Why Are Hills So Hard? Pro Cycling Coach Shares Top Tips To Make Climbing Easier

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  • Опубліковано 9 бер 2024
  • Find cycling up hills tough? You're not alone! In an effort to get prepared for the Fred Whitton Challenge, one of the hilliest and hardest sportives in the UK, I went for a ride with cycling coach Andy Turner to get some top tips on how to make climbing hills a little bit easier
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 161

  • @jimmansi9046
    @jimmansi9046 Місяць тому +19

    I’m 61 & have learned to enjoy tough climbs, I stay seated & relaxed, especially in the grip & just grind em out, works for me!

  • @stephenbrown590
    @stephenbrown590 Місяць тому +9

    What is the saying? "Don't buy upgrades, ride up grades" ;-) I love climbing. My mind vs my body with a reward of a descent every time.

    • @davidarthur
      @davidarthur  Місяць тому

      👍

    • @tomrees4812
      @tomrees4812 Місяць тому +1

      I agree. I live on a mixed terrain area so can choose but I remember bring on tour through Lincolnshire or Northern France and not going above 20 mph. Tough sitting down all day. For 40 years I would go on tour most years cycle camping in France for three weeks and the Massif Central was brilliant. The climbs not as long as the Alps or Pyrenees when I would only manage 2 or 3 in a day. A great descent is worth a lot to me and once you mentally adapt to climbing for half an hour at a time that’s not a problem.

  • @stevedouglas3975
    @stevedouglas3975 Місяць тому +11

    Another top tip : get out to Mallorca for a week or two and ride some great climbs in lovely weather. Still a painful experience but you can suffer in a pleasant enviroment!

    • @h1n1worm
      @h1n1worm Місяць тому +1

      Oh yeah... I saw the eyes of guys at the top, they were so excited, happy, and exhausted. Climbing is so cool.

  • @michaelschaaf4926
    @michaelschaaf4926 Місяць тому +3

    Great video David. See you at the Fred in May.

  • @andrewshiner1606
    @andrewshiner1606 Місяць тому +6

    I'm impressed with the quality of the audio.

  • @patrickclarke3645
    @patrickclarke3645 Місяць тому +1

    Thanks the cassette info was very helpful

  • @saxon1376
    @saxon1376 Місяць тому +2

    Great video , some interesting things to think about

  • @markholder4054
    @markholder4054 Місяць тому +1

    Thanks for the advice.

  • @JSC131
    @JSC131 Місяць тому +3

    I rode this climb on the great malvern sportive 2015 you should have crossed the road and gone up again it was a absolute struggle on 36x28 nearly got off great content David.

  • @jc2685
    @jc2685 Місяць тому +5

    Didn't know Jack Whitehall is a pro cyclist.
    80% of the way up im on the saddle grinding/spinning away, last 20% I'm out of the saddle pushing down hard with my body weight. This works the best for me

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      I think i'm a bit more deep monotone than Jack Whitehall but thanks! 😂

  • @amitkumar-wj8gn
    @amitkumar-wj8gn Місяць тому +6

    42/26 in front, 11/42 at back. Anything steeper, and I am happy to walk. :)

    • @peterwillson1355
      @peterwillson1355 Місяць тому +3

      With a lowest gear THAT low, you would be quicker walking

    • @seanmccuen6970
      @seanmccuen6970 Місяць тому +3

      that gearing is too low, it's best to get over a climb before you die of old age.

    • @marcdaniels9079
      @marcdaniels9079 Місяць тому +1

      How do you even get traction and not just wheelie. 😅

    • @mettacitta2000
      @mettacitta2000 Місяць тому +1

      11/42?? You could go up Everest with that gearing! 😂

  • @podgey65
    @podgey65 Місяць тому +2

    Rode transatlantic way last year and again this year . 30,000 m of climbing, some really hard. Reducing weight makes a massive difference. I was on a weighted bike and it killed me .
    So for Fred Witton, only carry what you need. No xtra weight . Good gears and spin the really steep parts. You look light so it should be np to you. Enjoy

  • @stevedouglas3975
    @stevedouglas3975 Місяць тому +3

    Pacing is key. In early days of my cycling "career" I'd go too hard too early and a few times blew up on steep climbs. Get gearing sorted, start easy and ideally know what's coming by researching climb beforehand.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      It's why I love the climbs profile function on bike computers, can see what's coming and pace accordingly, researching the climb is always a great idea!

  • @mrchrisdavies
    @mrchrisdavies Місяць тому

    This is the best training video ive seen...no zone 2 bollocks just give it your all for 3 hours with 3 or 4 sprints thrown in...old skool style 😊

  • @peatyblinders92
    @peatyblinders92 Місяць тому +7

    Did not expect to see a Topstone Carbon 3 with slick tyres in this!

