Climbing tips for the sizeable gentleman
Frowson
Posts: 17
Hi all,
I have an 09 Anthem X3 and love the thing, however I have a problem with climbing. At 14.5 stone keeping weight over the wheels shouldn't be a problem yet when I stand the back wheel sometimes spins and if I sit the front wheel seems to lift.
Can you suggest any techniques that I can focus on whilst slogging up a climb, or even any upgrades to the bike that may prevent me being left behind!!
I have an 09 Anthem X3 and love the thing, however I have a problem with climbing. At 14.5 stone keeping weight over the wheels shouldn't be a problem yet when I stand the back wheel sometimes spins and if I sit the front wheel seems to lift.
Can you suggest any techniques that I can focus on whilst slogging up a climb, or even any upgrades to the bike that may prevent me being left behind!!
0
Posts
if you still struggle with grip you could try some new tires, obviously i don't know what you've got already but they can make a big difference. you could also try running your back tire on a lower pressure or indeed your shock on a lower pressure as it'll give more grip on loose climbs
hope that helped
’My Spesh’
This works pretty much everywhere for me. Seriously, right on the nose- it won't be comfortable (read- feels like sitting on a traffic cone), but that's just more encouragement to get up the climb faster! Also, pull back and down on the handlebars, keeps the front wheel down. Finally, for problems with breaking traction, practice spinning smoothly in perhaps a lower gear, keeps drive the rear wheel as smooth as possible.
I'm 14.5 stone too. I'm not a fast climber, but I can climb pretty much anything. Its not about being fast its about getting it done.
For steep climbs, remain in your seat, put your weight over the front and just keep peddaling. You'll soon find that weight distribution is important.
On monday I watched an inexperienced friend go over the handlebars because his back end lost traction. It was funny to watch though.
Cube LTD Race 2010
Hereford and Worcester rider? Ledbury Mountain Bikers
Over the bars on a climb is always an impressive feat
Cube LTD Race 2010
Hereford and Worcester rider? Ledbury Mountain Bikers
I went out on Monday and had no problem with several small climbs until I got to the big one from Mickleham upto Box Hill road (if anyone knows it). Really steady to begin with and pretty easy, then nearer the top it starts getting really steep and rocky and I found that I had nothing left in my legs to attack the steep bit. Guess I'm just not used to it, thats the first time I've attempted it this year but already looking forward (kinda) to the next try!
Last time I managed something like that the sudden loss of traction somehow ended up with all of my weight slamming the end of the bar into my knee. Not spectacular, but flippin' painful!
One thing to consider is that it require tremendous power to be able to smoothly spin the back wheel while standing. When you do this more you will get smoother and more likely to keep rear wheel traction.
So to sum up, stick with it, it will get easier as you get fitter.
Also get fwd on the saddle and just grit your teeth and go for it nice and steady. If you feel the need to stand for a bit (i do often) then bang up through a few gears as you 1st stand up. That way it will be equally hard to pedal giving you the same amount of traction for the effort but because you will be using a different muscle group than that used sitting, it will come as a nice break for a bit.
I weigh 15.5st and i find this method helps
Technique-wise, I find a combination of (a) shifting your weight back/forwards until you 'feel' the best grip and (b) paying attention to how much force you are applying to the pedals tends to do the trick for me.
And if you practice these climbs enough times you'll lose weight, so it becomes a self-rectifying problem
If you see a steep bit coming up, try and relax as much as possible before hand, then apply power when its needed. Don't go all out from the start and pace yourself.
If you see a bit that requires that extra power, think ahead and try and prepare yourself for a bit of extra exersion.
For me, I set targets up ahead. Concentrate on getting to one point, then the next, then the next etc, it helps keep me focused.
Cube LTD Race 2010
Hereford and Worcester rider? Ledbury Mountain Bikers
This. Id rather be the guy who clears the climb at a slower pace than the one who goes flying up for the first 50% then either runs out of energy or has to stop on account of poor technique.
Few tips I use are, firstly trying to spin in a lower gear to keep momentum even and improve traction, secondly when i'm feeling like I need a bit more 'help' I drop my heels, then once this doesn't feel like enough I rotate my hands back towards me so my knuckles are facing me more so I feel like I am pushing the bars rather than pulling them. These combined with sitting as far forward as possible works for me........most of the time
I did it the complete opposite way, where I would fly up the first couple of climbs, and then die for the rest of them. First to the top on the first few hills, last to the top for the rest. But then I found that I was first to more and more, last to less and less. Then came rides where I was first on all.
People who climb slowly are boring lol. I love it when I can race someone up the hills.
Cube LTD Race 2010
Hereford and Worcester rider? Ledbury Mountain Bikers
A longer stem can also put your weight forward more over the front wheel.
+1. Although I'm sure someone who knows all about physics will be along to disagree.
Dear God no!
"As I said last time, it won't happen again."
I thought about this, but I'm worried it may make the handling worse??
Cube LTD Race 2010
Hereford and Worcester rider? Ledbury Mountain Bikers
Think its 100mm.
It wouldn't do much for rear wheel traction either.
If you haven't already tried, remove a few spacers from under the stem, the front end on trances are quite high IMO. It should help by putting more of your weight over the bars but will have minimal effect on rear traction when climbing seated.
If it doesn't help, you can always put them back.
It might be worth checking rear sag, how much are you running should be around 10-13 mm for a Trance IIRC
Orange 5 AM Custom
Fun: Yeti SB66
Road: Litespeed C1, Cannondale Supersix Evo, Cervelo R5
Trainer: Bianchi via Nirone
Hack: GT hardtail with Schwalbe City Jets
as for pace, never be tempted to chase up hills if you're finding your cutting out, stick to the pace and build up gradually. Hill's are a metal thing, great for training but never rush them as i've even killed a few locally and threw up at the top going too fast!
Mate of mine did that once. He insisted it was to do with the beer he'd had the night before but we weren't buying it!