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Climbing Technique

Cycling / Popular

Pace and position the body for efficient seated and standing climbs.

What coaches agree on

  • Carry the speed you already have into the base of a climb, especially a short one, rather than backing off — that momentum carries you upward for free.
  • Stay seated for most of a climb since it's the more efficient position, and save standing for short bursts on steep pitches, hairpins, or to relieve pressure.
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  • Spin at a moderate-to-high, comfortable cadence — roughly 80 to 95 RPM by most coaches' numbers — rather than grinding a heavy gear.

Common mistakes

  • Starting a climb too fast and riding into oxygen debt, which forces a painful grind or a full blow-up before the top.
  • Waiting until the steepest part of the climb to shift gears, which grinds the drivetrain, jams the chain, or leaves you stuck pushing too big a gear.
  • Climbing out of the saddle while gripping the tops of the bars or holding on too tightly, which leaves you unstable and wastes energy through tension.
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