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      It's my all-season bike! The rim brake mechanical climbing machine is white so doesn't come out if there is the slightest chance of rain :P

    • @3TZZZ
      @3TZZZ Місяць тому

      GRX gearing is also excellent for climbing, especially as we inevitably get older and our max HR comes down! Gravel bikes are seriously underrated as road bikes, expecially in terms of gearing and geometry. Unless actually road racing, I would argue that gravel bikes are now the best road bikes for 90% of cyclists, especially in the hills@@Andy13231

  • @jonblake7871
    @jonblake7871 Місяць тому +4

    Really useful, particularly for those of us carrying far too much bulk!

    • @3TZZZ
      @3TZZZ Місяць тому +2

      Not all of us larger riders are heavy because we carry ‘too much bulk’. The presumption that all cyclists can be lightweight mountain climbers ignores the reality of diverse body types. Too much in the cycling industry is tailored towards king of the mountains types, when the reality is that only a small percentage of cyclists is this body type.

  • @damlitproductions8126
    @damlitproductions8126 Місяць тому +2

    🤔NEVER LOOK UP HILL TO WHERE YOUR HEADING, 🙄STAY SEATED IN RIGHT GEAR, 🧐DON'T FORCE PEDALING BUT KEEP ROTATION SMOOTH.😎 enjoy biking the way it works for you😮💚💯

  • @davidcarino6500
    @davidcarino6500 Місяць тому +4

    Done many long climbs over 30 minutes! Know your heart rate ( not watts ) what rpm works best. Older riders I noticed a lower rpm might work better. My experience.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      Lower RPM can be mechanically more efficient, especially if not doing 500w like Ganna! Exactly as you say, find out what works best for you personally

    • @marcdaniels9079
      @marcdaniels9079 Місяць тому

      From my training I know how many watts I can hold for various periods so this is very useful. HR can be a big help too if you don’t have a power meter

  • @thromboid
    @thromboid Місяць тому +2

    There's no doubt that practice and some trial-and-error with gearing and technique helps. I'm a beginner cyclist and have a decent uphill on the way home, and I've gone from finding it impossible to get started to being able to ride most of the way, even tackling some short steep sections around 20% grade. But even with low gearing, it can be tricky to go fast enough to maintain balance without spinning like crazy. I guess that's where zig-zagging comes in. And I have to say the thought of tackling 30% seems mind-boggling!

  • @scottwatson7844
    @scottwatson7844 Місяць тому +1

    Still riding the Defy then David. Interested in your final thoughts on this bike as I’m pretty sure I’m going to buy it, or the advanced pro 1 as the colour is more appealing to me.

  • @rogercmerriman
    @rogercmerriman Місяць тому +3

    Nice low gears definitely helps, as does MTB experience on the steeper stuff in terms of maintenance grip as mentioned, I’ve noticed some folks just get overwhelmed by the idea of the hill ie they are defeated before they reach it!
    Personally it’s always fuelling or lack of that makes me grind up hills! Amazing what happens if one does though!

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      Exactly, fuelling makes a huge difference especially on the longer events. That was a subject we were thinking of mentioning, but really requires a whole video to itself! It's obviously a complex one when giving general advice with dietary requirements, medical conditions, and allergies impacting nutrition for many people.

  • @kippen64
    @kippen64 Місяць тому +9

    I firmly believe in sit and spin. Lower gearing too. My aerobic capacity is quite good.

    • @marcdaniels9079
      @marcdaniels9079 Місяць тому +1

      Agree but when you get into +10% then you need MTB gearing or monster fitness to spin .. I have seen 55 on my cadence at times.

  • @goodobservers
    @goodobservers Місяць тому

    Awesome, thanks. I can cycle all day but struggle with hills.

  • @kenbaxter4515
    @kenbaxter4515 Місяць тому +11

    Jeez, why all the dismissive comments. Great video David, keep them coming and hopefully see you at the Fred Whitton in May....before then I'll be battling up and down the Cotswolds escarpment whenever I can!

  • @AntonioDiaz
    @AntonioDiaz Місяць тому

    😮 dang I need to add these tips as a new rider I wish I had someone to teach me 😢

  • @doormat321
    @doormat321 Місяць тому +3

    Most bikes come over geared for your average punter. This is why double and triple cranksets are great. 24 at the front 34 at the back, should get you up most hills on the road.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      Gravel bike with slicks is a great way to get some more suitable gearing!

