help! hill climb

In all seriousness Matt is good one to listen to for technique tips.
Matt great tips on hill climbs.

Evan

I have to disagree with Matt on this one. True, on technical climbs, like Heartbreak hill used to be, using granny (small ring at front) wasn't a good plan. This was because you needed power to get over the rock sections and it's just too hard to apply lots of torque in a really low gear.

However, on anything that's not got such technicalities (like it is now, like most of Cascades, the small pinches at Terrey Hills - in fact, just about any fire trail round here now they've bulldozed 'em) I reckon granny is better every time. Sure, if it was sealed road and you have lock out then go for it and climb like a roadie... but we're not roadies, are we?

That's because on the middle ring, to apply enough torque to keep moving on steep stuff, unless you have legs of steel most of us have to stand up, and standing up moves weight from the rear wheel and causes it to loose grip and slip and then you're in trouble. As for changing to granny before the hill is reached - yes, do it, because changing gear under heavy load (erm... like on a steep hill) is a bad idea, and perhaps like me, you have a dodgy drive train that doesn't like to go from middle to granny under any load.

Right, that said, suppose rest of what he says is OK

'Cos you are probably going to slip a little whatever gear, and this is were balance and line choice will help. You have to be able to ride slow enough, and sometime almost be at a standstill on the hills, but still not have to dab or stop (but don't! If you stop completely it is very hard to get going again in most places).

Ah - and remember to sprint up the water bars. Momentum is your friend here, pedal like crazy as you get to water bars and the grade increases. This should give you momentum to get to the top where you can rest and resume a steady grind ready for the next one.

And as for practice, I've seen guys riding up and down Heartbreak Hill endlessly (no, I'm not joking) - so if you don't make it on the first go, get back down and try again!

I agree with both Matt & Rob in part, for me I find that selecting the granny ring at the start of the hill, keep your wait on the front of the seat, lean foward & let the hill come to you, dont attack the hill too hard or you will tire to early, but most of all go at your own pace.

So your climbing up a hill in granny...your heart is pounding your legs are groaning...

Keep your head up and breathe....simple but it keeps you looking where you want to go!

Matt, you're coming at it from a good rider's perspective who has good inbuilt stamina, strong (i.e. conditioned) legs, fitness, correct technique, etc, etc. Although I think you do understand what he means. For a more inexperienced rider, I can completely understand where this topic comes from, as I NEVER rode up Heartbreak Hill in it's old rocky state. Poor me!!

It has only been while Heartbreak Hill is in it's current, graded state, that I can make it up without stopping. Feels a bit like second best, actually. But here is what I have learned and can report about hill climbs on well prepared trails (i.e. this is what works for me - obviously others do things differently):

- Granny gear works for me as the track surface is nice and flat and hard, like a sealed road. You get good grip. Keep on the flatest, hardest surface and you will lose less pedal power.

- Don't approach and enter the hill too fast. Don't waste energy. Slow down and let the gearing do all the work.

- Suck in a series of very deep breaths (10?) as you are approaching the hill, say, within about 100m. I think free-divers call this cramming? It will give you a good oxygen shot into your muscles and gets rid of some superficial fatigue.

- Knowing that you are appproaching the hill? Do yourself a favour - stop and raise your seat as high as it goes!!

- When I am struggling to push up Heartbreak Hill (there are 3 waterbars - of which no.2 is the steepest - and I think, the hardest part of the whole Hill), I sometimes stand up in the pedals (despite the lack of weight over the rear wheels). Why? Because you are lengthening out your legs, removing them from the hunched position that sitting in the saddle naturally puts them in. You are therefore putting your legs where maximum leverage is being achieved, plus you are squashing down on the pedals with your maximum body weight. Are you are heavy guy? That would help here!! Once I get over a waterbar, I sit back down again.

- As you get over each waterbar, slow down, cruise, and suck down a few massive breaths. This, again, will send an oxygen shot through your system. I find it helps - even if it is only psycological!

- If you feel really exhausted, try sitting in the saddle, and straightening your back. It is funny, but like standing in the pedals, this also "lengthens" out your lower body and provides more leverage (i.e. power) to your legs and pedals. It also lets you breathe easier.

- If you really get caught, and feel you are just about to pack it in up the hill, I also have found that "bouncing" about 2cm out of the saddle with each pedal stroke works. I think it also somehow provides you with more leverage and power. If I resort to this, I know I am in trouble.

Hope this helps!! I will also see you at the top.

Cheers.

Does anyone have a photo of this said hill...?

The one thing I have to say (contrary to some of the posts above, and I will shut up after this ) is if you want to make any hill half as hard don't change down to a tiny gear on the flat before you've reached the hill. On the contrary speed up at the bottom if you can (having properly spotted your line) and take some speed and momentum into the hill and you'll get to the top having expended much less energy, keep pushing as big a gear as you can for practice's sake and every time you get to the hill you'll find it's a little bit easier each time.

If you look after your drivetrain (proper lube, cleaning, adjustment and timely parts replacement) then even when you're pushing up a big hill a (timely) change of gear shouldn't effect your effort/rhythm significantly.

Just try it, in whatever gear is right for you, if you're not a fan of the middle ring then use the granny but with a bigger (less teeth) gear at the back, and you'll find yourself cruising up the hills in half the time and enjoying it rather than grinding away in a tiny gear just happy to get there.

I will say no more on hills except the proof is in the pudding!

Ta,
Matt.

Thanks for all the tips.. Staying seated really helped and I think I’ll stick with the granny gear until my fitness improves.

Yeah, as LD says, HH is almost as solid as a sealed road, it now looks like this (taken Sun 21st):