Bicycle Hill Climbing Technique Tips for Off Road Cycle Trails
Climbing hills on a mountain bike can be tough especially on steep terrain, but practice, the right hill climbing technique and willpower can make the task much easier.
Many people are put off mountain biking because they think they can’t climb hills. While a 600m hill climb may seem impossible for a beginner cyclist, the marvels of modern multi-gear bike technology coupled with a little practice make a big difference.
This article offers tips on the correct hill climbing technique to conquer almost any hill with relative ease.
The First Mountain Bike Hill Climb
Mountain bike beginners almost always find it tough when it comes to that first hill climb. Aside from cycling fitness and bike stamina, common errors include being in too high a gear and incorrect distribution of body weight which forces the front wheel to lift off the ground on a steep hill.
The first trick is to pick a hill that is not too steep. Choose a climb with a gentle gradient no longer than 100m in length and practice gear changing at least 10 -15 meters before the hill takes effect. Stay in the saddle throughout and ride the hill up and down several times until it feels easy.
Hill Climbing Technique
Now it’s time to try something a little steeper. Find a more difficult track with a smooth surface (forest trails or fire roads are a good choice) and use the following tips to practice the best hill climbing technique:
- Get some speed up before starting the hill.
- Change down several gears while gathering speed; this may mean the pedals start to spin until the bike reaches the beginning of the hill.
- Stay balanced and relaxed and remember to breathe deeply.
- At the start of the climb, try not to stand up. Many riders do this in order to increase pedal power when they are probably in too high a gear to comfortably tackle the hill climb. If the hill is short, standing up may be fine, but it is not sustainable on a long climb.
- Shift body weight forward by moving to the front of the saddle; this will prevent the front wheel lifting especially if the gradient starts to increase.
- Change down a gear or two if necessary to make the climb easier.
- Once near the brow of the hill, make an effort to accelerate for that final push to the top.
- Take a breather once at the top and look back to see how far you have come – it’s always a good feeling.
Long Hill Climbs on a Mountain Bike
That initial hill may only be a hundred meters long but it is possible to climb mountains with a lot of practice and self-belief. Once the correct climbing technique is mastered, lack of willpower is probably the biggest factor that prevents riders from conquering major climbs of 1000m plus.
Practice is key and that means getting out regularly on the trails to ride different gradients and different types of terrain. Remember that unlike road cycling, where the cyclist can quickly learn to ride at a set cadence, mountain biking requires the rider to climb on constantly changing terrain, upsetting the natural pedaling rhythm. For this reason, while learning, it’s a good idea to stick to fairly smooth long trails to build stamina for tackling the lumps and bumps at a later stage.
Tips to Help with Hill Climbing on a Bicycle
- Consider riding in clipless bike pedals for increased power on the upward pedal stroke.
- Drop the wrists and elbows down to help with forward weight distribution.
- Remember to hydrate on a long hill climb; use a camelback for easy drinking on the move.
- If the heart beats too fast, slow down or stop. Pushing is always an option or just descend back down and try the hill climb next time round.
Make Hill Climbs Look Easy
Practice and willpower together with good climbing technique can make steep hill climbs look easy. Remember to begin modestly and expand progressively Before you know it, that first impossible hill will feel like a breeze.