    • @ossiejesson3148
      @ossiejesson3148 Місяць тому

      I totally agree “Most bikes come over geared for the average punter “ I’m 69 and did my first alpine climb last August on an old banger of a bike found in the chalet basement 34 rear and28 front made it possible for me to do the climb Yet a look in the local bike shop at top notch gravel bikes the lowest gearing was 42 40

  • @cycleholic58
    @cycleholic58 Місяць тому +5

    I don't live in hilly terrain, and I don't race, but when I travel to such areas to ride, I change my mental state, which essentially means I throw out the concept of speed, and go into a kind of zen state of mind. I also focus on short distance targets, as I ascend, so the next bend in the road or next road sign. What I never do is to try and chase down a rider ahead.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      One of the reason's I love Spanish climbs, kilometre markers for how long to go so you can take it 1k at a time

    • @bitchoflivingblah
      @bitchoflivingblah Місяць тому +2

      Same here but the internal dialogue is still rattling on - "another corner", "when is this ending?", "why isn't this stopping", "is there actually a top to this mountain?", "they don't pay professional cyclists enough", "who does this for a living?", and that sort of thing for an hour or two on particularly long and arduous climbs.

  • @carsonlewiscycling
    @carsonlewiscycling Місяць тому +9

    Lovely video and some great explanations. Quick question, what does the coach mean by "critical power"? Is that just another term for threshold?

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      Critical Power is another one of those terms that covers the 'threshold' where aerobic power becomes unsustainable. So FTP, Lactate Threshold 1, Anaerobic threshold, Ventilatory Threshold and Critical Power are all pretty similar and cover a power zone that's a bit blurry rather than a set line. Critical Power is potentially more useful for those who do efforts outside of 20 and 60 minute where FTP is actually fairly useful. CP is what I use with the riders I coach and can be used alongside Work Prime (W') to determine how long you can sustain a given wattage or what wattage you can sustain for a given time period. Often accurate to 5ish watts between 3-45 minutes. (I tried to post a link to an article I wrote on it but doesn't seem to load)

    • @3TZZZ
      @3TZZZ Місяць тому

      More information about managing HR on climbs would be very useful, especially for us older mere mortals who don’t use power meters. @@Andy13231

  • @RobertJWaid
    @RobertJWaid Місяць тому +5

    Love the bottom line, to get better at climbing is to do more climbs. There are no shortcuts.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      I was worried that advice would appear a bit of a cop-out :P

    • @RobertJWaid
      @RobertJWaid Місяць тому +1

      @@Andy13231Thank for confirming that there are no shortcuts but there are better ways to train. You still have to do the work.

    • @3TZZZ
      @3TZZZ Місяць тому +1

      Training for climbing by climbing is important yes, but base zone 2 training is arguably more important in preparation for ‘more climbs’ training.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      @@3TZZZ yep, building aerobic fitness and increasing that aerobic engine will help climbing performance a lot. Something we’ve gone into more detail in a previous video. You can summarise my recommendations for training pretty simply: train as much as you can, but not too much or too little, rest enough, sometimes ride for more time easier, sometimes less time harder. And then tailor this depending on you, your goals, your time availability, and a myriad of other factors. Easy! 😝😅

    • @3TZZZ
      @3TZZZ Місяць тому

      perfect! 🤣@@Andy13231

  • @tomrees4812
    @tomrees4812 Місяць тому

    It’s a damn sight easier these days than when I was racing and training a lot in the 70s and 80s with 6 cogs and a bottom gear of 42 x 21/22 maybe a 24 if the race had a 25% in it. I don’t know how the pros got up those long alpine climbs. I’ve ridden them all over the years so I do have personal experience of what they are like. I’ve tried riding the Ventoux for example on the middle ring but after a few miles that’s it. I’m no pro but I used to be a First Cat. Fausto Coppi etc would have had to use even bigger gears. Touring even it was difficult to get lower than a 26 x 24 because the cages of rear mechs were shorter than today. Since the 39 ring and 28 cogs are easily obtained for a standard road bike it makes an enormous difference. 20 years ago I would happily choose hills I avoided when I was racing fit. Even then I was on a tour passing through the Pennines 18 months ago and decided to ride a 25% quarter or third of a mile hill and it compromised the rest of the very hilly day. Bottom gear on my gravel bike was about 32” and I had front panniers and a seat pack.

  • @tan240sx
    @tan240sx Місяць тому +2

    Would love to see an analysis on which physiology is better suited to seated vs out-of-saddle climbing.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      That could be a very long video! Depends on muscle firing patterns, pedalling efficiency, individual leg component length (shank vs thigh), power output, total system weight and %age rider-bike, efficiency as a whole. I could keep going :P but agree would be very interesting!

