Climbing doesn't come down to power-to-weight ratio alone—pacing, gear selection, and mental strategy play just as big a role in how fast you'll go uphill. We break down the biggest mistakes cyclists make on climbs and how to fix them, plus tackle some heated talking points from this weekend's World Championships and dive deep into finding your ideal cadence.
Key Takeaways
- Pace your climbs like a time trial: aim for linear pacing (consistent effort throughout) rather than attacking hard at the start and suffering halfway up
- Match your cadence to your training: if you normally ride 75-85 RPM but drop to 55 on climbs, your muscles will lock up—practice sustained higher cadences in training
- Gear selection matters as much as power: being overgeared forces your muscular system to work harder than your cardiovascular system can sustain
- Break long climbs into smaller mental chunks (500m at a time, or picking a tree 100m ahead) rather than focusing on the total distance to the top
- Train specifically for climbs you struggle with: deconstruct what the climb actually demands (duration, gradient, cadence) and replicate that in training
- A proper bike fit and comfortable saddle can significantly raise your sustainable cadence without any fitness gains
Expert Quotes
"You can have power nailed, you can have pacing nailed, but if you're overworking your muscular system you're still going to lock up at some point."
"I'm probably have more in the tank than I think I do and I'm almost afraid to push myself beyond a certain limit—people do kind of put these self limiters on themselves particularly when they're climbing."
"If you can head out for an hour, two hour, three hour ride and you're not forcing that cadence, I would call that self-selected cadence—then you know what feels right for you."