You may be riding slowly, but one strategy still helps. (David Epperson)
Martin Shea, one of America’s best climbers, says she discovered her love for climbing on her first cycling trip out West — to Colorado. “The first time I climbed Monarch Pass, I had no idea about the distance or elevation,” she says. “Most climbs in New England, I could top in under ten minutes. When I heard the biggest climb was coming, I thought I’d just double my usual time. Twenty-three miles later, the pass topped out at 11,300 feet, and I learned two big lessons: one, just because there are switchbacks doesn’t mean the top is just around the corner; and second, even though I love climbing and seem to be pretty good at it, there was still a lot to learn. Even after winning the Mt. Washington Hillclimb three times, I’m constantly finding better ways to improve my climbing.” Based on what she’s learned, here are three improvements anyone can make.
Forward, strength training
More than any other type of riding, climbing favors a lean body. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t climb when you’re carrying a bit of extra weight (especially off-season). Climb the hills near you whenever you can. When you lose even a small amount of weight — say, just three pounds — you’ll notice a marked improvement in your performance, because you’re moving less mass with the same power.
Use smaller gears
In my experience, most people ride in too high a gear. The first time I climbed Mt. Washington — 7.6 miles at an average 11.6% grade — I used my usual gearing. The only way I made it to the top was by standing the whole way, averaging 55 rpm. Now I use smaller gears, with an 11-32T cassette, which lets me sit and spin at an efficient cadence. The heavy-legged, lactic-acid buildup feeling has disappeared as a result.
Do less work
When climbing with a group, jumping out as the rabbit might not pay off — but you’d be surprised how much energy you can save by sitting in behind others. Also, as you climb higher, wind becomes an increasingly significant factor, so even breaking out of the draft at low speed can take a lot out of you. From an aerodynamic standpoint, drafting is mentally beneficial. And if you maintain a steady pace and do less work over most of the climb, you’ll have the strength to sprint for the summit.