How To Ride Uphill | 5 Tips for Faster Climbing

Whether you want to claim the bragging rights on your local 'cols', boost you chances of finishing your next big ride in the hills, or simply get to the summit without feeling ill, here are five pieces of essential advice from Paul Knott - Cycling Weekly contributor and author of the Official Tour de France Road Cycling Training Guide - that'll help you nail every climb. Let us know your top climbing tips in the comments.

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[scotthamilton]

I think they missed one of the biggest tips which is: alternate between seated and standing efforts. Work the climb seated at proper gearing and cadence and as the legs tire shift to two gears (harder) then work the hill out of the saddle to work a different muscle group. I actually use the front chain ring for this technique at times but mainly the rear cassette. This alternating back and forth between sitting a standing (while compensating the gearing) not only works different muscle groups but I find that it also helps to mentally bucket the climb, , , which reminds me of another mental trick. When the hill really starts to get to me I use markers on the road side like mailboxes for instance, to give me short term goals. AND never look and fixate too much on the hill ahead, , never look the beast in the eyes. Then it has all the power. Keep your head down and focus sharp, , sit, stand shift gears, use mailboxes.

[warrenchau]

When I climb and spin on my saddle, I find sometimes sitting up straighter using the top flat part of the bar more optimal for getting more oxygen. Also I feel more rhythm climbing too and pick up extra 0.5-1km/hr more. Looking down holding the tops causes some mental stress occasionally and reduces ability to get that extra oxygen.

[epicmilitaryfantasy]

What will also get you better: Squats and deadlifts off the bike! ;) Being able to get neuromuscular engagement from all the muscles in your legs is important on and off the bile, which both of these help with.

[markowsley]

For gearing I would need a 46-30 on the front and 11-36 on the rear. Even better is my triple with a low of 26 in the front and the 11-36 rear. When you're old and fat low gears are your friend.

[tajulislam]

I find leaning forwards with my shoulders slightly beyond the handle bar i.e. putting a lot of my upper body weight towards the front axle helps me climb a bit better. It means, I can take some of the stress away from my legs but also use my body weight to peddle up the hill. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone but it kind of works for me. It's just lactic acid is the major killer...

**sorry, forgot to add, the above only works for me whilst riding off the saddle.**

[spencer.kissack.the.author]

I've got a TCR 2020. Comes stocked with compact & 11-34 teeth on the cassette & I'm bloody glad for those extra teeth much of the time.

[GEO-cyjt]

Unless you’re racing... subcompact cranksets are golden ✨

[rpvespa]

Thank you cycling weekly for being time wise. GCN waffle on to much.

[erikjohnson]

Great tips. Missed a very important one that works hand in hand with gearing. Wheel size.

[Martin_Neal]

If one is shifting the (front) chainring whilst climbing; then, I recommend being standing on the pedals, slowing to a lower pedaling cadence; then, shift and sit in a continuous movement.
The change of the front gear will coincide with one's dropping onto the saddle.
It is easier to 'spin' whilst sitting on the saddle, right?

[markgunn]

It's a good idea to go side-saddle when climbing.

[JogBird]

turn the assist level on your ebike to high

[dtmateo]

You need to love riding slow. If you can’t ride slow then forget about steep gradients.

[gayamol]

Who else like the side to side climbing tip

[arthurhood]

Was thinking at 3:20 looks very familiar - if I'm not careful I get the same problem up my local climb, either rear wheelspin when out of the saddle or wheelying when seated. Then at 4:20.. hey that is my local climb! If I'm not mistaken Steyning Bostal (Strava Official 100 climbs No21) :-)

[JHNT]

Missed the obvious one. Find a bunch of local hills and include them into your training plan routinely.

[Thezuule]

Any tips for how to unclip if you get yourself completely out of gas going up a steep hill? I'm always worried I'm just going to fall over sideways at a dead stop lol.

[markanderson]

I"m not a great cyclist, but I just grind it out in highest gear. Then I usually pass everybody. 53/12, I'm dying at the top, but so is everyone else trying to catch me. That's less than a kilometer though, haha.

[breathestrongcycling]

And don't forget the old school setup of 52/42

[byrondixon]

Best tip for getting better at climbing - Ride more hills. Shame it's true. Second best tip and it helped me - start the climb at your average pace of your pb up that climb... Check Strava to get your average.