Steep hills

pottssteve

Hello,
I have a couple of questions for experienced mtbikers about hills. My questions are:

1. What's the steepest uphill gradient which can be ridden using a standard mtb (27 gears) (for example a Giant Iguana)? The gradient is concreted and grip is good.
2. Ditto question 1 above, but for downhill, without going over the handlebars?

3. When climbing steep hills in low gear I find that my legs are going round ok but I keep pulling up on the handlebars and lifting the front wheel off the ground - is there any way to reduce this effect? Leaning forward is obvious but makes pedaling harder.
Apologies if these are obvious questions - I'm new to mountain bikes and also quite thick.
Thanks!

FSR_XC

Climbing is all about balance.

You need enough weight on the front to avoid lifting the wheel, but enough on the back to stop it spinning.

There are 2 methods which help me. I find the geometry of the bike, length of hill, steepness and surface all make a difference to which works best.

1. Sit on the front of the saddle in a gear comfortable to keep your legs spinning at a constant rate.

2. Get out of the saddle. Get your weight over the front and push down as you pedal. You can use a slightly higher gear now using the torque and 'feel' for traction.

Whatever, if you are not in the right gear, you won't get up steep stuff. Also I can never 'stand' in the lowest gear as I can't get the traction.

gs3

Re. Q1
As steep as your legs will allow you to continue turning the cranks

Re. Q2
Whatever your brain will allow you to ride! (within reason, of course!)

Re.Q3
When climbing place your hands on the bars with your thumbs on top of the bar beside your index finger. This automatically causes your elbows to move in towards your body resulting in you leaning forward without even trying. It may feel strange at first but it also causes you to pull back and down on the bar keeping the front wheel grounded as opposed to back and up which a normal grip (thumbs under bar) tends to do.

Give it a go and see how you get on.
Apologies if it doesn't work!
Virtual pints gracefully accepted if it does!

Captain Turok

Downhill - slide your rear off the back of the saddle, and if its really steep lower your bottom nearer the tyre, it makes a huge difference! Also try not to go too slowly, its generally easier the quicker you go

Good luck!

miss notax

I am pretty much a beginner to all of this, but in answer to Q3 as i'm riding uphill I try to keep my elbows together (relatively!) and force them downwards - if that makes sense! It probably has the same result as gs3's suggestion

Works for me - I am constantly amazed when I ride up steep tracks and manage NOT to lift my front wheel!

KonaMike

Yep keeping your elbows in really helps !

big_southern_jesse

If you're going uphill out of the saddle, then pulling up on the handlebars on the same side as you are driving the pedal down tends to push the rear wheel down to gain extra traction.
As mentioned above, when sat in the saddle, keep your elbows low.

For the bike to be balanced, your bodyweight must be between the axles. So going uphill you need your weight forward to keep in front of the rear axle, going downhill you need your weight as far back as possible to keep the weight behind the front axle.

Have a look at the messages, think about how the techniques woiuld work, and then get out and try them. Practice and practice!!

Blundell

When you're doing seated climbing try to 'pull the handlebars towards you' when your riding this way your upper body is over the front of the bike, your ass is perched in the seat and your balance should be top notch. Also it's generally a good idea to try to keep those cranks spinning round at an even pace, none of this slow, slow, fast, lark. indeed fast, fast, faster is the way up!

Johnny Napalm

Try to keep your elbows below the handlbars on a steep, seated climb.

pottssteve

Many thanks to all who replied.

I shall now try to keep my elbows in,my thumbs on top of the bars, my weight in the right place and my arse in the correct position. If I don't write again, I've probably died in the attempt...

By the way, I reckon the gradient I'm looking at is about 1 in 4 - is this doable, or am I wasting my time trying?
Cheers.

big_southern_jesse

1 in 4 is easily doable.

I've gone up 1 in 3 for over a mile with panniers on the back on a road, and the panniers really throw the balance off.

For short distance it's amazing what you can go up!

dirtbiker100

i dunno but theres a short little nip up a concrete path at cwmcarn and thats rideable if you concentrate. anyone know the ratio of that one? its where you meet the road again with a layby on the right just before you start going round the end of the hill...?

god1406

Red Bank is damn steep, but i can't remember where it is... possibly Wales somewhere...

and the road going up from Grizedale onto Loughrigg terrace is also a killer

oh and the (old?) MBR route at Coed Y Brenin, the climb up from the halfway cafe, up to 'Uncle Fester', if you cut the corner and go left up a road/track it's v. steep and long

as for technique, if it's so steep you would struggle walking up it, the best method is to hug the stem with your balls and be way over the front wheel, off the seat. Just hope your rear wheel doesn't lose grip or your chain snaps