-rider grade stuff. Which, trials bikes don't have seats ... because you have so much more control and balance when you're standing with your weight on your feet ...

[fallstoclimb]

when you say you felt the bike was about to tip over, was that sideways, because you were moving slowly, or backwards, because the hill is so steep?

15 % is steep. I ride stuff like this by gearing all the way down, standing and moving my weight way forward until I'm standing on one leg at a time, with hips directly above and weighting straight down on the pedal. I just use my hands to guide the front wheel and to pull a little when starting a new pedal stroke. I may end up practically bumping the bars, but the falling over backwards feeling goes away. If I ride over loose gravel I can sometimes feel my rear wheel slipping a little, I have so much weight on the front. I can still fall over sideways if I can't keep up enough speed :-) but I don't unclip until I'm actually standing still. For me it's a balance thing.

I felt like it was about to tip over sideways because I was moving so slowly. I do feel like I tend to sort of keep my hips back when I do standing climbs, if that makes any sense -- like I'm still sort of keeping my weight back. Maybe moving my hips forward would help me bring more power with each step down.

For those who mentioned zig zagging, I probably could try that. The road isn't dead quiet but its reasonably quiet.

I really am starting to think I want some more generous gearing, though!

[fallstoclimb]

I probably also need to accept that tipping over wouldn't be the WORST thing to ever happen!

[Boudicca]

There's one hill on one of the rides I do that I have never managed - it's just too steep at the very very top. But if this is a hill you are doing often, just try to get 10 feet further each time you do the hill. Before you know it you will be all the way up there.

[Boudicca]

I probably also need to accept that tipping over wouldn't be the WORST thing to ever happen!

I don't recommend tipping over. It's amazing how hard pavement is when you land on it.

[fallstoclimb]

Also -- the steep section comes after ~1 mile gradual climb, and then enough yards of a steeper climb that there's no momentum left to help me out :) Doesn't it seem like that is always the case!

[indysteel]

Out of curiosity, are you using clipless pedals? I know that when I'm struggling up a steep climb, being attached to my pedals really helps me turn the pedals over.

[fallstoclimb]

I am using clipless. I think that both helps (with turning) and hurts (mentally I feel like I can't catch myself if the bike starts tipping -- although realistically I know I can tear out of those pedals pretty quickly when I need to).

[Crankin]

I think my response was a little flip and unclear at the beginning of this thread.
I just want to emphasize that having low gears helps tremendously and at my age I don't really care what people think of that. I always use the lowest gear I can, to feel comfortable. For example, on the ride I was leading Saturday, I had the chance to observe, as the sweep, what others do. What I saw was a lot of standing, painful looking mashing, zig zagging, sitting down in defeat and barely making it up the hill, which was not even that bad, in my opinion. I, on the other hand, had my triple in the granny and in the seond lowest gear on the back. I passed both of these riders with ease, and I was going at a nice pace for a hill. These riders were young and fit, so I ascribe it to technique. From what I see, people think it means thy're a wimp if they shift down. Sometimes I hear, "but I hate to shift."
As SheFly stated, I have seen 2.5 or 3.0 (in the Berkshires and in Spain) and I never felt like I was going to tip over. Just felt like the damn hill was never going to end.

[ny biker]

I have asthma and riding up steep hills can be a trigger for me. I've found it best to slow my cadence way down while riding in the lowest gear on my bike. I routinely slow to ~3 mph when climbing steep hills. Haven't fallen yet. Just keep pedaling.

I recently did a big club ride, a metric century, that had a steep hill near the end. I rode the entire route with a 70-year-old who rides almost every day including long rides on weekends (Saturday AND Sunday). He rides a touring bike, definitely not what most would consider ideal for climbing. He and I slowly pedaled up the hill. It wasn't easy but neither of us was ever in doubt that we would make it. At the end of the ride we learned that some of the A-level riders had walked up that hill. Tortoises > hares.

[mariacycle]

Out of curiosity why the loose grip on handlebars while seated up the hills? I have a death grip on my handlebars when I'm going up hills :D

[indysteel]

Out of curiosity why the loose grip on handlebars while seated up the hills? I have a death grip on my handlebars when I'm going up hills :D

It helps (some) to stay loose and relaxed when they're climbing, especially during a long and/or steep climb when the best way up is to remain patient. A death grip often means your that whole upper body is tense.

[mariacycle]

Ah that makes sense, thanks! I once read someone describing going up hills by "pulling" the handlebars towards herself (I think it was on TE?) and have found that to work for me psychologically, but not on massive hills. I think your reasoning perfectly explains why.

[SheFly]

If you have a death grip on the bars, you are also likely pulling, which is using more energy. Keeping a loose touch allows you to focus your energy in your legs. Like I said, I literally put my hands on the tops of the bars, simply resting there. This also puts you in a more upright position, opening up your lungs.

