Seriously sucking on ascents

[venom1]

1. Make sure you have the right equipment (crank arm length, compact crank, cassette etc etc)

 

2. Get a bike setup

 

3. Practice makes perfect (Hill repeats) 

    The more you do it the better you will become at it. 

    Sit upright, open your chest, keep breathing and go for it. 

 

4. Loose a little weight. 

 

I was in the same boat, ok i'm still battling up hills but i'm much better at it. 

I have done the above and still working on 4. 

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

What type of bike do you have? when I had my trail bike I climbed very slow, with my XC i'm twice as fast, geometry also plays a role

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

What type of bike do you have? when I had my trail bike I climbed very slow, with my XC i'm twice as fast, geometry also plays a role

[Jakkals77]

I had the same problem and it frustrated me beyond belief. I had a 2x10 setup on my MTB and used all of the gears as much as possible, which I believe made me lazy. I recently changed my setup to 1x10 with a 32 tooth chain ring at the front. This has changed my riding and has forced my legs to work harder because I now have less gears. I use to say to my self that I paid for the gears on the 2x10 setup, so use them, which in turn made me use the granny gears allot more than necessary. The 1x10 setup is forcing me to strengthen my legs while I ride, and Im hitting personal records on all the accents on Strava. Its currently working for me. Give it a try.

[johanpre44]

I'm also a slow climber, but I can climb long hills at a fairly consistent rhythm without being stuffed when I reach the top. (If I attack the hill, I'm usually stuffed before I reach the top).

 

One silly question (which I did not see anyone else ask) is about your bike fit. A couple of my friends was struggling big time but after some professional tweaks to the bike fit they were a lot better.

 

A problem I found with the granny gear on an MTB is that its too easy to just go to the easiest gear, like some other hubbers suggested, try use a harder gear. You will be surprised how strong you actually are.

[EmptyB]

I had the same problem and it frustrated me beyond belief. I had a 2x10 setup on my MTB and used all of the gears as much as possible, which I believe made me lazy. I recently changed my setup to 1x10 with a 32 tooth chain ring at the front. This has changed my riding and has forced my legs to work harder because I now have less gears. I use to say to my self that I paid for the gears on the 2x10 setup, so use them, which in turn made me use the granny gears allot more than necessary. The 1x10 setup is forcing me to strengthen my legs while I ride, and Im hitting personal records on all the accents on Strava. Its currently working for me. Give it a try.

Recently changed from 2 x 10 to 1 x 11. Legs feel more knackered after the climbs but I'm sure its good for strength.....I'm trying my best not to use the 42 granny!!

[Lance Roberts]

I also recently change to 1 x 10 and I find that if I try to climb while out of the seat I tend to spin up the back wheel a lot, so I have to sit down... Very frustrating.

With the 2 x 10 setup you can go up a gear on the crank and still have a easier gear on the back and not spin the wheel so much because of you front to back gear ratio.

 

Hope that makes sense.

 

Anyone out there with a bit of advise, or do I just have to work on leg strength so that I can climb in a heavier gear which will not spin up the wheel while out of the seat?

[amasendeinja]

Buy this book http://www.amazon.com/The-Mountain-Bikers-Training-Bible/dp/1884737714. Possibly the most comprehensive training reference ever published from one of the foremost trainers in the world. Covers all the good advice given by multiple posters to your thread but in a structured manner.

[eddy]

Your bike is too heavy.

 

First, buy lighter wheels, preferably carbon and fit lightweight tyres; stay away from everything that says "Protection" or " Snakeskin" on the sidewalls.

 

Replace every Alu component with a carbon one, preferably Enve.

 

If you are still slow, throw it all away and buy an even lighter bike. Spend more. 1 x 11 seems compulsory.

 

All this advice is the practical application of the Eddy Merckx mantra "to get better, don't ride up grades, buy upgrades".

[s14phoenix]

I also recently change to 1 x 10 and I find that if I try to climb while out of the seat I tend to spin up the back wheel a lot, so I have to sit down... Very frustrating.

With the 2 x 10 setup you can go up a gear on the crank and still have a easier gear on the back and not spin the wheel so much because of you front to back gear ratio.

 

Hope that makes sense.

 

Anyone out there with a bit of advise, or do I just have to work on leg strength so that I can climb in a heavier gear which will not spin up the wheel while out of the seat?

 

Not trying to be funny but there is a reason even the pros stay seated on climbs... traction.

 

Standing only when there is need for it and enough traction for it.

 

@ OP

 

spin hills in the heaviest gear you can maintain your comfortable cadence.

 

and with all this pushing be carefull not to blow out your knees. - you gonna wish you didn't when you are older...

[Lance Roberts]

Not trying to be funny but there is a reason even the pros stay seated on climbs... traction.

 

Standing only when there is need for it and enough traction for it.

 

@ OP

 

spin hills in the heaviest gear you can maintain your comfortable cadence.

 

and with all this pushing be carefull not to blow out your knees. - you gonna wish you didn't when you are older...

 

Thanks for the advise. I'll just stay seated, decided that during my ride today.

I need to work on my endurance and fitness.

Hill training is my main thing this week before the next race.

[CrankShaft]

Get on a watt bike and join a good coach. What I achieved in two months I have not seen in a decade on the road bike

[Thor Buttox]

1. Make sure you have the right equipment (crank arm length, compact crank, cassette etc etc) 2. Get a bike setup 3. Practice makes perfect (Hill repeats)     The more you do it the better you will become at it.     Sit upright, open your chest, keep breathing and go for it.  4. Loose a little weight.  I was in the same boat, ok i'm still battling up hills but i'm much better at it. I have done the above and still working on 4.

 

+1 with one alteration

 

I had a terrible year after I lost 10kg but also lost all my power. Actually went backwards on the hills compared to the year before. I put on another 3 or 4kg of what (I hope) is muscle and feel a lot better. Power to weight is one thing but not at all costs. Also been focusing on what a Watt bike was telling me was an appalling pedalling method, and doing weight work on the supporting muscles to keep a more consistent effort and not just mashing away with my quads.

[TALUS]

Your bike is too heavy.

First, buy lighter wheels, preferably carbon and fit lightweight tyres; stay away from everything that says "Protection" or " Snakeskin" on the sidewalls.

Replace every Alu component with a carbon one, preferably Enve.

If you are still slow, throw it all away and buy an even lighter bike. Spend more. 1 x 11 seems compulsory.

All this advice is the practical application of the Eddy Merckx mantra "to get better, don't ride up grades, buy upgrades".

and it must all match. Also shiny and slick clothes. And hi-tech supplements. Be wary of overtraining.

[dev null]

I recently started riding Steilte (Helderberg Farm) red route with it's stupendous climb.  Now other climbs feels like nothing.  Learning to climb better requires hard flippen work.