Want to learn to climb better? That's how you do that!

Everyone wants to cycle uphill faster, right?!

Puffing, sweating and completely exhausted you reach the top of a tough climb. That has to change, it runs through your mind. We have a number of tips for you to make climbing a lot easier and therefore more fun!

In addition to great fitness, good and light equipment, strong legs and not too much excess weight, good climbing is also a matter of technique and the right mental attitude.

Eat on time

You can read it more often in our blogs: nutrition is very important to perform well. This is no different with climbing. If you know a climb is coming up, make sure you replenish the fuel in your body before the climb. Eating during a climb, at full effort, costs more energy than it gives you. If your energy supply is in order, you will also prevent the annoying hunger pangs.

Also read: Cycling in the mountains: Stacking! Or not?

Make yourself light

By make yourself light we don't mean that you have to lose weight. Make yourself light is a mental trick. Thinking about things that are light (feathers, clouds, flying birds) makes you mentally lighter. At the same time, try to relax your body as much as possible and try to sit as still as possible on the bike.

Relaxed but powerful posture

Being able to breathe properly is important while climbing. The more oxygen you get, the better. The right position? Back straight and chest open with relaxed arms and slightly bent elbows. Occasionally alternate between standing and sitting climbing. Are you going to stand? Then switch to a heavier gear. Do not lean too far forward, but keep your buttocks above the saddle.

Also read: You go on a cycling trip and take…

Elbows at your sides

Not the standard way to climb with your elbows in your sides. If the percentages go towards the 15%, or even worse, towards the 20%. Then you can use all the help you can get. If there is an audience, ask them to give you a push. Are you alone on the mountain? Push your elbows into your sides, make yourself small by pushing your upper body towards the handlebars. With each pedal stroke you pull the handlebars a little to gain more speed. The power goes from the upper body to the legs. They have to do it eventually!

Divide the climb

If you know how long a climb is, divide it up by not diving into all the red in the beginning. If you blow yourself up, the last kilometers (or even earlier) of a col in the Alps will become a real ordeal! Take a 10 km climb. Cycle the first 5 km at a pace where you can still talk without any problems. After 5 km you can then speed up to cycle the next 3 km at a pace that makes talking more difficult. During the last 2 km of the climb you should still have energy left to accelerate that blistering acceleration.

Also read: 10 tips if you go cycling in the mountains

Motivation

A long climb in the Alps or Dolomites sometimes seems to take forever. It is not motivating to keep thinking about how far it is to the top. If you keep staring at the bike computer, the kilometers seem to go painfully slowly. Cycle from bend to bend. Turn that enormous mountain into small manageable pieces. Every time you can tick off a section like this, your motivation to keep going to the top grows. In addition, a past experience can also help you to continue. Something you have overcome. Something you or anyone else hasn't given up on either.

Should you apply all this tip during a climb? No, see what you feel comfortable with and what works for you. Have fun climbing!