Why You Are Slow Up The Climbs! | XC Climbing Mistakes

Join Rich Payne as he runs you through some simple tips & tricks on tackling steep & technical terrain on your XC bike!

⏱ Timestamps ⏱
0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Weight over the front
1:54 - Saddle height
3:28 - Tyre pressure
4:59 - Bad line choice
6:15 - Smooth cadence
7:10 - Changing gears

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What's the worst XC mistake you've ever made? Let us know down below! 👇

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[adrian_veidt]

My ultimate XC climbing technique is... Get down from your bike and push 👌😂

[danmoore]

Great to see a bit of xc content, more please Rich.

[japanunfound]

Yeah, this is a good one. The advice is much appreciated. My local trails are unmanaged forestry trails near the sea, so I have a lot of sand and roots to contend with. My main conundrum is how to keep the front end of the bike down, but keep the back wheel from spinning. It's a fun challenge and I'm so stoked when I get up an uphill section without putting my feet down.

[jonm]

Nice one Rich. Great to see some advice for us real world mtb'ers. It's not all about going ever faster downhill (looking at you Neil 😊).

[johnlantz]

I’m a old guy who loves climbing rocky hills riding deer trails in the desert, this advice is spot on, I don’t jump anymore or race but give me the technical rocky stuff don’t mind falling at a slower speed ya see, looks a little frosty, hot toddy time

[kjracz]

I agree with Rich's take on body position since I do the same thing. I am never comfortable feeling the tip of the saddle poking my bum while climbing. XD

[DuffersMcDuff]

Great reminders for us older riders....ridden that rocky climb many times... just after the christmas break is the hardest!!

[jtsoutdoorsandmore]

I have a cheap walmart bike hard tail . Its cheap but fun it does the job for now .

[winklertribe]

Thanks for going out in such cold to film this episode Rich! Very helpful and much appreciated! ❤

[simonrook]

Thanks for this, I have most of this OK, but I do struggle to stop it lifting the front wheel and will try that riding position and see how that works.

[ocbyn]

Nice, I recognise that first track. I punctured one the way down.!!!!

[anitalandkroon]

Great video 😃 it's cold there 🥶 Rich wears gloves 🥶

[horusgarcia]

You didn't mention suspension setup. Should you ride hard or smooth or just in the middle. Should you lock up the front suspension?

[stevencole]

Another factor is find spot to recover if you can. Especially on a tough technical climb that is done in the video . Even a bit of a track stand can get you a few breaths of rest and able to regroup and get back at it .

[Jon-tybb]

Oval chainring. I’ve found they lay the power down evenly especially at low speed/ low cadence. Rich is right about keeping a high cadence but riding technical climbs you can easily make the tiniest miscalculations and loose what little moment you had, loose too much speed and a gear change is no longer a option. An oval chain ring can help with pulling you out of that situation, less chance of spinning out as you stomp on the pedals.

[DZig]

Good one Rich. I hear the freezing mouth going on in your speak! Cuppa hot joe for me would be what's next!

[MrDodidor]

laying power down evenly and having a smooth cadence is an advantage since you keep momentum but that its more efficient is a common misconception and on road or gravel it doesnt matter at all. All the power comes from pushing down so having a perfect smooth even circle is actually less efficient research has shown

[trevorstevens]

Locking out the front suspension helps also.

[ISOSAILING]

just back from a xc ride lol on my stumpy, my advice is play about with differant tyre's coz they make a huge differance!! as my stump jumper is alot better bike than my other one but the thing is horrible doing xc on it haha down to the tyres on it they are a lot better in the ice though and for going down trailes they just dont roll anyway near as fast as the ones on my hard tail that i normaly use, didnt use it as i just found out i must have got a slow puncher thorns at it again most likely!!

[michaelturner]

What is the name/brand of that tube strap you have to hold you spare tube?