CLIMBING ON A MOUNTAIN BIKE

Climbs are one of the fairest parts of any ride or race. They are a reliable check of the rider’s physical condition. To deliver the best performance we need to master the climbing technique.

CLIMBING TECHNIQUE

During a climb we hold the handlebars firmly but not over-tightly. The centre of gravity stays on the saddle and the legs remain the main driving force. We pedal fluently in a round motion and our legs get support from the muscles of the trunk. Both our trunk and arms stay still.

We can take turns riding in and out of the saddle. The firm and relaxed grip constantly changes into dynamic work performed by the whole body. When riding out of the saddle, we need to coordinate all these varied movements. We are only able to achieve optimal performance by using the whole body.

IN OR OUT OF THE SADDLE?

Although we normally chose the way we tackle a hill spontaneously, it is still good to be aware of a couple of principles, especially when you have just taken up mountain biking.

• We go for higher gears, especially when riding on bumpy or rough terrain, to help us maintain speed.
• When there are loose stones or gravel, we choose lower gears and ride swiftly through the section in the saddle.

Here are some more tips:

• We never push the pedals when we are directly over an obstacle.
• The tighter the corner is, the wider we need to enter it.
• In steep climbs, we position our body as close to the top frame tube as possible.

The general rule says that riding in the saddle is more economical and effective, but sometimes at the expense of speed.

The best and fastest way to learn to control your mountain bike is with a professional instructor. We provide such opportunities at our MTB camps.