CoachingAnswer

HOW DO I CLIMB FASTER ON THE BIKE?

By Anthony WalshRoadman CyclingUpdated 26 May 2026

WHO THIS IS FOR

IS THIS YOU?

The rider who gets dropped on every climb

You blow up at the bottom of long climbs and watch the group ride away from you.

The sportive rider targeting Alpine climbs

You have an event with significant climbing and want a structured approach to improving on the ascent.

THE ROADMAN VIEW

The five fixable climbing mistakes episode is one of the most-listened on the podcast, and the answer that surprises people most is always the same: pacing. Not power. Not weight. The single biggest climbing error for amateurs is going out too hard in the first 90 seconds because the group surged, or because the bottom felt easy enough. That deficit never fully recovers on a long climb.

After pacing, the levers are power-to-weight ratio — the fraction that determines climbing speed more than any other number. Andrew Feather, the amateur who beat Pogacar at his own challenge, has talked about the discipline of knowing his sustainable climbing power and never exceeding it. Jack Burke, the world's fastest hill climber, attributes his Stravă KOMs to years of targeted power-to-weight work, not simply riding more.

Position matters too — an overly upright rider wastes energy fighting the air even on steep pitches. A slight forward lean, hands on the tops or hoods, lets the glutes and quads do the work without the core leaking power. It's not glamorous, but it's free.

EXPERT EVIDENCE

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Jack BurkeWorld's fastest hill climber, multiple Strava KOM holder
Climbing speed comes down to power-to-weight above everything else. You can improve both sides of that fraction with targeted work — raise the power through structured intervals, manage the weight sensibly. Riders who try to climb faster purely by pushing harder almost always blow up.
Hear it: Secrets Of The Worlds Fastest Hill Climber - Jack Burke
Andrew FeatherAmateur cyclist who beat Pogačar at the Pogi Challenge
Knowing your sustainable climbing power and sticking to it — even when others surge — is the discipline most amateurs haven't built. Pacing discipline on the first third of a climb is where most amateur climbing races are won or lost.
Hear it: How an Amateur Beat Pogačar | Roadman Cycling Podcast

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

DO THIS WEEK

Set your climbing power target before the climb starts
Calculate 90–95% of your FTP in watts. That's your ceiling for a climb over 10 minutes. Start 5% below it for the first 2 minutes. If you have a power meter, watch the number — not the rider next to you.
Do 10-minute threshold intervals on climbs
2×10 minutes at 95–100% FTP on a real road climb, once a week. This trains both the power and the pacing discipline simultaneously. Extend to 2×15 min as fitness builds.
Check your position on the climb
Hands on the tops or hoods, slight lean forward from the hips, look up the road. If you find yourself sitting back or gripping the drops, you're probably going too hard and your position is reflecting the effort.

COMMON MISTAKES

WHAT CYCLISTS GET WRONG

MISTAKEMatching pace with the group surge at the bottom of a climb.
FIXLet them go and ride your power. On climbs longer than 5 minutes, the riders who went out hardest are the ones you'll pass in the final kilometre.
MISTAKEGrinding a big gear slowly because it 'feels stronger'.
FIXLower gears and higher cadence (75–85 rpm) reduce muscular fatigue and cardiovascular cost on long climbs. Save the big gear grinding for short, explosive efforts.
MISTAKETrying to lose weight and increase training load simultaneously.
FIXA calorie deficit blunts hard sessions. Manage weight in base phase, not in the build blocks where you need fuel to produce power gains.

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What watts per kilo do I need to climb well?

Above 3.5 W/kg you'll be competitive on most club climbs. Above 4.0 W/kg you'll rarely get dropped. Above 5.0 W/kg puts you at the level of elite amateur climbers. Most club riders are between 2.5–3.5 W/kg.

Should I sit or stand when climbing?

Sitting is more efficient for sustained climbing — it keeps heart rate lower and uses less energy. Standing briefly to stretch or accelerate is fine, but riders who stand for extended periods on long climbs typically pay a cardiovascular cost they can't sustain.

Does bike weight really matter for climbing?

On long climbs it matters, but less than rider weight. A 1kg lighter bike saves roughly 8–10 seconds per 1000m of climbing. A 1kg lighter rider saves the same amount at the same gradient. The rider weight variable is bigger because the rider makes up ~80% of the total system weight.

How long does it take to improve climbing?

Pacing improvements show up almost immediately once you understand and apply sustainable power. Genuine power-to-weight gains from a structured 8–12 week block typically produce 5–10% improvement in climbing times, depending on starting point.

Is cadence important for climbing?

Yes. Most amateur climbers grind too low a cadence and blow up their muscles before their cardiovascular system is the limiting factor. 75–85 rpm is the target for sustained climbing. If your legs are failing before your breathing, your cadence is probably too low.

RELATED EPISODES

HEAR THE CONVERSATIONS

5 Fixable Climbing Mistakes | Roadman Cycling Podcast

Secrets Of The Worlds Fastest Hill Climber - Jack Burke

These Mistakes Are Ruining Your Climbing (Easy Fix) | Rider Support