Make Hill Climbs EASY by improving Lungs, Legs, Power, Pacing, Fuelling. 

Body position is important especially on techy climbs. Bending of the elbows, widening of the chest, moving forward on saddle, lowering the upper body to the front wheel to keep it from wandering helps with traction also.

People need this more than they know. Fit means more fun.

good video. The banana shot was funny x-D

Great video! I been waiting for this!! I been riding since the 90's ( I'm 50 now) and climbing has always been my achilles heel!...LOL....Like many! However, it's a love-hate and realize it's the healthiest part of the ride - its very good for you! I think for me, it's muscular endurance. For example, here in the SF Bay Area there is a trail system known as Skeggs Point - my favorite place to ride! However the climbing is grueling because it's constant on the way up - winding hills. From the bottom of this system it's probably a 2 mile climb. I been riding this system since the 90s and it's always the same - the climbs kick my ass every single time. Although sometimes I surprise myself and do pretty good. I always fuel up - a big bowl of Oatmeal does the trick! Anyway, I've tried exercises since then. In my experience the Squat, although I was strong with it has enhanced my climbing at all. What I've discovered is that Unilateral exercises seem to enhance my climbing the most. I did notice an improvement after doing the Bulgarian Split squat where I have a little more power and endurance on the climbs. These days I workout at home and almost exclusively do Unilateral work . Most people will say that the only way to improve your climbing is to ride more - which I 100% agree and have noticed an improvement during this Pandemic ( which is the bright side to it - Riding more!!). Also, the bikes I ride are known for their climbing prowess - Ibis. Ever since owning their bikes ( Ripley and Ripmo) it has made my climbing much easier. I know, it's not the bike, but the rider! However, these days most bikes are very capable going up and down which helps. I recently learned on a ride at Skeggs was that there is a psychology piece to climbing - when you have a long climb. While I was lost in my head during a climb I got the idea to think of something else while climb to distract myself ( like being on an island somewhere chilling with a Margarita...Lol! ). What happened? I kept cimbing and climbing and didn't ask myself if "I'm there yet!" nor got caught up in how much my legs burned, etc. ( which is why I usually take a break during a climb). Anyway, that's my experience with Climbing!!

Very good advice indeed. Knowing your limits is very important. Understanding your goal also helps to that. There is no point in pushing too hard when there is no timer for the uphills. This will reduce the fun from the descending. My first goal when i was trying to build my endurance was exactly what was said in the video. I just wanted to reach the top without being wasted. I wanted to reach the top and my tiredness not affect my performance on the Downhill. I took it from there and the second goal came afterwards. I wanted to reduce the time that i had to rest on the top. Then be able to just drop in as soon as i reached the top and so on.... A watch is also very important not only for the heart rate. One can also set intervals for drinking ( i do one sip every 10 mins ) or intervals for stand pedalling.

Oval chainrings will help to keep smoother cadence up climbs also.

Great info laid out well. As a biker of 45 years now the ego thing is the biggest downfall for me, the mind still thinking I can do what the 20 something me could do and then feeling negative because the body won't conform any more.

Great video, cheers for sharing 👊🏻🙌🏻

This was a HUGE help. Legs and power have never been a problem (even at 48 I still crank out about 2K watts and can pedal through a burn all day). That said, I can't climb for more than a few minutes, even in the granny gear before I'm struggling for air. It's not necessarily a fitness thing, I'm overcoming some near fatal lung damage from a pretty nasty blood disorder. I lost a lot of lung function as a result (not capacity, but function). I'm good until I go anaerobic, then I'm f***ed. My lungs don't oxygenate my blood as efficiently as they should. I've been working for almost three years to get back as close to where I was as I can (I may never, and I'm prepared for that but it won't stop me from trying). My progress has been tenfold what the doctors told me I'd be able to do so I know it's working. I've been working on power endurance, thinking it might help if my legs could simply compensate but that just isn't valid. I need to start doing specific aerobic capacity work and three one hour zone 2 cardio sessions a week is no problem. I'll raise a pint to the hope of having a success story to tell in a few months :)

Great video mate

Awesome video, I loved the way that you explained pacing.

I've noticed most of these training type videos never mention the importance of rest and recooperation and how long between sessions should you rest considering age and amount of physical exersion for what you do for a living through the day ,a great video none the less !! My job is very physical so ive designed a training routine that suits my lifestyle !!!

Agreed, quality video! 🤙🏻

....aaaaand stretching! 💪

Quality as always 🤙🏻

Very good general Info about all those different aspects, liked the short banana fuelling moment/clip ...

good video

Not to complain from the cheap freeloader seats, but it feels like your last vid has been too long. Hope it is because you are riding! Cheers from Canada

Pacing explanation was spot on!!

Possibly your best video 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Bahaha the banana! Y'all are amazing!

9:26 🤣🤣🤣

Hi. What should be the optimal heart rate at the start of the race?

What about the mental aspect?

I improve my uphill climbing by buying an E bike. I never realized how much stronger it made me.

Remember banana to mouth NOT mouth to banana

OR...buy an emtb. I am really surprised that manufacturers still make Amish bikes.

Too much talking , very little actual content, topics could be factual .