6 Climbing Mistakes To Avoid When Cycling | GCN Pro Tips
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Riding uphill is hard enough as it is, don't make it tougher than it needs to be. Matt is here with 6 mistakes to avoid.
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Let us know mistakes that you avoid when climbing in the comments below 👇
To make climbs more pleasant, and allow you to get up and over them faster, ex-professional cyclist Matt Stephens presents 6 mistakes that you need to avoid
In no particular order they are as follows:
1. Don't go into the red! Pace yourself, don't go flat out at the bottom.
2. Under gearing, spin to win is all well and good, but spinning at a very high cadence is simply not efficient.
3. Over gearing. You may damage your knees, and simply you are not mechanically efficient when grinding a big gear. Plus, you run the risk of actually coming to a standstill if the gradient is severe enough!
4. Shifting under load. Make sure you change gear at the right time, a poorly timed shift can result in a jammed chain due to the torque involved.
5. Climbing on the tops. Don't climb out of the saddle on the tops of the handlebars, it is very twitchy and you don't have as much control.
6. Eating. Avoid stuffing lots of energy food into your mouth on a climb. You will be unable to take in enough oxygen as the food is blocking it's passage.
Those are just some mistakes to avoid!
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Watch more on GCN...
Top 10 Cycling Mistakes And How To Avoid Them 📹 gcn.eu/f8
Top 10 Cycling Excuses - For Climbing 📹 gcn.eu/f7
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Burn - Ulas Koca
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Leave us a comment below!
Let us know your mistakes to avoid when climbing 👇
Hi! Can you make some video about bike fit that we can do in home (find reach, height of saddle and fore/aft saddle)? In my country and area(Balkan) ther is only one or two bike fitter(Slovenia) and i can't travel so far.
Make sure your front brake isn't rubbing your wheel-heard this from a friend.
Global Cycling Network Stopping for taking a pic of the epic landscape. Then you forget it's so steep when you clip in...
Falling like an idiot to the side.
Don't open jacket/vest when climbing. Massive overheat after a while...
Trying to make sick rhymes
Sounds good. Let's summarize.
1. Don't blow, and end up slow
2. Go too low, you'll only end up slow
3. Feel the burn, but let those pedals turn
4. Shift smooth, don't loose your groove
5. Don't climb on the tops, it's better on the drops (or hoods)
6. Give yourself time to chew, that way you won't hurl or spew
Got it.
Most of my friend always doing no
2 skill..endup,they are go faster at early climb,but very slow in the middle..they run out the cadence..
It was once said, "Never climb in the drops...unless you're Italian and great".
Politicus Rex I like the drops you just move around the saddle, then the tops then the drops, it helps you fatigue less because your using different muscles. Just train and you can rotate positions which makes climbing much easier.
@@winstonpienaar6809 why are you addressing me?
Sounds like Dr. Seuss' poets
that last shot is MAJESTIC
allen ahyong this seem to be the swiss alps
This is in the Italian Dolomites. Going up the campolongo pass from Corvara. The main mountain is Sassongher. I used to live on the pass :-)
The whole scenery is beautiful wish I can ride over there.
Yup
Italian Dolomites yes, looks like Cortina not Corvara tbh
I have 2 to add, wonder what everyone thinks of them...
1. Don't breath out on the same leg. When you breath out, you naturally tend to put a bit more force on that down stroke. Might not seem like a lot but if you don't this 100x on the same leg, you'll start to wear out that leg. Trying switching between legs every 5th or 6th breath. Plus, it gives you something to concentrated on other than the burn.
2. Alternate between standing and sitting. Surprised this one wasn't listed. Each position uses somewhat different motions and muscle groups, so you can give your quads a bit of a rest by standing, give your glutes a bit of a rest by sitting.
So basically:
-Switch between legs during exhale, so your legs won't buckle or fail, and
-Alternate between standing and sitting, so each muscle groups' working and resting.
Got it.
Good tip on breathing. I think 2 comes naturally to most people anyways 😅
Mel Palaganas rn fr tryna
@@chaosbreaker657 What does switch between leg mean?
What does switch between leg mean?
Matt is clearly a rap god and i'm looking forward to the compilation of him spittin' mad rhymes all the thymes.
.....clementines.
Pratalax nailed it
Clearly Matt's a poet and we didn't know it!
Matt's mixtape is dropping this summer, its gonna be fire.
So wasn't you that wrote the script then?
that is soooooo bad!
talking to camera while climbing more that 10% is far harder than people think
@@esequieltovar4955 It is
@@esequieltovar4955 it really is
@@esequieltovar4955 do *you* cycle often?
