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Tackling HeartBreak Hill....
Yes,
I know Im an old f*rt and have only been MTBing a few months but Im frustrated having to walk up Heartbreak and some of the other "hills" at Manly Dam every time.
I have tried going down gears which usually ends up with me spinning the rear wheel or veering off into a heap. Should I be using a middle chain ring/low gear and standing up although most of the people pasing me are sitting down and churning up the hill.
Having only done Manly Dam about 6 times (my complete offroading experience) I know I have to build up muscles in the right places but any tips would be greatfully received.
Thanks
Doug
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Sitting down and spinning it up I find is easier.
Just go down to the smallest front chainring and spin it up.
Shouldn't need granny ring for any of the other hills in the track.
Ben
It is not the easiest to climb Doug even though it is all smooth.
First of all, any doubt when climbing is a no no. You have to say to yourself that you are going to do it. If that tiger that escaped from that Zoo in the states was chasing after you, you would damm right make sure that you would get to the top!
Second thing is to pace yourself. There is nothing worse than putting all that efffort in straight away finding that you have only moved about 5 meters.
Third, positioning on the bike. You mentioned that your rear wheel is spinnning and loosing traction. I guess you are standing up and leaning forward and putting too much effort and maybe going nuts. Sit down, relax and get those legs pumping. When peedalling I found a good idea was to think in circles as oppose to just pushing down on your feet. This works beest with clipless pedals.
Also having your seat up so you get to use the whole length of your legs. And be in a gear that you are comfotable in. You may want to start with the granny gears, these are the smallest one on the front and the bigger ones in the rear.
Controlling your breathing and do not stress is a good one. I found this one out when I used to jog a lot(sadly knees stop me from doing this).
I try to continue at a slow pace even when I get to the top, even though I am pooped to recover, rather than stop completely. But that is just me
In time you will do this one Im sure, and it will build your confidence.
Hope this helps because I found it hard at first and stilll sort of do but do feel rewarded afterwards.
Good Luck
Rich
Sitting down and spinning smoothly is probably the easiest, middle ring on the front and what ever takes your fancy on the back. Get into the gear you want before you start the climb, sit down and keep your upper body low (to keep enough weight on the front wheel) and remember the little train that could "I think I can, I think I can..."
Before you know it you'll be stomping up that hill in the big dog.
Its tricky but not impossible.
Use one of the lower gears on the bike sort this out before you hit the hill you wont be able to change once you are climbing. Dont look at the ground its relatively smooth look up the hill and concentrate on your position on the bike too far forward and you will lose traction dont sit up and back or the front will pop up also no good try to be smooth.
I ride heartbreak hill on a geared bike and a single speed it is also possible to get up in a harder gear like a 32x18 or 32x17 on a single speed you just have to keep the momentum up you should also give it a go in a similar gear (middle ring and middle on the back) just to test yourself.
if you have trouble getting up, try going side to side slightly. It makes it a bit of a easier gradient if you zig zag up the hill.
Con.
Rode Manly Dam this afternoon and managed to do Heartbreak (albeit with a few stops). I think the main thing was staying low over the bike and just taking an easy pace. Also tried the zig zag with "rounding up" over the water bars (??). So, a new first for me ! (Paid for it with an OTB at the 19th Hole doh).
Many thanks for all your comments.
Cheers Doug
Tips for next time:
- Everything Alchemist said! He knows his stuff,
- At the bottom of the hill, before you start going uphill get yourself in a gear you think you can make it up the hill in, for HH I'd go front middle and third or fourth rear,
- This sounds really stupidly obvious but don't slow down at the bottom before you start going uphill, keep some speed and momentum up and keep pedalling smoothly once you start going uphill (You see so many people changing down to a tiny gear way before the hill then slow way down and start spinning furiously going nowhere once going up, you have to laugh ;-})
- Give your breathing a start before you need it, ie start sucking in some lungfulls before you start going uphill
- Get your tyre pressures right, if you have an xc tyre you only need max 35psi in the rear and a few less in the front, this'll give you more grip and a smoother ride up the hill
- Play around with your positioning on the bike to see what the extremes feel like and find the point where you start to lose it both fore and aft so you know what range you've got.
Practice makes perfect.
Ta,
Matt.