Don't Make These Common Climbing Mistakes | MTB Skills

Climbing isn't particularly anyone's favourite thing to do on a bike, but you've got to get up to get down. Be it a long, winding endurance climb or an arduous, steep and loose surface, every climb is unique and poses an interesting set of challenges to overcome. So, if you find yourself struggling to stay on the bike the whole way up the climb, we've got a series of pointers that may help you figure out why you're climbing wrong!

⏱ Timestamps ⏱
0:00 - Intro
0:23 - Wrong Gear!
1:12 - Gear Crunching
2:17 - Riding Too Fast!
2:58 - Saddle Height
4:08 - Line Choice
5:07 - Body Positioning

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Do you struggle up any climb in particular? Which of these tips do you think might help you our the most? let us know in the comments 👇

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[TheButlerNZ]

Who keeps putting all these climbs at the start of a good downhill !

[briannyob]

Dropping your saddle a little bit below optimal helps climbing in technical terrain. Helps you shift your body a bit to transfer weight.

[TiagoMorbusSa]

Thank you for the tips, I'm a long time roadie that start mountain biking last year with a hard tail, and I find that climbing is just as technical as going downhill, picking the right lines and position on the bike is so crucial, it's also a lot of fun!

[Trznr]

I’m 41 and new to mountain biking. This is my second summer of riding. I climb until my heart rate gets up to 180 then walk. Then get back on the bike and climb until it hits 180. Already I can go twice as long as last year before having to take the bike for a walk.

[discretebear]

One thing to add about improper gear use when climbing:

Pushing too high of a gear uphill can place a tremendous amount of strain on your knees and can lead to tendonitis if done on a repeated or prolonged basis.

[fosternetterfield]

Great vid thank you, there is one climb at the park that dog 🐶 and I ride in that I vowed to make up in one shot. My last day out I made it after say 40 attempts maybe 50 or 60 since about the beginning of March.Everything covered in this video is completely pertinent to my quest to achieve that objective. I rather relish the challenge of difficult climbs and I believe they make me a better rider. Nothing like it for the cardio and weight management Cheers 🇨🇦

[walterreed]

Glad to see Rich making videos where he dosn’t almost die!!

[garretteverett]

I do a lot of SS trail riding and I've made peace with the walk of shame, but it feels so good to pull up to the top with feet still on the pedals.

[davidkline]

I'm an old GenXer and have been riding since the early 90s. When I started, my dad gave me a great book on mtb skills. One was called dynamic traction, which is pulling up on the handle bars a little as your pedal stroke starts down which helps push the rear tire into the ground thus maximizing traction while climbing.

Also what about standing/squatting with your center mass in middle of the bike? Or sitting on the nose of the saddle up steep, steep climbs?

[bertrandolf]

Adiing to the "not too fast" it's recommendable to start out in totally chilled stroll mode. If it gets tiring the slightest immediately ease back to super-recreational pace. Remind yourself to that for the first third of your distance. While your body warms up very slowly it can adjust the metabolism accordingly, so your circulation gets going effortlessly. Before you know it, you are well on your way in the second third and if you want you can even race in the last third. That way you can climb for several hours and even full days.

[fud]

I enjoy the 'ups' as much as the 'down's Ha! And riding the 'Malverns' you need to Ha!

[japanunfound]

I loved the comedy high cadence riding at the start. Great acting. I don't need to act to do that.

[expat]

really good video!.. checking my seat height right now!

[andrewsonleitner]

Nice info Rich great tips looks like your spending some good time in Arizona missed you at the whiskey maybe next time

[anitalandkroon]

the walk of shame 🙃🙃🙃 I call it the walk that takes you up the mountain too 😬😬😬 maybe a video on how to get up a really steep hill 😐😐 for example with a mega high table top 🙄🙄 sometimes it's still a little intimidating 😱

[DennisSLC]

Excellent vid! WOULD BE COMPLETE if you wrapped it up with some actual dynamic seat height adjustment thoughts.

[bertrandolf]

One important point left out in the video is nutrition.
The following passage was formulated by ChatGPT:

If you want to climb a lot of elevation with your mountain bike, it's important to maintain a balanced and energy-rich diet to have enough strength for the effort. Here are some recommendations:

Before the ride: Have a balanced meal that includes carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. For example, you could choose oatmeal with yogurt, nuts, and fruits, or a whole-grain sandwich with lean meat or cottage cheese. Drink enough water to stay hydrated.
During the ride: Plan regular breaks to have snacks and water. You can pack energy bars, bananas, dried fruits, nuts, or granola bars. These snacks will provide you with quick energy and essential nutrients. Drink water or isotonic beverages regularly to maintain hydration.
After the ride: Have a meal that includes carbohydrates and proteins to replenish your energy stores and support muscle recovery. An option could be a salad with grilled chicken or fish, paired with whole-grain rice or quinoa.
It's important to listen to your body and respond to your individual needs. Everyone reacts differently to food intake during exercise. Some people prefer to have a lighter meal before training, while others may require a longer digestion time. Experiment and find out what works best for you.

Regarding the timing, it's advisable to have a meal before training that allows enough time for digestion. Depending on the size of the meal, this can be between 1-3 hours before training. If you've had a larger meal, you can also have a smaller snack about 30-60 minutes before training to boost your energy levels.

During the ride, it's important to regularly consume small snacks or energy bars to maintain your energy level. Breaks should ideally be taken every 1-2 hours to have snacks and water.

Remember that every body is different and has individual needs. Listen to your own hunger and satiety cues and adjust your diet accordingly.

[JohnLangleyAkaDigeratus]

I'd love to see a video about climbing with obstacles along the way. For example having to do a front wheel lift. And then of course you have to get the rear wheel up. So climbing and then hitting a ledge or something in the middle of it. And then for bonus points right after that there's a hard turn. Thanks! Great video!

[tonyb]

Your drive train is rather more polite than mine! My drive train definitely throws in a few expletives.

[tjTerrence]

Hi GMBN any tips for starting a youtube channel about mtb rides?