@@esequieltovar4955 since before childhood for me
@@esequieltovar4955 if my replies seem pointless and obnoxious, it's because I wanted to demonstrate how I felt about your original "it isn't" reply.
A mistake I've made climbing is letting a rider in front of me dictate my speed and rhythm (that is not a team member or closely matched friend, but in a group). Better to stay in your rhythm and look up the road.
One thing that I employ especially on long climbs (I have some that I do that are in excess of 7 miles) is to alternate between standing and sitting with most of the time spent on the saddle. This gives muscles that are screaming a chance to recover just a little and it helps me keep going.
Matts froomey impression was spot on.
Radio Station Indeed, that almost made me spit my coffee all over the screen.
I ride in the Massif Centrale in SW France. At 75, the lower the gear the better! Slow is good! Triple chainwheel on my Gitane is essential!
Me too! Triple chainwheel. I have been to Massif Centrale - Puy De Dome greetings from Japan
After seeing your video about hand placements, I experimented and found that climbing on the hoods seemed a lot "lighter" and faster than on the tops. Rather than simply being a matter of "control," I think it may be more about musculature, like how a lower cadence can be better for one person, while a higher cadence may be better for someone else, in the same situation, depending on power and muscular endurance. Hope to hear/read your opinion
My biggest mistake aside from riding a fixed gear is usually spending too much energy trying to build momentum before the hill and red lining too early.
Just got my first road bike trust me it’s so much fun er in a road bike
What is the draw of "fixed gear" bikes?? I never could see any reason?
I love how the DT Swiss logos are perfectly alligned at the end
3:46 is an incredible shot!
When you don't know the route, keep a little doubt (don't push harder thinking it's the top of the climb unless you know for a fact that it is). If you get passed, stay relaxed (don't accelerate out of pride or ego).
Good advice
I am 190cm tall and 100+kg. All my climbing is done in the red. There is no avoiding the clash of mass and gravity!
Shaddo Im 190 cm and 96 kg. My biggest problem is that in steep climbs im riding at 60 rpm on 34 x 32...... cause i cant go faster
I'm riding 36/29 at 200lbs - I just concentrate on completing the climb and picking points to ride to along the way. If I get dropped - so be it.
Shaddo I'm 2m and 83kg I feel your pain mate
I feel your pain at 85-90kg so 100+... ouch. So for us, it's... go solo ha ha. That way we don't get dropped :) We just suffer through it. For some reason I really enjoy the pain of climbs while of course not being so good at it. Well except for steep parts. Those 12-15-18+% slopes, even if short, kill us heavier riders. While with our power we can actually be good in 5-8% sections even if they are very long.
Oh and for us heavier riders, 50/34 at the front and 11-32 or 11-34 in the back sure helps for the really steep parts. In MTB there are 10-42 cassettes but I think for single ring at the front. Imagine a 50/34 with a 10-42! More power with 50+10 than 53+11 for sprints and descents! And of course even climbing the Alps becomes doable! One can dream....
Unless you are Matt don't bust out rhymes on the climbs ;-)
What a video...Great Backdrop and some outstanding lines worth remembering, this video has it all love it. Thanks guys very entertaining. The call for action shot is unreal WOW!
Once (this wasn't my fault, but still), I was coming to a very steep climb, like, 15%, which is really hard for me, and I have 3 chainrings. I was on the middle, and before I got to the climb, it refused to shift to the small one, so I continued pushing for a bit, but then just stopped and literally couldn't move no matter what! Scary, but hilarious for who was watching.
I've seen some folks tackle hills with what looks like minimal effort but, they were probably seasoned riders. Hitting it too hard/gassing too soon, and choosing the right gear are always my issues.
Matt has embraced going full cheese with those rhymes. He's the best.
If I have to shift while climbing I stand on the pedals before actuating the levers. That way I can build some additional momentum before getting back on the saddle and do the shifting with no torque on the pedals.
Alex Lopez are you off to show your gran how to perform a particular oral action upon an egg now?
Watching Matt Stephens two years later, he's still a class act. I miss his candid wit.
Gone too soon.
