Fanylion Mountain Bike Team
Official site of the Fanylion Mountain Bike Team. Includes mountain bike ride guides, gear reviews, bike maintenance, team reports and rider profiles of the Fanylion Racing Team.
In this section
Climbing (Part 1)
Long fire road climbs require a good base of physical fitness. A lighter, stiff bike is also advantageous. If fully suspended a rear lock out shock may be beneficial also.
Firstly it is important to be in a gear that you are comfortable with. This must not be so low that you are spinning too fast and wasting valuable energy (and making you go too slow). On the other hand trying to turn too large a gear will be good for increasing muscle mass on your thighs but won’t do your knees any good. Choose a gear where you are having to work fairly hard but that allows you to keep up a good rhythm and good speed.
Secondly the most important aspect, rhythm. It is important to get into a good rhythm and keep the pedals turning in a nice regular motion. Spinning fast for a while then going slowly is no use at all. Putting in fast bursts and burning out too soon in the climb will not get you up the hill first. You must keep going at the same pace, get your head down, let the sweat drip down off your nose, grit your teeth and keep grinding. Feel the burn in those thighs!! Yeah baby, yeah!!
Assuming you have chosen the correct gear and are now powering up the hill at a good rate of knots it is now your fitness level that will determine how long you can keep it up. Pain management and the refusal to change down a gear even when you are getting tired will keep you out in front. Remember, if you are feeling tired then the other riders are too, right? Ignore the pain in your thighs, keep sucking in the oxygen, ignore the pounding in your ears, keep those pedals going and you will be at the top first, then you can think about getting a rest.
Fany fact
If you have a night out in a small Welsh village, make sure none of your buddies has a fetish for midgets, it only gets you all into trouble.