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  • If you've been cycling for some time, or even if you're just starting out, you might want

  • to work on your climbing to help you keep up with your peers. So, here are a few tips

  • from GCN that will help to improve your climbing speed for that hilly sportive or group ride.

  • Gears

  • There is no shame in having small gears, or even a triple chainset if you want. Even the

  • pros will sometimes put granny gears on for the most extreme gradients. Having small gears

  • will enable you to maintain a comfortable and efficient cadence, even on the steepest

  • sections of climbs. This will save your legs, allowing you to stay seated for longer.

  • Pace yourself

  • Longer climbs are all about pacing. Don't be tempted to race others or go too hard at

  • the beginning of the climb. Save something, wait for halfway, and THAT's where you can

  • press on to the very top.

  • Recover

  • Recover when the gradient slackens. It's rare that a long climb has a steady gradient the

  • entire way. Some parts will be steeper than others. If there is a section which flattens

  • off slightly, then use this part to recover before the road kicks up again. If you have

  • other riders around you, then take advantage of their shelter on the flatter sections.

  • This will give you a faster overall speed up the climb without needing to expend any more energy.

  • Use a Garmin or similar GPS device and program your route in. Related to our last point,

  • a Garmin or similar GPS device can be a great way to make you faster on roads that you are

  • unfamiliar with. By plugging in your route before you set off, you will not only be able

  • to see exactly when the climb starts, but you'll also be able to see any flat sections

  • where you can recover. Additionally, you will be able to see when you are nearing the

  • top, helping you to judge your effort.

  • Position yourself

  • Position yourself well when you enter the climb to give yourself some 'slipping room'.

  • If you are in a sportive event full of riders, then try and make sure you're near the front

  • as you enter the climb. Often if you are stuck near the back, you'll almost have to come

  • to a stop as the group compresses when the speed slows, and the road narrows. Starting

  • the climb near the front will give you a clear view of the road ahead, and also allow you

  • some slipping room, where you can allow riders to pass you while still staying with the group.

  • Lose weight

  • Climbing is pretty much all about power to weight ratio, so if you've done all you can

  • to improve your power, then the next step is to try and lose some weight. This can be

  • from your body, bike or equipment.

  • Use a power meter.

  • Using a power meter in training and on the day of your event can really help on longer

  • climbs. Even with adrenaline flowing, you aren't going to suddenly be able to do 20%

  • more on the day than you could the previous week in training. Start the climb at a power

  • that you know you can sustain for the duration, and then, if after a third of the way up you

  • still feel fresh, start to nudge things upwards.

  • We've reached the top of the climb, and we're about to begin the descent. What are you going

  • to do? For more how to's, subscribe to GCN.

If you've been cycling for some time, or even if you're just starting out, you might want

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