How to become a faster climber

Hi all, this is my first post but I've been reading for awhile and have picked up so much helpful advice.

I've been mountain biking with my husband off and on for a couple of years. I would say I'm an intermediate mountain biker. I'm very comfortable going FAST downhill but I still struggle on the climbs. I just go too dang slow. Do any of you have advice on how to become a faster climber? Could I be relying on my granny too much? Not pushing myself hard enough? When I ride in a group, others tend to fly up the hills, and I always find myself a little ways back huffing and puffing. I ride a Santa Cruz Juliana and it's a little heavy I think. Any advice, tips, or tricks would be so helpful. Thanks!

1. how is your overall fitness? I improved my climbing significantly by working on cycle specific fitness in the winter: spin classes, trainer w/dvds, whatever
2. with #1 you will be able to push harder in at least gear #2 or #3. My goal is to never use my granny on long sustained climbs, but sometimes you just gotta go there.

Fireroad and sustained easy climbing is different from climbing on technical single track. Also, you can train for hills on hills. Go find a hill somewhere close to you, and ride it a lot. You can't help but improve. I have a 3.5 mile fireroad climb out my back door, and if I do it 2x a week, the gains are significant for me.

I try to avoid granny too, but sometimes it is necessary, as a last resort. I run a couple times a week and that seems to help with the climbs. As I get into better shape the faser I go up.

I ride a Santa Cruz Juliana too.... love it.

Over the winter I ride my spinner. We bought a rowing machine, and I have to say that has played a huge part in being able to ride up hills faster.

I agree with Irulan - the more you ride up hill the better and stronger you get. No instant reward unfortunately, just have to put the time in... it will get better and better.

That's kinda what I figured. I'll just keep riding. I have 3 rides planned this weekend, so that can only help. Thanks again for your helpful replies.

Yes, I love my Santa Cruz Juliana but I'm also lusting after my husband's Titus Racer X. It's so much lighter than my bike. I may make him trade with me so I can try it out.

Another Juliana rider here :) I love my bike but it's probably not the fastest climber around. I got better at hills doing hill repeats, long slow ones and short steep ones. Keep working at it! you'll catch them eventually!

I bought a new bike. Seriously, I was a terrible climber then I got my Gary Fisher. I wish I could take credit for training but I give my bike the credit. Plus my bike fits like a glove (which my other was just good enough) and I think having the good fit had given me a lot of confidence. The only thing I can think is I ran to train for a half marathon in the early spring so maybe my cardio is more endurance suited? DH does hill repeats on a long climb, some ledges, some steeper parts. Just a great training hill. Others I ride with said they improve by just trying and trying again, riding lots.

I had the same problem and swore I wasn't in that bad of shape - turns out I wasn't, it was the bike. I retired my Specialized Stumpjumper and purchased a Scott Scale 29er - what a huge difference! I couldn't believe how much harder I was working than everyone else! It's not necessarily a weight issue, because although the components and frame are a little lighter then my Specialized, the 29 wheels and hydraulic brakes puts it about the same. However, having the 29 wheels makes a HUGE difference in my climbing abilities. It gave me so much confidence that I realized my new potential and started hitting the strength and cross training - now I love climbing :D

I'll second the 29er :) But if you aren't ready for that, definitely make sure the bike is fitted perfectly. My old one, it turns out, was just...wrong...for me, and I couldn't get the weight far enough forward on uphills (or far enough back on downs) and I had no speed in either direction. I didn't know a bike with a rider could roll that slowly down a hill.

Also, do what you can to get into a rhythm and try to focus on your breathing. Steady breathing usually leads to steady and consistent climbing which lets your body learn to get faster easier.

Good luck!