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Biking hills

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  • 30-04-2013 12:55pm
    #1
    Kurt Godel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,361 ✭✭✭


    What's the optimum way to bike long hills (say, >1km distance, >6% grade)? Is it more efficient to stay in the saddle throughout? Or alternate standing? Or something else?


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    #2
    sconhome
    Registered Users Posts: 5,468 ✭✭✭sconhome


    Granny gearing !


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    #3
    elvis jones
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,197 ✭✭✭elvis jones


    amphkingwest wrote: »
    Granny gearing !

    For me its bum in the saddle, drop through the gears and spin out those legs until the top !


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    #4
    joey100
    Registered Users Posts: 3,425 ✭✭✭joey100


    I'd try and stay in the saddle as much as possible too. One thing I have picked up from mates who mountain bike is that if you look up the road and think 'I'll need to change gear up there', once you think that, that's where you change. Don't wait for the legs to slow right down before changing.

    One thing that was talked about during the training camp I was on was about keeping your upper body still while in the saddle. You don't want to waste energy by bobbing up and down, or rocking the shoulders, nice smooth movements with the upper body staying as still as possible. All nice and easy to say but very different when you are halfway up a mountain and your heart is bursting out your chest!


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    #5
    BennyMul
    Registered Users Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭BennyMul


    I dont think there is a true optimum way to climb everyone is different, and has different styles, some can spin up @100rpm, me I grind gears.

    I would avoid standing for long periods as it increases the HR,
    sit in the saddle only standing to pick up the pace, relax your upper body and leave your hand on the top of the bars to open out the chest to allow full lung expansion,
    also I would suggest making sure you start the climb in the correct gear, so you dont waste energy due to the wrong gearing, also unless is a short drag < 5min ish I would suggest not to attack but to easy back at the bottom and maintain a constant pace over the top and use the decent to recover by spinning the legs.

    and dont mind AKW there is not a climb in this country that you need granny gears for. (or should not need them for):)


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    #6
    tunney
    Registered Users Posts: 12,583 ✭✭✭✭tunney


    Give this the Triathlon forum....

    The correct way to climb is in the aero position.


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    #7
    hf4z6sqo7vjngi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,454 ✭✭✭hf4z6sqo7vjngi


    tunney wrote: »
    Give this the Triathlon forum....

    The correct way to climb is in the aero position.

    whilst in the 53/11


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    #8
    sconhome
    Registered Users Posts: 5,468 ✭✭✭sconhome


    Ivanna Substantial Drywall wrote: »
    whilst in the 53/11
    nick-bowdler-2.jpg

    77 / 11 Go big or go home!


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    #9
    Oryx
    Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    If you do get out of the saddle, drop to a harder gear, and switch it back when you sit again.


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    #10
    longshank
    Registered Users Posts: 249 ✭✭longshank


    tunney wrote: »
    Give this the Triathlon forum....

    The correct way to climb is in the aero position.

    is there another position???


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    #11
    tunney
    Registered Users Posts: 12,583 ✭✭✭✭tunney


    longshank wrote: »
    is there another position???

    thats what Jackyback's wife said.


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    #12
    elvis jones
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,197 ✭✭✭elvis jones


    tunney wrote: »
    thats what Jackyback's wife said.

    Right the sexual side of the thread is back;)


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