Climbing Ability
Discussion
My local ride takes me up a couple of decent climbs but on the whole it's fairly flat. I've got fairly good flat speed averaging between 17-20 mph, but any incline has my legs shaking! Has anyone got any tips for improving, training regimes (high reps or high weight deadlifts?), or is it just more time in the saddle increasing distance? I usually get out of the seat and attack the climb however it's not long before the legs are burning and I'm puffing like a geriatric on 50 a day. Suppose I have to accept that I'm not going to be a climbing god but a little dignity at the top of climb would be nice, instead of frothing like a rabid dog.
TSCfree said:
My local ride takes me up a couple of decent climbs but on the whole it's fairly flat. I've got fairly good flat speed averaging between 17-20 mph, but any incline has my legs shaking! Has anyone got any tips for improving, training regimes (high reps or high weight deadlifts?), or is it just more time in the saddle increasing distance? I usually get out of the seat and attack the climb however it's not long before the legs are burning and I'm puffing like a geriatric on 50 a day. Suppose I have to accept that I'm not going to be a climbing god but a little dignity at the top of climb would be nice, instead of frothing like a rabid dog.
Weight is the biggest thing, lose some and you'll climb better. Also train on hills, bigger hills and concentrate on increasing cadence. The most efficient way to climb is seated, the more you do the better you'll get.Probably not the answer you wanted
burriana said:
Try selecting a lower gear and "twiddling" up sat in the saddle. If you need to get out of the saddle change up one gear and keep a steady rhythm, not jumping up and down too much. The best practice for climbing is hills I'm afraid.
Cheers, I thought it might be!!Yeah you're right I struggle on rhythm uphill which I suppose is having an affect on breathing and making things more difficult than they have to be.
"Attacking" EVERY climb will soon take its toll, especially the longer ones. The art is finding your preferred "rhythm" for whatever climb your doing, pacing yourself throughout and if needs be keeping that little in reserve ready to hit any ramps, or indeed, respond to those attacking (hint: hit 'em when they're at their weakest 
).
Experiment to see what works best for you (and that'll mean going way, WAY outside your comfort zone!): seated/standing, spinning/grinding etc, and find ways to mix them up, again to suit differing scenarios.
The rest comes with hill reps and training.
).Experiment to see what works best for you (and that'll mean going way, WAY outside your comfort zone!): seated/standing, spinning/grinding etc, and find ways to mix them up, again to suit differing scenarios.
The rest comes with hill reps and training.
more hills then!One tip I learned the hard way is to always KNOW what gear you are in. Cresting the top of a right b
h of a hill the other day, I wondered why I was suffering quite so much, when I was using my lowest gear. If I had only glanced down, instead of presuming I'd dropped down the cassette, I would have known that I had another 4 gears in hand.
Still, it suggests that every previous time I climbed that hill, I wasn't working hard enough.
I'm in the same situation as you, OP, I do OK on the flat, and can descend pretty quickly, but my Achilles Heal is my climbing. Every time I hit a hill, I watch my recorded Average Speed plummet. I've had a strong word with myself about getting more time in on the bike, and seeking out the hills, but I just don't seem to listen to me. I seem to end up convincing myself that buying a Carbon Fibre Dream Machine is the answer to my problem, but since I don't have the cash for that solution, Rule #5 it will have to be.
h of a hill the other day, I wondered why I was suffering quite so much, when I was using my lowest gear. If I had only glanced down, instead of presuming I'd dropped down the cassette, I would have known that I had another 4 gears in hand. Still, it suggests that every previous time I climbed that hill, I wasn't working hard enough.I'm in the same situation as you, OP, I do OK on the flat, and can descend pretty quickly, but my Achilles Heal is my climbing. Every time I hit a hill, I watch my recorded Average Speed plummet. I've had a strong word with myself about getting more time in on the bike, and seeking out the hills, but I just don't seem to listen to me. I seem to end up convincing myself that buying a Carbon Fibre Dream Machine is the answer to my problem, but since I don't have the cash for that solution, Rule #5 it will have to be.
Stay sat down, best option 99% of the time.
Also what many people do is smash at the bottom of the hill, gradually slowing slowing till they either stop or crawl over the top.
Instead try a steadier pace but try to "crest" the hill while accelerating, albeit gently. It's all about pacing.
A little mental trick I do on the mtb is "winching". I (quite literally) imagine slinging a rope round a feature a short distance (few metres) ahead. Then drag it in. When you get there, glance up and hook on to the next lamppost/rock/drain.
It's an easy way of breaking the climb up into smaller pieces. Works for me.
Also what many people do is smash at the bottom of the hill, gradually slowing slowing till they either stop or crawl over the top.
