Tip for Hills

[ny biker]

If you're more upright at the start of the climb and then lean forward part way up, it's probably shifting the effort so your muscles are working differently, and this might give you a feeling of more energy/less burning.

On steeper climbs I am more comfortable with my hands on the hoods. Probably because I need to shift my weight forward to keep from feeling like I'm going to fall backwards.

[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.

[wackyjacky1]

Perhaps I'm doing something wrong, but the "boobs to the tube" method doesn't seem to work for me.

My personal interpretation/execution of BttT is to relax my hands, unlock my elbows, and then lean slightly forward, while keeping my back pretty much straight (no hunching). I find this position opens up my lungs, and it feels like I am engaging an ever-so-slightly different set of muscles, which seems to give me a bit more power. (Plus the "boobs-to-the-tube" mantra makes me laugh. )

[Bike Writer]

...and then lean slightly forward.. )

I only lean slightly forward also, some of us don't have to lean very far to get to the tube

[ny biker]

You know, I wonder if we need to clarify the type of bike we're riding. If you're upright, on a hybrid or mountain bike, you might want to lean forward, whereas on a road bike, even with your hands on top of the handlebar you're still leaning forward, but your shoulders will be back relative to being on the hoods.

In general, if you lean forward from your hips with a straight back, you use your glutes more.