How to improve road bike climbing Videos

I always wear my helmet in Zwift. Better safe than sorry.

+Dalton Levesque he's on a trainer....

+kaa13 Agree this works, also because the rider in front of you catches your draft as well, especially in a head wind situation

fair enough!! thanks for the explanation, thats such a good point about the transition, still, despite all this, id still like to try them as long as i didn't have to pay ;) 

The idea is that at the point the chain goes oval the mechanical advantage suddenly increases making the final part of the stroke easier. This doesnt take into account the fact that it takes more effort to turn it back onto the flat part again. The effect feels like stomp stomp stomp. It's far better to learn to pedal with a smooth circular action using clips or spd type pedals, The pros get paid 10s of thousands in sponsorship to use products wether they like them or not. Look for noval or doval chainrings on ebay see how you like them.

but some pros use q rings even now??

Egg rings was another aftermarket make and they sure were egg shaped but they soon went out of fashion. Gimmicky stuff like this was very popular in the early years of mountain biking. String spokes was the stupidest, but I'm sure the fools that paid out for them thought it made them ride better.  I learned all the bollocks when I sold this stuff in the old days.

now I'm a much more seasoned cyclist, id love to give them a go, but it does seem they don't make much difference, still, some riders dp prefer them??

+marcus allison Biopace sg chainrings were in fashion for a couple of seasons about 20 years ago and they went out of fashion because they didnt do any thing in the real world.. I've been selling bikes for almost 25 years and lots of stupid ideas have come and gone just as quickly.

+joe varga after some research, its clearly more efficient as you have very little power on the "drag" at the bottom, thank you for such a friendly, useful and interesting response :)

+marcus allison It is oval. I think it is designed to make someone more efficient throughout the entire leg stroke (down stroke + Up stroke), as Brad uses them and so did Froome during the tour I think. But it I can't comment on whether it gives a harder gear on the downstroke.  

+Mark Cunningham You don't exhale lactic acid, but you do exhale CO2, a product of lactic acid breakdown. So yes, inhaling to get the oxygen is important (he didn't say stop breathing in), but it's also important to get rid of the excess CO2. This is why free divers hyperventilate before diving - it blows off CO2. Although their reason is slightly different, they want to clear it because the build up of CO2 is what makes you want to take a breath, not lack of oxygen as most people would think.

+Mark Cunningham The exhalation phase of breathing is tied to the parasympathetic sytem, so if you prolong your exhalation, you'll lower both heart rate and perceived exertion. Rather than increasing lactic clearance, you're actually improving lactic tolerance by reducing perceived exertion. Being able to tolerate the fatiguing effects of lactic buildup is likely the reason why people think they're clearing lactate faster through breathing.

its complete bollocks, lactic builds up because of anarobic respiration, forceful breating doesn't mean you exhale lactic acid? You only diffuse a small % of the air you inhale so doesnt make a difference. Lactic acid is broken down by oxygen hence why you go from areobic respiration to anarobic you undergo oxygen debt. Don't accept everything at face value

+Kiryienka States*

What about that climb in the Stated that's nearly 45?

It works too.  Another tip for a REALLY steep climb (and when you're feeling the pain) is to go out of the saddle, take 3 or 4 pedal strokes, then just stand and pause for a second on the pedals, then repeat.

+Ray Farrow Stalling on a climb and then falling over is probably part of the initiation of swapping to clipless. We've probably all done it.

Did it last month and it worked

+Clifford Winston Good luck, Clifford. Hope it goes well!

+rakistang pinoy haha - Yeah, no one can understand a word they say :)

Peddle correctly with cadence.Instant tip to climb hills is to change the rear cassette to a larger one-I went from 11-28 to 11-32. Bigger one will give U a granny gear to go up hills, slow but sure & give U more of a breather.for endurance ,do short out of the saddle bursts to do the last 1/4 of a hill. My 22 # bike is heavy but can't spend the cash for a lighter one. Only been biking 2 mos. Yesterday did 41.6mi. Just bike a lot using high cadence on flats. Just takes time, use supplements.

@KittyKranker the small ring on most road bikes isn't that small, it's usually 34 or 39 teeth. It's also harder to change the front gears on a hill. It does depend on how gradual sloping the base is though. It also doesn't matter a few seconds at 125rpm spinning under load you can make quite good power, often equivalent or more than standing. I don't get on well with standing at any reasonable cadence though, it tires my legs quickly. 70rpm is okay on flat but you will bog down on a hill race

Yeah, I try not to drop into my lowest until I am at least halfway up my heartbreak hill. But, some days, with the heat especially, I just drop as I begin to ascend. And when I do get off, I walk as fast as I can up the rest of the hill to hop back on and go. I figured out that it's not my legs giving out but my breathing--so, I'm working on that. Rode eight last night, but still only twice up the hill. But I'm getting better. . .and it is a freakin' blast, isn't it? Best thing in my life!