Instead try a steadier pace but try to "crest" the hill while accelerating, albeit gently. It's all about pacing.
A little mental trick I do on the mtb is "winching". I (quite literally) imagine slinging a rope round a feature a short distance (few metres) ahead. Then drag it in. When you get there, glance up and hook on to the next lamppost/rock/drain.
It's an easy way of breaking the climb up into smaller pieces. Works for me.
snotrag said:
A little mental trick I do on the mtb is "winching". I (quite literally) imagine slinging a rope round a feature a short distance (few metres) ahead. Then drag it in. When you get there, glance up and hook on to the next lamppost/rock/drain.
It's an easy way of breaking the climb up into smaller pieces. Works for me.
I used to use a similar 'mental trick' when out running up hills, whereby I would imagine that I was climbing a hill with two ropes as handrails. Then I would actually make the motion of grabbing the ropes and pulling myself forward. It works as a motivational tool when you are knackered, if nothing else.It's an easy way of breaking the climb up into smaller pieces. Works for me.
Take up cyclocross, it teaches you that the fastest way is start slow but finish quick, blowing your legs in the first quarter of a climb is just wrong. You seem to know what you are capable of on the flat, what you need to do now is sustain that amount of effort up the hill using the gears, instead of hammering it. You should be aiming at the same cadence and maybe a little more leg effort as on the flat, but at a slower speed, don't get hung up about how fast you are no longer going on a climb.
Or swap houses with me, because living on the edge of the Pennines means I can't go anywhere without climbing up some bloody hill and I'm sick of going uphill.
Or swap houses with me, because living on the edge of the Pennines means I can't go anywhere without climbing up some bloody hill and I'm sick of going uphill.
snotrag said:
Stay sat down, best option 99% of the time.
Also what many people do is smash at the bottom of the hill, gradually slowing slowing till they either stop or crawl over the top.
Instead try a steadier pace but try to "crest" the hill while accelerating, albeit gently. It's all about pacing.
A little mental trick I do on the mtb is "winching". I (quite literally) imagine slinging a rope round a feature a short distance (few metres) ahead. Then drag it in. When you get there, glance up and hook on to the next lamppost/rock/drain.
It's an easy way of breaking the climb up into smaller pieces. Works for me.
Weird, do the exact same thing when I'm suffering up a steep climb. Only do it on the steep ones though, but it sure works!Also what many people do is smash at the bottom of the hill, gradually slowing slowing till they either stop or crawl over the top.
Instead try a steadier pace but try to "crest" the hill while accelerating, albeit gently. It's all about pacing.
A little mental trick I do on the mtb is "winching". I (quite literally) imagine slinging a rope round a feature a short distance (few metres) ahead. Then drag it in. When you get there, glance up and hook on to the next lamppost/rock/drain.
It's an easy way of breaking the climb up into smaller pieces. Works for me.
gazza285 said:
Or swap houses with me, because living on the edge of the Pennines means I can't go anywhere without climbing up some bloody hill and I'm sick of going uphill.
Having just done the Etape Pennines last weekend you have my sympathy.Whilst the obvious thing for improving up hills is to do more hills there a couple of simple things that have helped me.
First, find a rhythm that is working you hard but not causing you to blow up and gently tap out the cadence on your handle bars. This will not only give you a target to focus on but also keeps your upper body relaxed.
Second, after you start to notice improvement do the occasional small climb completely wrong. Stick in a gear far too high and force yourself to push through it. After a while you will build strength and find hills much easier when using proper gearing. You might also find that small climbs now become brief bumps that can just be punched through.
BMWBen said:
Weird, do the exact same thing when I'm suffering up a steep climb. Only do it on the steep ones though, but it sure works!
Didn't realise this was a technique, but I've done the technique while out running before. Spot a manhole/ lamppost etc about 20 meters a head and run to it as such and the pick the next one. Before you know it your home.
@ 18 stone you will never be a good climber, its not possible.
Weight is the enemy (not talking about bikes here), you could generate a huge amount of power but it won't translate to anything at that size.
With regards to technique for climbing, obviously it depends what the situation is, in a race you have to stick with the pack regardless of whether you are comfortable or not, on your own, I'd just ride them at a pace you feel you can maintain, that feels difficult but not impossible. Also always have enough gears!
Weight is the enemy (not talking about bikes here), you could generate a huge amount of power but it won't translate to anything at that size.
With regards to technique for climbing, obviously it depends what the situation is, in a race you have to stick with the pack regardless of whether you are comfortable or not, on your own, I'd just ride them at a pace you feel you can maintain, that feels difficult but not impossible. Also always have enough gears!
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