5: Climbing on the tops (on the handlebars): I had a fall doing this, while climbing uphill, and initially wasn't sure why I fell. I am 100kgs, so the fall hurt, but being just an amateur in cycling technique, I initially assumed bike failure rather than rider error. I was attacking a medium hill and wanted to maintain a speed to the top. I was fighting to preserve 15mph as I was close to the top, but my cadence was falling. To generate the power, I was standing, and to preserve balance, was transferring weight to the handlebars. Then it is as though the chain slipped, there was no resistance in the pedal as I was thrusting down, I lost my balance, and fell. The chain however, did not slip. I believe that by leaning on the handlebars, there was a transfer of my weight toward the front wheel, hence less on the rear. With the power I was trying to apply, the rear wheel simply lost traction and spun. When you expect resistance in the pedal, and there is suddenly none right when you are pushing down on it, and standing, you're gonna fall.
So I support tip number 5, but wish also to stress how important a tip it actually is.
0:41 look at those arms
pro technigue for fast cadence. I use it all the time!
#7 don't climb where you can't get nice scenery!
My favorite presenter. Love that english humor
Thank you Matt! Finally after years of trying to explain the art of climbing to my wife and failing. I sat her down In front of this and NOW she understands! #legend
Thanks for all the supportive feedback. I will just have to keep finding my rhythm and taping out a pace on those climbs before trying to catch the group on the down hill.
Wow a 5 minute video that is straight up just good tips and no bullshit dragging? Amazing
Where was this filmed? So beautiful!
Corvara, Italy, in the Dolomites
My mistake is I did my first 100k ever yesterday on my charge plug single speed! My left knee hasn’t been great today. I can’t wait for my ‘geared’ road bike, although there isn’t much ‘climbs’ around the new forest it sure felt like it on my single speed! 🚲
Start early in the morning for summer rides to beat the heat. In fall, bring a thin jacket around your waist or bag for the ride down. Temperature regulation has a big impact. I liked their point on not eating during the hard uphills. I've done that and nearly inhaled my food into my lungs.
The mountains in the background are just gorgeous.
Coming to a stop on an incline and not planning to land on uphill foot. If you land on the downhill foot you will lose your balance and crash hard with the bike coming on top of you. I managed to do this on a fully loaded tour bike and if I were not wearing a helmet would have cracked my head open because the load of the bike made the whole event extremely dangerous for me and anyone around me including oncoming cars. I landed with my head whiplashing towards the pavement and skidded downhill. Plan ahead and if you need to stop on an upward incline by always angle your bike a little so you end up landing on the uphill foot/side of your bike. It can feel counterintuitive but I learned my lesson the hard way.
another mistakes:
-moving too much ( not staying in an imaginary straight line on a side), it could annoy other cyclists behind or aside
-moving the head too much from side to side, the physical effort should be focused on the legs mainly
-poor tire pressure
For me when climbing I have to control my breathing, that way I can low my HR making climbing easier.
I finally managed a modest climb the other day without putting my foot down. These tips will really come in handy for the future although I'm pretty sure, in a later GCN video, the presenter recommended holding the tops while climbing.
Good tips and the scenery was the best. Good motivation is to choose an awesome location to ride. I did this Sella Ronda ride back in 2016. Thanks for the memories Matt.
I climb out of the saddle on the tops sometimes, very rarely....but sometimes it's just nice to have another position while going through the pain
Where was this filmed?! The mountains are so sharp and stunning!
t is on the Campolongo Pass above Corvara, Alta Badia, Dolomites, Italy. The peak in the background is Sassongher.
I CLIMB ON THE TOPS, I find it easier and I have more control than on the hoods or drops especially when it's raining
That was the most Matt Stephensy video I've ever seen. Truly on form.
I started out trying to tackle hills on a 75lb single speed. Switched to a lighter 5 speed with a gear hub, then to a heavier 7 speed derailleur bike. Found out with the gear hub that if I tried to shift while pedaling it’d pop out of gear and take the coaster brakes with it. I haven’t figured out with the 7 speed if this will be an issue. The fact that the 7 speed is 75lbs like my single speed is definitely a challenge though.
I love climbing on the top because it gives me the room to breathe well, but I also use the hoods in long climbs too. I don’t go full Pantani, I’m too heavy to do that.
Son of a galaxy that view at 3:57, flipping mental!!
brilliant tag lines Matt, you must have worked hard on those, pure comedy genius!!
Another thing I’ve found to help is to sit down right when your at the last little bit of incline. It well help push the bike forward by just a little bit. Also keep in mind standing up will push your bike back. Sometimes ya have to watch the guy in front of you to make sure his back wheel doesn’t hit your front wheel if he were to stand up
From mountain biking, i learned how to ease off the pedals a bit to reduce load when I have to shift while climbing. Try to give you pedal a bit of extra force, then let up and shift while pedaling normally. No crunching, no cringing.
Rob Lucchetti True, but that probably only works up to around 10% or so. On steeper climbs you simply can't afford taking the pressure off the pedals at all.