Ugh. Youtube is full of expert cyclists, but what about us beginners? I'm glad--even envious--of those people who can ride 20 in a day or simply "ride up hill." I'm pushing for ten miles a day and only at 6, now. And I have a hill that is KILLING me every single day. I can get up it twice in a row as I loop, but after that, it's walking. It took me a month just to get up it ONCE. It's depressing most days, but the comments here are pretty condescending and not at all encouraging.

Riding a hill when ur fresh is OK ,When you got multiple long inclines after doing 15-20+ miles is hard. Get as big a rear cassette as possible. You will instantly feel how much easier those hills become. Too bad we all can;t get light carbon bikes with the right gearing. Mine is 22# with Mavic Ksyrium wheels which roll better. I think Bikes with a Triple Crank r better for hills if having the right gearing. My Defy 5 is only 8speed with a compact crank.

I'm just seeing this, now. You are so kind to take time to provide me with advice. I already have clipless, but I've been doing much better lately. I built up my cardio a bit more after realizing that it was not legs getting tired but lungs burning. Slow but sure! I will definitely take your advice in the other comment when I purchase a new bike in the next couple of months. Thanks so much again.

Not realy helpfull this video, when you approach a hill you won't think of all these theorys. The only think you'll think of is putting the chain on the smaller blade. Positioning of hands is personal, and depends on the effort you do. Positioning of foot: well by experience I can tell you you angle it automaticly. This said, go out and train instead of trying to remember all these 'tips'.

fixed gear is good because they are generally cheaper and easier to maintain. If your stereotypical hipster fix rider can afford a $1500+ bike he may not ride fixed. I have BMX, MTB, Road and Fixed, love them all in a different way, but the Fixed gear is just my general ride for going to grab a bite to ear a few miles away bike. In the end, the important thing is riding is just fun

I have been cycling for about a month now. It is pretty flat where I live, but there are a few little hills. It is kind of annoying to slow down so much but I usually have to drop to a much lower gear to get up hills. My main goal on hills is to not get off my bike, even if that means I go slower than I would like. I do have lots of fun though.

Ha. Indeed. Though, for now, I use the videos and some comments in order to learn as I get better. Especially when it comes to climbing! I'm learning that many cyclists are a li'l snooty, though, so I'll just take my time, do my thing, and keep pushing myself towards a goal. Peace!

@OFFENSIVEWORDS I hope your able to overcome your smoking habbit! Most of the time people start it because of stress....I wish you could of found biking because you started cause its a great release for stress. Its a dirty habbit for your body too so thats good you'll give it up.

I found out by accident that if you slide your saddle more to the front direction you'll manage to lean more on your steer and so are able to put more power to the pedals and also gives a better climbing feeling and performance. If this actually works for you too, let me know !:)

@Change438 Yeah, he's very rigid. Must burn a lot of energy trying to keep the bike from rocking. However, at the end of the day, it comes down to comfort. Everyone is different and it seems to be working fine for him, which is really all that matters.

@HariVIyer then you'll wear out the big ring,the chain the inside of the frt. der.,most of your cassette,the CHAIN, and the jockey wheels and you'll have no reply if someone "SPINS" past you... It's hard to Jump on the BIG RING, and catch anything...

@MHMarks Since always. If I'm riding 23mph on the flats I don't want to try and maintain 23mph on the hills, it's not efficient and will quickly destroy the legs. Keeping your power output steady throughout a race will always give the fastest time.

Works, but it's relative to your measurements. If you put it too much forward you'll lose power again. You have to let a proffesional (from a shop or so) measure you and ask to put the saddle etc on the right place. This gives the best result.

dont you want to keep your chain strait? i would switch the rear derailer cogs first THEN change the chain wheel gears. i under stand it would be little time that the chain would be slanted, but theres a way to have it strait the whole time..

good grief, cycling today is full of techy nerds, just get out on the bike ride it lots get to know whats right and natural for you, give up drinking and smoking and look after your lungs! the more you do the better you'll be... end of.

@dead4fun - why does anyone stare at car accidents? When I saw the title I was intrigued, could there really be something I had missed - or are people really that dumb. Mostly its the latter - but it holds a morbid fascination.

