Climbing is one of those parts of cycling that can make or break you depending on how you approach it, or how you are feeling on the day. Dylan and I talk about ways to get the best out of yourself to climb at your best and give you an edge in races.
I had some help this week by asking Dylan Cooper for some insights into climbing. If you don’t know Dylan he’s an accomplished mountain biker from Australia, he has won the Australian National Series for XCO, Short Track, XCM and the Japanese National XCO Series. Not that you would know by talking to him because he mostly lets his actions do the talking. He has an aggressive riding style and leaves it all on the track every time he clips in, but even considering the do or die attitude that he brings to his racing, his results have been quite consistent over his riding career.Being a mountain biker first and foremost I thought it would be interesting to delve into one of the toughest aspects of cycling, climbing. Specifically, how to get the best out of yourself on climbs, including his number one tip for beating your competitors, and some race tactics and insights are thrown in for good measure.
What’s your relationship with hills?
Do you consider yourself a climber?
What makes a good climber?
What do you use to gauge your effort on a climb?
How do know if you’re climbing well?
Do you ever use other riders for pacing?
Do you attack hills?
How do you manage the pain?
Do you hide your pain from other competitors?
How do incorporate hills into your training?
What are ways you conserve energy on mountain bike climbs?
Any other tips for climbing hills?
Photo Credit: Damian Breach
