Different types of hills

[rugby bloke]

The corner of Northants, Beds and Bucks where I ride seems to have two types of hills - Long but not particularly steep and a steady gradient, and short sharp.
Over time I have found the longer climbs easier but find that the short sharp climbs always have me puffing away like an old steam train by the top. The worst is the climb into my village, which I seem to average around 5 mph on ! Does anyone have any tips about improving climbing performance on short steep climbs ... I'm hoping I'm not alone on this one.

 

[Citius]

The steeper the climb, the more of your effort goes in to overcoming gravity, as opposed to moving forward. One option is to lose weight, another option is to get fitter. Another option is to do both.

 

[potsy]

The steeper the climb, the more of your effort goes in to overcoming gravity, as opposed to moving forward. One option is to lose weight, another option is to get fitter. Another option is to do both.

Yet another option is to get some training advice from our resident expert, ping @blazed

 

[Markymark]

The steeper the climb, the more of your effort goes in to overcoming gravity, as opposed to moving forward. One option is to lose weight, another option is to get fitter. Another option is to do both.

...another option is to move house.

 

[fossyant]

...another option is to move house.

Call yourself a cyclist ?

Keep trying is the answer. The more you ride, the better. Steep hills will always have you huffing and puffing, but you'll go faster. It never get's easier, but you get faster.

We have just about every sort of hill in the Peaks. Long drags of 5 or more miles, steady 10% hills of 2 miles to short steep 1in4 hills, as well as horrible ones that the gradient varies between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 all the way up. You just get faster at riding them.

 

[raleighnut]

Lower gears.

 

[rugby bloke]

The steeper the climb, the more of your effort goes in to overcoming gravity, as opposed to moving forward. One option is to lose weight, another option is to get fitter. Another option is to do both.

Its interesting that over time I have done both of those, plus changed bike. Everything has improved ... apart from climbing the short sharp ones. It amazes me that I can climb Box Hill without any problem cannot manage the final 400 metres to my house. More practice I guess.

 

[Markymark]

Its interesting that over time I have done both of those, plus changed bike. Everything has improved ... apart from climbing the short sharp ones. It amazes me that I can climb Box Hill without any problem cannot manage the final 400 metres to my house. More practice I guess.

Are you keeping up your cadence or grinding in too high a gear?

 

[rugby bloke]

I'm right down the gears, usually try to leave one final cog so I've got somewhere to go. Cadence may be an issue - I think I try to go at them too hard rather than find a comfortable rhythm.

 

[Citius]

Cadence may be an issue - I think I try to go at them too hard rather than find a comfortable rhythm.

Cadence is not the issue - the issue is your relative ability to push the pedals at the appropriate cadence. Which is a fitness issue.

 

[ozboz]

I have problems on steep climbs , so when I got my new bike , I had a triple chain ring fitted ,cost £30 extra , it is by modern standards a heavy bike, yep slow, lot of pedaling , lot of puffing , but it does get me to the top ! The bike does bob up and down a bit on the back end also , I read somewhere , maybe CW , that In Italy ( I think ) it is common to see bikes with triple rings fitted because of the hills , does help ,

 

[Dec66]

I'm guessing from your username that you like a spot of rugger? And, if so, I'm making a further assumption that you're built accordingly?

If I'm right, I have some bad news for you... You will always find those steep climbs hard. It's a matter of physiology. Your muscle mass will work against you as your cardiovascular system has to work harder to push the extra weight up the hill.

I speak from bitter experience; I'm built like a middleweight boxer, but with bigger legs. I can blat up Box Hill at a pretty good rate of knots, but something like York Hill or Sundridge Hill has me up off the saddle on the granny ring, pumping away, blowing for tugs and swearing.

To echo what everyone else says; you can get better, by practice, practice and practice (and by losing weight, but obviously that's easier said than done if you're low in body fat already but carry a lot of muscle). However, it's always going to hurt, and you'll never keep up with those 6' 3" stick insects whipping past you and turning 90rpm (till you get to the descent, anyway).

 

[MontyVeda]

eBike?

 

[Sbudge]

Its interesting that over time I have done both of those, plus changed bike. Everything has improved ... apart from climbing the short sharp ones. It amazes me that I can climb Box Hill without any problem cannot manage the final 400 metres to my house. More practice I guess.

I thought it was just me! I've exactly the same issue. I've started doing a regular steep hill detour at the end of my commute home to see if that helps...we'll see.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Cadence is not the issue - the issue is your relative ability to push the pedals at the appropriate cadence. Which is a fitness issue.

Citius, you are indefagitable.

I'm planning a post in which I outline my plans to combine squats in the gym (for leg strength), a high cadence (for efficiency) and patterned tyres (for extra grip) to improve my hill climbing. Just to see if it pushes you over the edge.