SheFly

[fallstoclimb]

Update on this:

We tried to put a 28 on my bike, only to find out my derailleur couldn't handle it. Settled for a 26 instead. I headed out yesterday to try the hill again, although I wasn't super confident because it was about the hottest day of the year. Started up it fine in my easiest gear, until I hit the part where I always have trouble. I was doing a sharp little zig zag with every pedal stroke, and then I briefly stood. Now I'm not sure if this hpapened when I was sitting or standing -- DH says I must've been standing -- but the front wheel started leaving the ground, which is when I freaked out and unclipped.

Gahhh this GD hill. The section I can't handle is only like, 20 feet long, and its not like this hill is even part of my daily route but its so close to my house and it is killing me! Anyway, does the fact that my tire was hopping off the ground change anything technique-wise that might help me?

[Sky King]

Like SheFly mentioned earlier, sounds like you are pulling up on you handlebars, thus lifting you front tire off the ground. What if you find a not quite as steep of a hill and practice - shifting and standing. Typically when you stand to climb you will want to be in a harder gear than if you are sitting. If you have ever watched a video of something like the Tour De France you will see the riders change gears prior to standing up. Also as they stand you will see them position their weight more to the front of the bike. Do an experiment and as you are beginning to climbing and wanting to shift gears try standing up there, just to get used to the motion of standing without being on the steep part of the hill. You will get this hill conquered so don't give up!

[Skippyak]

I cannot see you tipping backwards at 15% unless you have shifted your weight by standing and shifting back. I know it is not a ton of help to keep hearing the same thing LOL,but stay seated, keep that relaxed feel on your handbars (use the flat part) do not pull on the bars but focus on using your power to turn the pedals. You are coordinated enough to get out unclipped, do you think you really could have managed that on one wheel? Try less steep longer inclines to get some practice if your basic problem is that you need more hill riding. I think you must be panicking and letting your head take over the ride. Can you find longer inclines for hill work? 15% is less daunting when it is just part of a long climb, when it is without build up I am sure it can appear scarier.

[fallstoclimb]

So wait, aren't you supposed to pull up on the hoods a little bit as you're doing a standing climb? I wouldn't say I have a death grip on the hoods or anything, I feel relaxed, but I think pulling up a little is just part of my natural standing climb. I guess maybe I should practice a standing climb without pulling up?

I don't think I can shift up on this hill as I stand. I know that typically people do that but this hill is so steep (this little bit may be more than 15%, who knows) that I'm out of gears even as I'm standing -- if I weren't, then I'd be making it up it!!

I am sure my head is getting in my own way, especially now that I've tried it and failed to make it up a good half-dozen times.

[SheFly]

Yes - your head is getting in the way :). Definitely try to NOT pull up on the hoods or bars as you stand. You also want to be sure that you have your weight forward - this will help to prevent the front wheel from lifting (in MTB, we call this "boobs to the tube" :D). You CAN do this! You WILL conquer that darned hill!

Last week, I was climbing gravel/dirt road with a 13+% grade. I stayed seated the entire time, hands on the TOPS of my bars (the flat spot between the hoods and your stem) with a very relaxed grip. I was pedaling literally at about 2 mph. I didn't fall over, and I made it to the top! Focus on turning your pedals in a circle and staying loosed on the bike. You'll be amazed at what you can do.

SheFly

[Artista]

What SheFly said. "Boobs to the tube" not only helps keep your front wheel down, it generates extra power in your legs to help you get up the hill. I am primarily a mountain biker and the steeper the hill gets, the lower I get my chest. I can vouch for the fact that it's possible to stay upright at even less than 2 mph.

[OakLeaf]

+1 on weight forward. You can do it!

[fallstoclimb]

Boobs to the tube, I love it!

[Boudicca]

Sunday is the ride with my never-made-it hill. I remember it as about 4 miles, although it may be less than that. It starts deceptively in that it looks almost flat and just gets steeper as it goes. The last couple of hundred feet are the killer -- it hits 15 percent at the top.

After reading everything here, I am seriously thinking of switching bikes to the one with the lowest gear and leaving the road bike at home. I will be slower on the rest of the ride, but I might just make the hill.

[ny biker]

I do not shift to a harder gear when I stand up. I only stand up for short, steep hills. (Or on flats or slight downhills if I want to stretch out, in which case I'm coasting.)

[goldfinch]

Sunday is the ride with my never-made-it hill. I remember it as about 4 miles, although it may be less than that. It starts deceptively in that it looks almost flat and just gets steeper as it goes. The last couple of hundred feet are the killer -- it hits 15 percent at the top.

After reading everything here, I am seriously thinking of switching bikes to the one with the lowest gear and leaving the road bike at home. I will be slower on the rest of the ride, but I might just make the hill.

Maybe this doesn't make sense for you, but can you stop half way up and rest a bit? I did a long hill yesterday in the heat, also about 4 miles. I stopped half way and called my spouse to give him a report. :) It helped me gather energy for the rest of the climb.