Loing the Ray-Ban on Matt. They give you an even more retro look.
Great video. I have enjoyed your videos since 2015 and its help me to become a great rider out there. I do have a question. I have seen your videos improve in quality and aesthetically, but what always varies and hasn't gotten better is the audio. It is so variable throughout clips, even stationary video like the GCN show. Why is that? Are you looking to improving the audio? Thanks GCN!
2. Over gearing and undergearikg.
3. Know how to shift. Don't do big chain to small.
5. Climbing to the top
Saddle. Drops
6. Eating duringking on climb.
7.
Shift smooth, don‘t loose your groove.
I will remember that.👍🏻
My English is not good. What does that mean? Loose groove?
What a wonderful road you climbed up on! I'd die of exhaustion on the way up and plummet to my death on the way down, but I'd still love to ride it.
That backdrop is stunning
Are these poses going to be part of a calendar???
GCN ADVENT CALENDAR?
Kath R maybe yes
I am no racer but I have worked using a bike in the 90s and again since covid.. I find I breathe in twice and exhale once over and over like a locomotion sort of cardio action. Also to rest I put into a stiffer gear and let my weight push down the crank to save energy and recoup before a steeper incline.... Regardless the length, hills suck.
Oh man so true good tips! This Matt guy just cracks me up looks like he knows how to have a good time
My biggest mistake sense switching to bike deliveries was not bringing food or other suppliments to consume before I get to the bottom of the super tall mountain I live on top of and hitting the wall partially up with nothing to consume and walking up drowsy feeling like I'm going to pass out on the road
Those crags in the background are superb looking. Thanks for a real common sense vid Matt !
you got the Froome arms spot on
Please GCN, could you let us know the locations of your videos in future? A quick line in the notes is fine ; - )
Great advice, I love the climbs, and do ride within myself on a moderate gear.. I also look forward to the descent, which is half the fun of getting to the top.. 67MPH off the Izoard. My first climb, and I must confess to being a bit emotional riding the same roads as the bygon heroes of the tour.
Without Matt GCN simply isn’t the same anymore...miss these episodes with him.
The new fake presenters are terrible.
Where is he in this video? Super tips and wonderful scenery 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
#9 if you sit all the way up aclimb you can probably get away with cutting the apex, standing briefly to take the steepest part of the turn. I do this and find that if the guy in front is 10 m in front Ican usually catch as he takes the easy part of the hairpin.
Matt's quote were marvellous, you should do a video of matt's best quotes!!!
Thanks a lot for the tips! Guys, you are amazing! And so hilarious! Love your accent!
His rhyming in between the segments are great 😂
Thank you for the great info for me on one climb it was grinding to a halt and turning around LOL I will put some of your techniques to practice
for me a high cadence is efficient. if i go a little lower then normal then i will begin to go in the red
I broke a chain out of the saddle on a steep climb, couldn't unclip in time and ate ish into some rocks. Now I only climb seated. I start spinning strong at a good cadence, then sit back a bit and push the pedals away from me, then slide forward on the saddle and straight dig. I make it.
Comparing your scenery to mine, I have nothing to say......much respect to you!
I wish I could have this British gentleman explain everything to me. Not just cycling stuff, but absolutely everything there ever was, is and will be.
7.Dont attack on climbs or youll lose oxygen before the middle of the climb comes, just keep the wheels spinning and finish the climb every time on such any pain :D
7. Keep thee sen well-oiled and thee chain well-oiled, thou knowest ...
Actually I wanted to see a comparison between getting out of the saddle to climb or staying in the saddle. Which is more efficient? Or should I alternate the two?
You should change position. You use different muscle when sitting and standing
in the beginning i only climbed sitting in the saddle but now after watching gcn i mix it up
8. Avoid jells -- they may precipitate the Dumoulin manoeuvre ...
its all about marginal gains - if curling one off will loose 500g then go for it.
gels? gels have no issues on my stomach at all. infact i prefer them because i can get them down quicker then i can chew on a bar and im more likely to finish the gel instantly where as itll take me a while before i down the bar. bars have more diverse sources of calories sure, but if its something short where im just trying not to bonk or feel like trash ill down a few gels in 2 minutes and im good to go
My first attempt at serious climbing was up Mt. Teide on Tenerife. Got about 2/3rds of the way, which I was ok with. Think I was 58 or 59 & on my own, god, it was hard.....& a bit boring, it was just relentless. Would loved to have been in a group.
Sounds brutal Steven! Two thirds of the way up Teide is still a looong way up!!
