How To Ride Faster Up Hills

It’s a necessary evil if you’re a cyclist. Here’s how to master the dreaded inclines.

- Josh Cunningham

There’s no two ways about it: cycling up a hill is an endeavour that will always come with some physical hardship. Gravity set those rules long ago. But hills and mountains form the basis for many people’s love of the sport of cycling – they’re big, fearsome, epic challenges, and when they are overcome, the sense of achievement makes every drop of sweat expended to get to the top worth it.

If you’re finding the going too tough, fear not –we’ve enlisted experts to help you get the better of those topographical monsters with no superpowers other than a bit of smart training and preparation.

So, what do you need to remember the next time the road goes up?

What gearing should I use on hills?

“If you find you can’t get into a low enough gear for very steep climbs, do some research into the gearing on your bike,” says Matt Green, a pro cyclist and coach (procoaching.us). “Check the front chain ring sizes - the smaller the smallest front chain ring and the bigger the biggest rear cog, the easier it will be to pedal on climbs.”

The right gear enables you to find the right cadence – basically pedal revolutions per minute – which is particularly vital on climbs. “It’s all about cadence,” Green says. “About 90-100 revolutions per minute is optimal.” A higher cadence means greater pedalling efficiency, so you want to find the sweet spot: a gear that gives you both high cadence and speed.

How should I pacemy effort on a climb?