Forgot to post this earlier. Get Clipless Pedals. They will get you to learn how to peddle more Efficiently. I am Serious, they make a BIG difference along with the larger rear cassette. Started 2 mos ago, my first road bike.

You know you are getting better climbing when the only people passing you are that skinny dude doing 15 mph or that old crazy dude riding as if he has found the fountain of youth.

I have a weird way of climbing: hands on the drops, out of the saddle and moving left and right by about 2 feet and in a big gear lol. A little unconventional but it wins me races :)

@ownyourworld So true. Many people spend too much time on the internet, whining and watching videos, and don't realise that the only way to get faster is to get out there and train.

+Raw VeganAdventurer either you mean another chainring on your cranks... or another cog on your cassette.

+Raw VeganAdventurer you can't

+George Corbin I found 39/23 to be sufficient for 10 mile climbs up to 6% to 7% back when I was averaging over 400 miles per week. I usually rode solo, and when the gradient got above 7%, I struggled with my 39/23 granny gear. I usually rode solo since I had a hard time finding guys who wanted to go on 100 mile training rides in the afternoons. I used to average 13.8 to 14 mph. up a 10 mile 6% average grade that was within riding distance from my home. Today, I don't know how I did it. I never had anything other than a 53/39 crank and a 11-23 cassette. There was a 13% average grade of about a mile in length that I tackled a few times with that setup, but I sure was beat when I got to the top of that hill. I think I only managed about 6 mph. up that hill in 39/23. Today I know why I preferred the shallower climbs of 7% grade or less. It wasn't because of my weight. since my body fat was 3% back then. I thought it might have been my severe scoliosis or perhaps my type 1 diabetes. Now at 53 years of age I think I have figured it out. I think it was the gears I had on my bike. Only wish I had figured it out when I was at my peak. Living at the foothills of the Cascade mountains, I would have been wise to have thrown on an 11/28 cassette, but I never figured it out. Now I live in North Carolina and I still enjoy riding. I'm only doing about half the distance I used to though.

He also used it for most of the second half of the Giro 2011, but that inlcuded the Zoncalon and other very steep and long climbs. He does usually use 39-28t but it's important to remember he's drafting behind a large number of very good cyclists whereas most of us are lucky to have one or two weekend warrior guy to draft behind.

+interspool Wish I had Strava when I lived near the Cascades.

+Ken Meyerno, i dont tell this :)All Profi-Cyclists have talent.....i dont have this talent......but i am sure.......and the last one in a tour de france is doped........it is my oppinion.Sorry for my bad english.

+kallikratia79 so you want to to tell us that you can climb as fast as him, if you'd took the same amount of dope you suspect him to consume?! That's ridiculous!

Noio

+Doug Hawkes yeah so far my legs are strong enough to kick ass up hills not even I thought I could get up.. by far. So I'm getting there (leg strength.) From december to February my bike will undergo major modifications and weight reduction, mostly tt parts. That should help a bit.

+Campbell Gildersleeve There's nothing to do on a fixed gear except become stronger or walk the bike up the hill. That's the disadvantage to a fixed gear bike. They are simple and inexpensive, but not versatile. I think they're great for playing around on and commuting, but yeah they'll be insufficient for long hills or going really fast.

thanks

+Andreas Dalhaug thanks and omg, I mean contador! Sorry

+jcc2150 those are the specialized roval wheelset, the profile is equivalent to that of the 202s

+Patrick Bateman There are subtitles if you need them, just click on the little icon in the bottom right of the YouTube Player.

+Global Cycling NetworkWow! I can't seem to not drop mine going from 50 to 34 while being in big and big.

They really do run that in extreme stages. 

+Kieran Kirk Strava is pretty terrible at estimating power. I wouldnt trust those numbers! Matt, 306 is pretty friggen good (if you are <65kg ;) )

+Kieran Kirk​ not if there isn't GPS data.

+Josh Ross strava gives a estimate

+Josh Ross Either have someone with a power meter build a profile for you or check the manufacterer specs. The trutrainers have such a chart, look up their website, but it won't be the same for your trainer. You only need speed for this which you can measure on your wheel, gearing and cadence gives speed too.

What a great video. The end is great. As for power, I wish there was something that could analyze power on the rollers based on cadence and gearing. seems like you'd be able to get a pretty good idea with no elevation or wind resistance and it should be a simple formula. Can't find anything though. 

My ftp is currently 306W :/