I created a "Magic Road" on Wahoo RGT during the winter, of El Medano(always holidayed there) up to the "peak" before Boca Tauce and the drop into the caldera.... I did it on my Kickr V5 and god was it relentless... 36km and 2200m from sea level took bloody 3.5hrs.... and in the 38 mins it took to do the reverse descent there was just 2m of ascent..... just shows there are no "breathers"(ie only 2m descent on the way up) whatsoever.... I've driven the road many times (Granadilla, and Vilaflors) and was psyching myself up for doing it in May 2020...haven't been back since 2019.... The road from Los Gigantes on the west looks a better route to get up it anyway, less steep and a bit longer...maybe in the autumn who knows...?!!
I have a fixed gear , so standing when going up a hill is basically a must
I like how the "DT SWISS" logo's on the rims are aligned at the end of the video (3:51). Keep up the eye for detail!
I think they’ve deleted it now
That scenery is awsome ❤️❤️❤️
I end up "over gearing" on climbs due to 39t x 25 being my easiest gearing. Was definitely a poor choice considering almost every ride I do has at least a 7%+ climb.
pride goeth before dropping off the big ring and walking it.
Thanks, this helped so much now i can go up hills better
Shifting too late from the big ring to small ring at start of the climb. You almost always hear someone do this in a group ride at start of a hard climb.
Damn those beautiful scenic mountains
This video is just useful for the British. For the rest of us, who actually grew up cycling and climbing, that's common sense..
Jeez Matt we aren't all ex champions I have to spin high cadence up the climbs to avoid knee pain. I look silly then , thanks for that !
I don't give a feck what I look like, that's only for posers. With you on this.
Being overgeared is just the worst....I'm doing the Bealach Na Ba next week and have to decide on either:
A/Boardman Sport bike- 2x10 speed 34/50 by 11-42
B/On One inbred steel MTB - 2x9 speed 22/36 by 11-32
C/ GT Aggressor Drop bar 26er rigid gravel monstrosity- 2x9 speed 30/46 x 11-42 (Just put together, not test ridden but looks pretty nasty....)
Lets face it I'm 55, and carrying way too much weight...I got away with 34/34 on my good bike (Vitus with 105) going up Cairngorm recently but this is like doing that 3 times over.... Walking is not an option but "winching it up" is.... I "think" I could do it on bike A but am erring to B or C as their lowest gears are almost identical using an online calculator for gear inches (17" for B and 18" for C).... Maybe just turn off the strava and do it for fun instead....
Best backdrop of all GCN videos
Too much gearing caused a lot of issues for me earlier and learned it the hard way
Ohhhh how good is he!! Matt Stevens for GCN President.
He's the GCN GPB (Grand Poobah) most cred and the funniest of the lot.
Your place is very nice the view and roads and I notice few car. Here in Philippines very far specialy the road not even.
Whats up with the disc brake it look pertty cool on a road bike. is that what manufactures are doing now to road bikes?? and whats the weight difference?? good content here just Subscribed....
Figuring out when to shift has been one of my biggest issues. Even though vine has an internal hub I still can’t shift to the easiest gear mid hill. I’ve found myself trying ANYTHING in an attempt to make it, standing up, curling into a ball almost, and other things. Less risk of falling over on 3 wheels but still. I don’t think we get above 10% except maybe at the lake. Not sure how much of the issue is due to my ability and how much is due to the fact that until recently I’ve been trying to navigate the hills on a single speed trike vs the new 5 speed (only was able to use about 3 gears and had chain slack issues but hopefully once it’s fixed things will be better).
I've got bull horn handlebars that I like to grip on climbs... Not got a fancy bike... But I do find it easier with that grip
But when to drink? I always seem to not be able to keep my breathing calm when i need to get some water.
Marko Nikolic Try to drink when the gradient eases off a bit so that it gets a little more relaxed. Or just shift dwon a few gears, drink a bit and shift back up
Drink before you need to and you should find it easier to get it done, same with eating too.
Thanks
Marko, if you hydrate properly throughout the day/week, you'll find yourself needing less water during your ride. I drink water like a camel headed towards a desert during the day, at least a gallon. During my rides too and from work, I don't drink a thing. And trust me, I sweat like greased pig.
chris wescoe That may be possible when you are going for a short ride, but my rides are usualy at least 3h long. So drinking before the ride doesn't do it for me. It may be good tho to drink a lot during the ride before a big climb so that you don't have to drink that much while climbing. Thank you for giving me this idea.
What a stunning backdrop!
Bring Matt Stephens back!!