Climbing is where road cycling gets honest. The hill does not care about your equipment or excuses. It rewards consistent effort, proper pacing, and the mental resolve to keep turning the pedals when the gradient bites.
Types of climbs
- Short and steep (1 to 3 km, 8 to 15 percent): explosive power climbs requiring high intensity.
- Long and steady (10 to 20 km, 4 to 7 percent): threshold efforts demanding sustained aerobic power.
- Mountain passes (20+ km, variable gradient): multi-hour efforts requiring pacing and nutrition strategy.
- Hill repeats: short local climbs ridden multiple times for training.
Pacing a long climb
The biggest mistake on climbs is starting too hard. The first third should feel easy. The middle third should feel sustainable. Only in the final third should you push toward your limit. Use power or heart rate to maintain consistent effort.
Gearing for climbs
There is no shame in low gears. A compact crankset (50/34) with a wide cassette (11-34 or 11-36) gives you the range to spin comfortably on steep gradients. Cadence between 70 and 85 RPM on climbs is efficient for most riders.