Some climbing tips

[Wahine]

Here's a blog post (http://www.wenzelcoaching.com/blog/climb-better-mountain-bike/) from a well respected coach in Portland about ways to make long climbs more tolerable.

[limewave]

Good advice. I like her first tip "Accept the climb." Not that I'm a great climber, but I did find that once I changed my thinking from "Crap, another climb, I suck at climbs!" to "okay, a climb . . . I got this!"--things went a lot better.

[TigerMom]

My biggest problem with mountain trails is that I wobble as I climb. I can climb steep wide fireroads because my handlebars wiggle all over when I am seated on the nose of the saddle in a crouched position (I look like I am biking drunk). But, I can't do steep narrow single tracks because I immediately wobble into brush.

[limewave]

You might be holding on to your handlebars too tight and trying to use upper body strength. Try and keep a neutral grip and then climb from your core/hips.

[Irulan]

Wobbling can also indicate that the front of the bike does not have enough weight. Tuck the elbows in, drop the wrists, and get forward on the saddle. What I liked about the OP is the instead of addressing specific technique issues, it looks more at the mental image and big picture issues.

[TigerMom]

I am tucked with my elbows in and riding on the saddle nose. But I think that I am probably doing what Limewave said...that I am holding on to my handlebars too tightly. I have to learn how to climb from my core/hips

[Irulan]

Death grip- definitely not!