Conquering steep climbs is one of the toughest challenges in cycling, but in this video, we’re here to make it easier. 😎
From knowing when to get out of the saddle to the secret “push and pull” technique that will give you more power ⚡️, we’re breaking down the essential tips to help you master any ascent. We’ll even cover the controversial “zigzag” method and when (or if) you should use it! 🚵♀️
⏱️ Timestamps: ⏱️
00:00 How To Climb Steep Climbs
00:38 Short Climbs
01:17 Long Climbs
02:31 Push & Pull
03:16 Should You Climb In Or Out Of The Saddle?
04:40 Zig-Zag The Gradient!
05:18 That’s It, Easy! 💪
Useful Links:
Join this channel to get access to perks 👉
https://gcn.eu/JoinYTmemberships
Subscribe so you don’t miss a thing! 👉 https://gcn.eu/subscribe
Insurance: Viewers in the USA and UK can explore GCN Insurance products 👉 https://gcn.eu/GCNinsurance
Sign Up To The GCN Newsletter 👉 https://gcn.eu/Newsletter
GCN Uploader 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnuploader
Visit the GCN Shop 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnshop
GCN WhatsApp Channel 👉 https://gcn.eu/GCNwhatsapp
GCN Instagram Broadcast Channel 👉 https://gcn.eu/instagrambroadcast
Join the GCN Club on Zwift and ride with us! 👉 https://gcn.eu/GCNClubRides
What’s the steepest climb you’ve ever conquered? Let us know in the comments below! 👇
Watch more on GCN…
📹 6 Easy Ways To Improve Your Average Speed On A Road Bike 👉 https://youtu.be/4VrwO-RdMds?si=JL_0C0PBg00nOToq
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/editorschoice
📹 Or why not check out our Features Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnfeatures
🎵 Music – licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Buzzsaw – FLYIN
Crush on You (Instrumental Version) – I’MIN
Kairos – Everything.
Pager – Timothy Infinite
#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #climbing #steepclimbs #steep #climb #power #gear #chainring #pedals #saddle
📸 Photos – © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images
The Global Cycling Network (GCN) is the largest online cycling channel in the world, bringing together a global community of road cyclists to celebrate everything that’s great about the world of cycling.
Our videos bring fans compelling daily content including expert tutorials, techniques, training, racing, cutting-edge bike tech, unparalleled behind the scenes event coverage, humour, entertainment, and more.
Presented by ex-pro riders, GCN offers a uniquely qualified insight into the world of cycling, and most importantly it’s fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans – everyone who makes up the GCN community. We also bring the latest and greatest tech to your attention, showcase the best places in the world to ride and get exclusive access to events and races.
Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside Cycling
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: http://gcn.eu/-Canyon
Orbea Bikes: http://gcn.eu/Orbea
Pinarello Bikes: https://gcn.eu/Pinarello
Topeak Tools: http://gcn.eu/Topeak
CamelBak: https://gcn.eu/Camelbak
Pirelli Tyres: https://gcn.eu/Pirelli
Vision Wheels: http://gcn.eu/Vision
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles: https://gcn.eu/VW
Wahoo Fitness: http://gcn.eu/Wahoo-Fitness
Park Tool: http://gcn.eu/-parktool
Selle Italia: https://gcn.eu/SelleItalia
Zwift: https://gcn.eu/Zwift
Silca: https://gcn.eu/Silca
MET Helmets: https://gcn.eu/methelmets
Core Body Temperature: https://gcn.eu/corebodytemp
Precision Fuel & Hydration: https://gcn.eu/precisionhydration
Elitewheels: https://gcn.eu/Elitewheels
Watch our sister channels:
GCN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntech
GCN Racing – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network – https://www.youtube.com/@gtn
GCN Italia – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnitalia
GCN en Español – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Français – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenfrancais
GCN Training – https://www.youtube.com/@GCNTraining
Global Mountain Bike Network – https://youtube.com/@gmbn
GMBN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network – https://www.youtube.com/@embn
riding up hills is hard Riding up steep hills is the hardest In this video we will tell you how to make it as quick and easy as possible with a whole load of tips and hacks that we’ve worked out from a team of five exprofessional cyclists and one scientist First things first not all steep climbs are equal Some are brutally short others painfully long How much time it will take you to get to the top is going to completely govern how you ride up it [Music] If it’s short i.e you can see the top of it from the bottom the best way is often to attack it Just try and get over it as quickly as possible Not with a full-blown sprint but by working hard to keep your speed up so that you’re up and over it before you get too out of breath On a climb like this it’s important to try and start at the bottom with as much speed as possible because that will carry you up the climb a long way for free If you have to do this too much on one ride it will of course make you tired But put it this way Would you rather spend two minutes riding up a hill or 30 seconds [Music] on climbs that are too long for this we’re going to need a different approach We’re going to back off so that we keep enough in reserve to make it up the climb In fact we want to take almost the opposite approach As you hit the bottom of the climb you want to back off entirely and then settle into a nice rhythm and a pace that you know that you can sustain If you don’t know what this is or in fact how long the climb is then it’s better to just take it easy because it’s best to be safe than sorry Once you’ve decided how you’re going to approach it what are our tips and tricks on making the climb easier what gear you choose is going to be really important to always select the small chain ring before you get to the climb so that you have your