Climbing and descending tips
It’s summer time, and the rides in the mountains are calling! If you haven’t been doing much climbing or descending on big slopes recently, here are a few tips to keep in mind to be safe and have fun.
GET UP EFFICIENTLY
Downshift. Gears are your friends. When the road goes up, shift down into an easier gear so you are spinning quickly and not slowly mashing on the pedals. Don’t wait until you are bogged down to shift; keep your cadence high, using your cardiovascular system and not just your leg muscles.
Relax. When the road gets steep, good posture often goes out the window - which can result in discomfort in the moment and soreness later. Keep your shoulders down, not up by your ears. Keep your back flat, not hunched over. Keep your neck straight, not pulled down and strained.
Fuel thyself. Like the other two tips, this sounds so simple you may wonder why it’s being spelled out. And like the other two tips, it’s because riders often forget the basics. So make sure you’re eating and drinking often when you’re climbing. As you’re breathing hard it’s difficult to take on solid food, but carbohydrate drinks are easy.
GET DOWN SAFELY
Look up. Don’t get caught in the trap of staring just a few feet in front of you. Look up the road at where you want to go, and your body will follow your eyes.
Strong hands, relaxed arms. Obviously, you don’t want to fall off your bike! So keep a firm grip on the bars so that a bump won’t knock your hands off. However, keep the rest of your upper body relaxed, and let your arms (and legs) absorb bumps in the road. The more you tense up, the harsher the ride will be, and less control you will have. Think about a car with suspension vs an old-timey wagon with wooden wheels; your arms are the suspension!
Choose your speed and your position on the road. Don’t feel peer pressured into keeping up with faster riders. Descend at your own speed. Similarly, if the road is narrow don’t feel compelled to be right on the white line. You have the right to the road, so position yourself where you have a comfortable amount of room.
Riding here in the Colorado mountains is a treat! And, as you know, the sun can be harsh and the weather can be fickle. So keep sunscreen and a rain jacket handy.
Enjoy the ride!
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Ben Delaney is a longtime cycling journalist who reviews gravel and road bikes on The Ride on YouTube. He’s done every one of The Ride Collective’s events.
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