Climbing, gearing, breathing

I am very new to Mt Biking (just started in June) really any kind of biking - first one I have ever owned...AND I LOVE IT!!! any way I am sooo addicted now.

Because I live in the foothills I have very easy access to hills - no let me change that - MOUNTAINS! When I started a few months ago, I could barely stay on the bike and go... I am now actually climbing said mountains, but...

I think I am finally getting the hang of the gearing but would love your knowledge and wisdom on HOW

I am now able to make it up the hills that I placed as my goals, but I just think I could be doing it with less effort?! I ride up, up, up until I have no gears, breath or strength left then stop, rest, and start all over again - any advice???

Most of my uphill is on the road or paved trails - the downhill is almost always trails - but I will save that for another day - hahaha

Yesterday I was almost to the top of my goal-hill and it seemed like it almost clicked in my head - I think I am over working myself - or working against myself and the bike- cuz at this particular point it seemed like I stopped struggling so much and was easing my way up...unfortunately a car stopped me for directions - I lost whatever IT was that I had succeded at and couldn't regain that - um I don't know if you would call it momentum or zone or what but after that it was gone

Thanks in advance for your help ~Janice

welcome to the addiction.

not sure on any advice to give you on technique, but i know how it is. when i first started i thought i was going to die going up hills. after working on it and going slow, my speed now on the same hills is faster and i'm not as out of breath, and i'm not in my granny gear.

sidenote: i hate when i get stopped in the middle of IT and get asked questions. i have the same person do it to me all the time when i'm half way up a hill. argh!!!!!:mad:

oh! just remembered. when i go down a hill right before going up another hill i try to go as fast as i can, that way the momentum of the hill before gets me half way up the next one and i don't have to work as hard or go down as many gears.

Ok some tips for climbing

1) take your time! if you watch most people climb a hill, they look like they are running away from a fire. they try to get up as fast as possible. maybe mentally you would like to, but your body says different. don't think of it as a horrible obstacle, but as an opportunity to focus on your body and breathing. for every up there is a pretty cool DOWN (woohoo!)

2) so from 1)...spin it out...gear down to granny front and back and spin easy.

3) chew the handle bar. depending on the pitch, you may have to slide your butt foreward in the saddle and bring your chin right down to the bar. exaggerate the movement on easier climbs to get the technique down.

4) breathe! you would be surpised how often you hold your breath on a climb.

5) move your body, again depending on the pitch and the terrain, your wheel may need its traction moved around. that might mean letting off the back end a bit, or leading the front end over something.

6) smile! remember why you wanted to try mtb to begin with. like i said in
1) climbing is an opportunity! find the joy!

Enoy!

hannah

PS learning to climb a hill slowly will help you climb it faster. i have passed many many women in RACES trying to shoot up an 8 minute climb. they would be a tiny bit in front of me, and i would be spinning away. by the time we get to the top, they would be out of breath and i would literally putter by. :D

Han has summed up the basic points really well

When you approach a hill, no matter your ability, it is so important to get into a rythym you can maintain right the way to the top.

Han is so right... if you charge at a hill, you will blow your heart rate and the lactic acid will start to burn in your legs and you will slow down and struggle as you near the top. But if you get in your rythym and ignore the speedies who charge the hill, it is likely you will get to the top before them. If you don't, you will prolly catch them on the downhill and be ready to attack on the flat, or be fresher for the next hill than they are.

When you keep your HR or the lactate under control, you are ready for the next demand. Often the people who charge up hills faster than they shouls for their level/ability will spend 5-10 minutes once over the crest trying to recover and cycling with 'dead' legs while they wait for the sting/bounce to come back into their pedaling.

Here's a good article from Bicycling.com about climbing hills: Fly Up Hills.

Quote:

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for every up there is a pretty cool DOWN (woohoo!)

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My boy (almost 13) and I were climbing a local mtb trail called Racer's Hill. It is a killer uphill but the descent is long and beautiful. He kept yelling back at me, "Climb for the PRIZE, Mom!"

So that's what we say to each other every time we're climbing. Climb for the prize!

I'm so glad he still thinks I'm cool. :)

Karen

Okay, I am gonna try your advice, that's what I love about this place...even before I was riding outside - started on a trainer for fifteen mins and worked my way outside :D the cool thing was, as I was sittin' on the trainer I would sometimes be on the net reading all of your advice and help to others...now when I am out there, I am "hearing your voices" teaching me me my much needed technique. How to sit, how to pedal, how to - well even buy and wear my awesome bike shorts ;) So I will take all of your help to heart and put it to good use... I'll let you know how it goes...I think I'm hitting that hill again tmw.

Tuckervil ~ I too am MOST fortunate to have a 19, 17, & 13 yr old daughters who actually LIKE me too!!! And yes they are my greatest inspiration. They are so proud of what I have accomplished healthwise in the past year and a half (minus 45lbs+). I get them out with me on the ride every chance I get... additionally cool is their friends ask if they can join us!

Smiles to all ~Janice

:rolleyes: I am also new to the MTB addiction and appreciate all of the suggestions. I love my bike and want to learn as much information about biking as possible so I can have the best ride possible. I am addicted!:D Looking forward to getting more time in on my bike.
Stacey