Five Tips for Uphill Cycling

Pedaling an uphill climb is very hard for a beginner. Too much exertion on the first stage of climbing is exhausting and you may not be able to reach the top if you had already spent your energy. Negotiating the few meters to the top of the mountain range is like pulling a rope attached to a nearly pulled spring or coil. The farther you go the more it gets tougher. And if you lack the reserve strength for the whole climb it is likely an exciting going down but prostrated. When climbing for the first time, do not be disappointed if you can only manage a short distance rise. Don’t force yourself as your legs muscles will not cooperate and suffer the legs’ pain on the following day. Here are the following steps to observe while negotiating a long climb:



1. Sizing up the road climbing distance. Try to calculate the whole length of the elevated or hilly portion of the road and determine which part you have to infuse more energy.

2. Shift to smaller chain ring and bigger driven sprocket. Shift to the appropriate gear ratio where you are comfortable for the climb. Shifting while in the middle of the climb results to more exertion and the possibility of derailment or coming off the chain ring, gear speed miscranking , and broken chain.

3. Determine the slope of the uphill road. Knowing the road ascending angle and which part is stiffer to climb is a plus factor as you will know where to reserve your strength.

4. Allot your energy to every stage of climbing. Don’t push yourself too hard to the brink of exhaustion to reach the top. Kick slowly, firmly and consistently. It is likely you will fail and drag your bike to the remaining distance of the rise if you will force ahead and drain your lungs’ power.

5. Shift to a higher speed gear gradually as you reach the top. This will attune the weight of pedaling, not an abrupt easiness of foot functions which contribute to more tiredness but gain more speed and relax mode.

I have been practicing these five steps and I always fair well with the road bike mountain climbing groups. Follow these cyclist’s secrets and excel in the high terrain competition.