easiest gears accessible to you The slower you go the harder it is to shift chain rings so don’t get stuck On really steep climbs it’s quite likely that you’ll run out of gears Basically none of them are easy enough On long climbs this can be an issue So if you regularly run out then ask your local bike shop to see if you can fit easier ones [Music] If you do run out of gears though doesn’t necessarily mean disaster because it’s quite possible that you can keep a big gear turning just by pressing harder It makes it much easier if you’ve got pedals that you clip into cuz then you can pull up as well as push down and that should help give you the torque that you need to keep those big gears turning It’s like your hamstrings can act as a brief turbo boost like afterurners Similarly pulling on the handlebars can give you a little extra power It’s not pretty but it is effective Now should you ride in or out of the saddle we’ve shown both so far So which is best it depends is the answer On short climbs almost always out of the saddle that you can generate the kind of power that you need far more easily You’ll find that you run out of gas more quickly but as we’ve said for short bursts this is not an issue On long steep climbs though it’s down to the individual I personally would always advocate riding in the saddle because for me it’s just more efficient Some riders though have no problem riding out of the saddle for long periods Think of some of the world’s best climbers like Marco Pantani Alberto Conidor Simon Yates and Olly Bridgewood [Music] Ah yes not just a scientist Do your own experiment at home and find out which style works best for you If you prefer sitting down you will find it much easier although less comfortable admittedly if you can sit forward on the saddle It keeps your riding position similar to when you’re on flat roads and it will help you get the power out If you prefer out the saddle just be careful that you back off the effort as it is easy to overcook it What most people find works best though is a combination of the two alternating between in and out of the saddle to give tired and aching muscles a little bit of time to stretch and recover As a last resort the one thing that might keep you on your bike as opposed to getting off and walking is to weave from side to side on the road if traffic conditions allow But by cutting across the gradient although you make the climb longer it’s less steep And that might be just what you need I’m walking I’m done No shame in this either Okay No shame at all [Music] So there you have it Those are our tips to help you conquer steep climbs And don’t be put off by steep climbs because getting to the top of one can be amongst the most rewarding experiences in cycling And what’s the worst that can happen you end up walking like sigh Isn’t that bad no shame in that For me the most important thing to take away is go as easy as your gears will allow on long steep climbs The climb is hard enough that the effort will find you in the end Don’t write checks your body can’t cash Yeah Right Now the one thing that is worse than riding up steep climbs is riding down them in the rain So we have better get out of here Quick smart Yeah Let’s get some pizza All right See you on the next one Love you All right
48 Comments
What's the steepest climb you've ever conquered? Let us know in the comments below! 👇
You could also mention shorter cranks for better cadence and less muscle fatigue, having lighter wheels/tyres also helps
Presentation request: Can you inform newbies on how to prep and complete summer rides? Tire pressure, for example. (I double-heated "popped" tires on my last ride. ) Rule of thumb on liquids: Unsafe temperatures, both body and ambient.
Summer is coming.
Well done. I often find myself in too low a gear and waist power. Go up a cog or two to see if you feel the same with more speed.
Unfortunately I can’t stand on the pedals anymore, I have to stay in the saddle. Super bad knees
How about conquering a hill that changes gradients all the way up.
The most important is to have the correct gearing, mainly on road bikes that have big chainrings. I'm changing mine to a 50-34 from a 52-39. If it's not low enough, I'll change to a 46-30.
Si, Where is the singing tip??? Editors can’t find the old dusty real?
Great video guys! As a former bodybuilder, I discovered those who try and train to impress go nowhere! If you have to walk a bit, who cares. You're biking to get and stay healthy. Stay well guys!
So walk up. Got it. 😂
Ollie doing a complete 180* with preferring to climb out of the saddle compared to being aero and seated.
For really steep short sections 25% or so (when you have no more gears), you can do the "out of the saddle, weave at every stroke" climbing. I.e. At one out of the saddle stroke you tilt the front wheel to the left and for the next to the right. It is like the weave, without needing all the road, actually you will not need much more space as when going straight up. You will not make as much vertical distance for every stroke, which eases the gradient you experience. For me this is good for about 2 chainrings in gearing.
Another tip is gear efficiency – try not shift under load (could lead to slippage and chain stress). Try your best to unload your pedals before shifting
4:59 I live at the top of a 12.8 grade hill so leaving every day for work is fun. But after commuting home I find myself zigzagging by the end 😂
Out of a saddle while climbing is vintage but today's modern cycling like Pogacar. He always seated even on stiff climbs.
What if it's a short cobbled climb
Luckily (or unluckily) my only climbs around where I live consist of bridges. Steepest one is probably 6-7% so I can usually power up and over pretty quickly if I'm feeling good. I actually just bought a replacement for my worn out cassette and and moving from 34 down to 28 so I can have closer ranges for the majority of flat riding I do. It will make my short climbs a little harder but that won't be a bad thing.
