Getting stronger at climbing...need advice!

[Grog]

I find that a lot about climbing is technical, about handling your gears correctly to gain maximum momentum on the way down and maximum power on the way up. What combination is best really depends on the specific hill you're attempting to climb, so you need to practice, practice, practice. Sorry there's no other way.

[jobob]

Also, sometimes it's good to climb with people just a little stronger than you are, or are willing to adjust their pace so that they are going a bit faster than you would on your own, but don't leave you in the dust.

Climbs often seem go a bit easier - or at least seem get over with sooner - when you have someone to chat (or whine, or complain, or grunt) with.

[mimitabby]

yes, they are in front of you like a carrot on a stick. but it can (for me) be very discouraging, and i tend to overdo it trying to catch up to them. For me,
there's a fine line between riding my own ride and that initiative to push harder and do better.

all i can say is agree to do something you think is a bigger hill than you ever have done before; and DO IT.

[limewave]

I'm working on climbing too.

This tip has helped my climbing in mntn biking, esp steap hills: Get as far to the front of the saddle as you can and stay low. Keep on top of the gears and try to "spin" up the hill as opposed to mashing a harder gear. You need to keep you momentum going as long as possible.

[Andrea]

Assuming you don't live in the mountains, ask around your local shops for two things: the longest climb in your area and the steepest climb in your area. Go to one of the two once a week and do repeats until you're ready to scream. Once you've gotten better at those, other hills you encounter on your everyday rides will be a piece of cake (or at least not as hard as they used to be).
A lot of climbing is mental, too. I did a time trial earlier this season that was 2.5 miles long at an average of 10% grade. After that, none of the hills in my area seemed very hard. My hill climbing skills didn't improve because of that one-time effort, but it changed the way I perceived the hills themselves.

Losing weight helps, too, but that's no fun

[michelem]

I've heard mixed messages as to where to sit on the saddle - scoot back, scoot forward - scooting back seems to help me the most (from article 4 below, this seems to be related to height - short, scoot back; tall, scoot forward). The thing I'm working on now is keeping my heart rate steady (or at least not blasting it into the stratosphere) when climbing. Easier said than done, and I doubt it will ever stay completely steady, but the goal is to get better at keeping it within range.

Here are some links:

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...1304-1,00.html

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...-183-1,00.html

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...8581-1,00.html

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...4758-1,00.html

[smilingcat]

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...1304-1,00.html

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...-183-1,00.html

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...8581-1,00.html

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...4758-1,00.html

Really wonderful advice.

If you want to stand up, always shift up in gear or two. Remember too that you burn lot more energy because your center of gravity is going up and down. And its this action of up and down motion of your center of gravity, is what allows you to generate more power on the down stroke.

One thing that was sorely lacking in the advice is that climbing is not just physical. There is a lot of mental thing going on. I said it elsewhere on this forum "all good climbers have this mental toughness". I've had conversation with racers and when it comes to the hills it was a matter of "hurt you wanted to put on the other guys. Never mind about yourself." That was the psyche of good climbers. Doing the reps on hills will do a lot of good on your stength but it will also toughen you mentally. You get acclamated (sp) to the "hurt".

For a recreational cyclists, you may not want to push yourself to the "hurt" but the idea is still the same. You push until it becomes tad uncomfortable. And you learn to ride at that level. This will allow you to climb faster. And you as the ider has to decide what is okay in terms of your comfort level.

Yes I do reps on long hard hills and I hurt a lot. but that is how I like to train.

Smilingcat

[Mr. Bloom]

I find that a lot about climbing is technical, about handling your gears correctly to gain maximum momentum on the way down and maximum power on the way up. .

I agree wtih Grog, this is my biggest challenge. But beyond this, I do hills well....I suspect it's because I:

• did extensive elliptical training prior to cycling
• am very comfortable standing (which relies on the muscles that grew with my elliptical training)
• learned to enter tougher gears when standing and loosen up 2 to 3 gears when sitting

Practice, Practice, Practice