to work on your climbing to help you keep up with your peers. So, here are a few tips

from GCN that will help to improve your climbing speed for that hilly sportive or group ride.

Gears

There is no shame in having small gears, or even a triple chainset if you want. Even the

pros will sometimes put granny gears on for the most extreme gradients. Having small gears

will enable you to maintain a comfortable and efficient cadence, even on the steepest

sections of climbs. This will save your legs, allowing you to stay seated for longer.

Pace yourself

Longer climbs are all about pacing. Don't be tempted to race others or go too hard at

the beginning of the climb. Save something, wait for halfway, and THAT's where you can

press on to the very top.

Recover

Recover when the gradient slackens. It's rare that a long climb has a steady gradient the

entire way. Some parts will be steeper than others. If there is a section which flattens

off slightly, then use this part to recover before the road kicks up again. If you have

other riders around you, then take advantage of their shelter on the flatter sections.

This will give you a faster overall speed up the climb without needing to expend any more energy.

Use a Garmin or similar GPS device and program your route in. Related to our last point,

a Garmin or similar GPS device can be a great way to make you faster on roads that you are

unfamiliar with. By plugging in your route before you set off, you will not only be able

to see exactly when the climb starts, but you'll also be able to see any flat sections

where you can recover. Additionally, you will be able to see when you are nearing the

top, helping you to judge your effort.

Position yourself

Position yourself well when you enter the climb to give yourself some 'slipping room'.

If you are in a sportive event full of riders, then try and make sure you're near the front

as you enter the climb. Often if you are stuck near the back, you'll almost have to come

to a stop as the group compresses when the speed slows, and the road narrows. Starting

the climb near the front will give you a clear view of the road ahead, and also allow you

some slipping room, where you can allow riders to pass you while still staying with the group.

Lose weight

Climbing is pretty much all about power to weight ratio, so if you've done all you can

to improve your power, then the next step is to try and lose some weight. This can be

from your body, bike or equipment.

Use a power meter.

Using a power meter in training and on the day of your event can really help on longer

climbs. Even with adrenaline flowing, you aren't going to suddenly be able to do 20%

more on the day than you could the previous week in training. Start the climb at a power

that you know you can sustain for the duration, and then, if after a third of the way up you

still feel fresh, start to nudge things upwards.

We've reached the top of the climb, and we're about to begin the descent. What are you going

to do? For more how to's, subscribe to GCN.