Tip for Hills

[OakLeaf]

I find myself with my weight too far forward a lot of the time while climbing. I'm not sure whether it's a fit issue or what. But you need most of your weight over the drive wheel, or the tire is just going to slip.

[itsalldownhill]

It so depends on the hill...but for a very steep climb I find that an upright position with my hands actually close to the stem (on either side) seems to be helpful. On longer slower climbs I've had more luck being a bit less upright, or even in the drops (which allows me to focus on charging up the hill vs. how long, boring and uphill it is going up the hill).

I do have a tip for descents....

Even if you're sucking in air from the hill you just busted up...keep your darned mouth closed! (she says from experience)

[featuretile]

So, I was on a bike tour and we were riding from Paso Robles to San Simeon, CA (over a REALLY BIG MOUNTAIN). I am the last person. I kept singing in my head 'I am climbing the ridiculous mountain' to the tune of 'the bear went over the mountain'. I did make it to the top.

I started riding almost 3 years ago, and belong to a club where most of the people have been riding their whole lives. I am getting to the point where I can keep up on the flats and most of the downhill, but they lose me on the uphill. However, lately, I am getting up grades that were hard before easily, and only struggling on the really steep ones. One problem is that there are hills everywhere and I have a compact double and not a triple. I put a larger rear cassette on the back and that helps some. But I don't have enough gears for the really steep ones.

What has been helping is doing intervals on my bike trainer, and being able to spin more without running out of breadth. I find that I am no longer last all the time! This feels great. You have to just keep at it. I also try to get the most out of the downhill momentum. When I see a hill in front of me, I start pedaling really fast - because the hill is my brake.