Buy sram axs
Secret – while climbing extremely steep hills bend in the angle of the climb in the similar sense when you walk we incline forward
i'm in the Netherlands, why am I watching this?
Pizza, high mountains so… you were in Italy right? 😁😁😁
I'm from Cuneo (Colle Fauniera, Lombarda, Agnello, Sampeyre…)
And these days am just following step by step the French Riviera Cols
As Ollie shows them in a Weekly video that's now history!!
(May I recommend him the Authion circuit climb for his next time here!!)
And Si you're legend, period 😅
See you somewhere around 2500 above sea level mates!!
5:06 Shame 🔔🔔🔔 Shame 🔔🔔🔔 Shame 🔔🔔🔔 Shame 🔔🔔🔔… 😅😁
Aiming for the smooth tarmac can make a big difference. Especially in countries with shoddy road surfaces. If you can find a vein of smooth tarmac going up a hill and follow it it helps to keep you rolling at pace. Also find it takes my mind off the effort.
One trick I use for steep climbs sometimes is, I use a slightly heavier gear and I do an odd number of hard downstrokes (usually 3 or 5) out of the saddle, then stop pedaling until the bike almost comes to a stop, which usually takes 1-3 seconds, depending on the gradient. Then I restart the same process.
I find that those few seconds are enough to give my muscles some relief, and odd number is important to alternate between each leg to rest/resume.
I just love Ollie’s nerd salute 🤓
As a hobbyist cyclist and also a serial pedant, re the opening tip, surely how you ride up it governs how long it takes to get to the top? 😜
I bikepack a lot and I've zig zagged many a climb, great tip. As for clipless, I use flats with pins and fairly soft soled trainers, this also allows the push/pull motion but with none of the fear associated with being fixed to the pedal, something i could not get used to and killed my enjoyment.
E bike 😝
I loved to practice standing cadences on some hills I rode.
I own a single speed bicycle which has no gear change. What would you recommend in such cases?
I think with standing or sitting for climbing, a lot of it comes down to the rider's height and leg length. For me, 185cm/6'1" with an inner leg length of about 88cm/34", standing is far more efficient, particularly when the climb steepens. I guess it's to do with leverage and being able to get more bodyweight onto the downstroke.
@GCN, how does Connor take hills?
Any other taller riders find this?
I focus on hills with my training rides 2 of my 4 days riding a week because i don't have a lot of time to spare and that makes me work hard. My Sunday ride is a quick warmup then i tackle a steep climb that's has a nice recovery section on top and then a series of different climbs around town. My second climb day is not as hard but a series of hills to work my legs as much as i can. I live at the bottom of a valley so the descents are fun and are at the end when i am tired. Strava let's me know that i am improving and i can tell i have to stop less now then when i started. Don't avoid hill climbs they will make you better.
My best peace of equipment that makes the envy of many on top of mountains:
If you plan on walking after half an hour or more in the saddle, to enjoy a view, a café shop stop, or chear up fellows,
Bring light flip-flops in the backpocket, or under the jersey, like paper under the jersey at descent they also can block cold wind. 😺
PCW Alta's are the hands down the "Best at what they made them for" wheel set I've ever ridden. Very underrated.
what a load of crap, who is your video targeting? the kid who just bought his first bike?
I'm TERRIFIED of long climbs. I live in a pretty flat area so finding baby hills to repeat and get better at hills is difficult. Ps I'm a scientist too 🤓
Living and cycling 80-100 miles a week in a very hilly county ( Cornwall ) , here’s my number one top tip for going faster up long steep hills ; lose weight.
The End.
Thank me later .
not much climbing to do around here. Most are around 5% and less than a km in length
steepest ive ever done is 24%.. but about only 200 meters long..
longest was a bit over 2km in length, but averaging 4%
so meh. I wish there was some good climbs to do near me.
I think for me, really focusing on breathing through my nose out through my mouth, nose breathing delivers a lot more oxygen
Love this! Great tips! I did my first Tri yesterday n had to get off my bike 🙈
I've convinced myself that walking up steep climbs is just cross training!
When running out of gears on longer climbs, you MUST lower your cadence. It feels more efficient to keep the high cadence with lower force, but when the gears run out it's very easy to just completely blow up 2km into a 10km climb. In this video I feel Si shows better how a struggling cyclist would pedal, whereas Ollie proves once more he's not really being tested here 😉
I'd love to see you guys do a reverse race to see who can get up a hill the slowest hehe
24% Col de la Loze going up the Meribel side.
Best way to ride up a hill is in a car .
Don't walk, pull over a rest for a minute, then resume. You can hide the rest as "needed some water".
Live in Switzerland.
I miss my glory days when I used to shred through my city’s steep hills like it was butter. Gear grinding ok the highest cog sets on my 2017 $400 aluminum frame w/ a steel fork diamondback bike 🚲 now I can’t even go up a short hill on my full carbon road bike without wheezing and my back aching, screaming in pain 😂
It's easy for me