[featuretile]

Update on this:

We tried to put a 28 on my bike, only to find out my derailleur couldn't handle it. Settled for a 26 instead. I headed out yesterday to try the hill again, although I wasn't super confident because it was about the hottest day of the year. Started up it fine in my easiest gear, until I hit the part where I always have trouble. I was doing a sharp little zig zag with every pedal stroke, and then I briefly stood. Now I'm not sure if this hpapened when I was sitting or standing -- DH says I must've been standing -- but the front wheel started leaving the ground, which is when I freaked out and unclipped.

Gahhh this GD hill. The section I can't handle is only like, 20 feet long, and its not like this hill is even part of my daily route but its so close to my house and it is killing me! Anyway, does the fact that my tire was hopping off the ground change anything technique-wise that might help me?

Well, I don't think it is you. 15% grade is very steep. You might be able to train up to it, but if all it does is give you frustration, why don't you fix your bike? I live in an area with many mountains and sometimes they reach that grade. I finally put an 11-36 rear cassette and a mountain bike derailleur (you need one of those for the big cassette) on my Specialized Ruby (50-34 compact on the front). The bike shops don't recommend this, but it works fine. I almost never use the 36 except on a steep grade like you describe. Then I am glad I have it. I am 61. It felt great to be able to get up the hills that I used to have to walk (or stop and rest). I just sit and go up. I am so much happier with my bike now.

[DocZan89]

I have 2 of those "I'm gonna beat this hill if I have to die trying" hills that I have been avoiding because I have had to walk them every time. Just like Jessie, I get to a certain point and just can't go on any longer. Think I'll incorporate the advice I've been reading into my ride tomorrow and include those hills.

Just to add something to the topic, no one has mentioned breathing. I know it sounds obvious and maybe you are already doing this, but I find that incorporating "belly breathing" really has helped me with my hill climbing. It keeps me focused and gives me more power.

Rosanna

[Boudicca]

They changed the route on my weekend ride. Killer hill is gone from the route I took. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

There were plenty of other hills, of course, most of which went fine, although they are almost as steep as killer hill. But there's one particularly nasty section that sneaks up on you after a sweet downhill, and I just didn't gear down far enough. Faced with the probability that I would fall over if I continued to try to power up it in a high gear of the middle chainring, I got off and pushed.

I now remember doing that on the exact same section of hill on a previous ride. Got to know my routes better.

[Hi Ho Silver]

Glad you mentioned the importance of breathing. Just remember that your lungs can only intake the same volume that you just exhaled. So the trick is to focus on exhaling completely and forcefully - your lungs will automatically take care of the subsequent inhalation.

[fallstoclimb]

You guys, I DID IT!!! I'm not even sure what I changed -- except the weather was on the cool side, for once -- I just kept my head down, I think I slid my butt back (quickly aborted my effort to stand, as I waited until it was too steep to get up), and just kept cranking -- and then looked up and I had somehow passed the impossible spot! I'm not sure if I'll be able to replicate the success every time, but at least now I know I CAN do it. Thanks for all the support!!

[tealtreak]

You guys, I DID IT!!! I'm not even sure what I changed -- except the weather was on the cool side, for once -- I just kept my head down, I think I slid my butt back (quickly aborted my effort to stand, as I waited until it was too steep to get up), and just kept cranking -- and then looked up and I had somehow passed the impossible spot! I'm not sure if I'll be able to replicate the success every time, but at least now I know I CAN do it. Thanks for all the support!!

Congratulations! Super feeling! and you will be able to keep doing it now that you have (:

[SheFly]

You guys, I DID IT!!! I'm not even sure what I changed -- except the weather was on the cool side, for once -- I just kept my head down, I think I slid my butt back (quickly aborted my effort to stand, as I waited until it was too steep to get up), and just kept cranking -- and then looked up and I had somehow passed the impossible spot! I'm not sure if I'll be able to replicate the success every time, but at least now I know I CAN do it. Thanks for all the support!!

Woohoo! I knew you could.One teensy observation - slide your butt FORWARD instead of back. This helps keep the pressure on your front tire.

Congrats, and now you will be able to conquer again!

SheFly

[Sky King]

You guys, I DID IT!!! I'm not even sure what I changed -- except the weather was on the cool side, for once -- I just kept my head down, I think I slid my butt back (quickly aborted my effort to stand, as I waited until it was too steep to get up), and just kept cranking -- and then looked up and I had somehow passed the impossible spot! I'm not sure if I'll be able to replicate the success every time, but at least now I know I CAN do it. Thanks for all the support!! Yippee!!!! was climbing a bugger on Sunday and thought of you. Way to go.

[kajero]

Woohoo! I knew you could.One teensy observation - slide your butt FORWARD instead of back. This helps keep the pressure on your front tire.

SheFly

Yikes, I tried sliding my butt FORWARD instead of back. It hurt . . . you know where. :eek:

[OakLeaf]

Yay for you! Take that, hill!