    • @marcdaniels9079
      @marcdaniels9079 Місяць тому

      @@Andy13231
      In terms of efficiency there is only one winner - seated. All that muscular force required to create the torque and hence power has to be reacted somewhere. If you are not seated you have to use your core and other muscles to react it, but seated it naturally reacts through the saddle with zero added effort . If you watch pros they remain seated 80/90% of the time. For attacks they jump out of the saddle like sprinters to generate maximum power or sometimes for a change of fatigue focus ( like Contador ) they dance on the pedals. Also sometimes to see off short sharp climbs they may blast up out of the saddle.

  • @treyquattro
    @treyquattro Місяць тому +2

    what's that Wahoo branded bike? Good advice! I'll try to put some of it to good use, thanks.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      It's a Cannondale Topstone 3, just stickered up with some sponsor logos

  • @gregoryspowell
    @gregoryspowell Місяць тому +1

    love the vid. anyone know what brand that Andy's jacket is?

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      Rule28 Spectral Jacket, looks even better when light or sun hits it!

    • @gregoryspowell
      @gregoryspowell Місяць тому

      Thanks, Just ordered last XL!@@Andy13231

  • @kalsmith509
    @kalsmith509 Місяць тому +1

    What happened to the final review of the giant defy advanced sl0? Was very much looking forward to your final thoughts.

    • @davidarthur
      @davidarthur  Місяць тому

      it's in the pipeline still don't you worry :)

  • @intheknowcycling
    @intheknowcycling Місяць тому +1

    David, Bravo for getting Andy's climbing tips on camera. Curious, were you filming Andy and you riding uphill while holding a camera on a selfie stick in your free hand or was it attached to the bars? If the former, that's quite a skill! If the latter, how do you attach it to the bars and rotate so smoothly when you switch between you and Andy talking? Cheers

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      We took it in turns just holding the camera, made sure to pick some quieter roads for the filming as well

  • @h1n1worm
    @h1n1worm Місяць тому

    I'm a gym guy and carry about 10-13 kilos of additional weight for my height. Those kilos speak to me so loudly on climbs.

  • @jamesfernando2972
    @jamesfernando2972 Місяць тому +1

    interesting. i've always gone as easy as i can at the beginning knowing theres more fun to come...i'm a spinner to be a winner ...lol

  • @JulianAndresKlode
    @JulianAndresKlode Місяць тому +1

    I'm thinking having a W'bal display could be useful for pacing, it seems such a useful metric

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      I know some people have looked into that, but annoyingly for repeated efforts the W'bal model isn't that accurate, especially over more varied and longer rides with repeats such as a road race. Rider resilience comes in (Dr James Spragg has been a part of some very interesting research on this!) and also adjusted W'bal models are in the pipeline, Alex Welburn at Loughborough uni is doing his PhD thesis on that believe. So it looks at the moment like more trained riders have a slower depletion of W' as well as CP/MAP after given KJ workloads. It's why you get some Zwift racers doing exceptional numbers within an activity under 1hr, but that power is what a world tour pro can do 18 days into a stage race 5 hours into a stage!

  • @Goproflying
    @Goproflying Місяць тому

    As someone who lives in Worcester, the old whyche road still evades me. I've done all the others except knightwick, just don't have the balls to try it.

  • @LuisFernandez-cg6lc
    @LuisFernandez-cg6lc 29 днів тому

    I always say after a hard climb there is satisfying downhill. That’s my reward

  • @erlendsteren9466
    @erlendsteren9466 Місяць тому +1

    Andys recommendations about gear ratio is made by a skinny strong fit young man. I am fat and middleaged, so I have installed lighter gears. I look forward to this spring, putting the gear on 30 cog in front and 34 behind. I hope that will be light enough to cruise up the hills at the speed of circa 6 km/h.

    • @TheAjc999
      @TheAjc999 Місяць тому +1

      I'm with you brother, at 58 , with dodgy joints, anything too steep for me I'm walking up.
      Still doing it though

    • @erlendsteren9466
      @erlendsteren9466 Місяць тому

      @@TheAjc999 I too do some walking. In my picture you see what I do halfways in a 400 heightmeter climb. I stop and eat some berries. My cyclingshoes and pedals are mtb-style, which allows ok walking.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +2

      It's why I changed from my road setup of 53/39 - 11/28 to gravel on the road with the capacity for 48/33 - 11/40! Means I can actually ride up some climbs easy rather than grinding. It's a shame road group sets don't offer more variety in gearing, so I fully recommend the Shimano GRX group sets for road riding as the shifting is great but gearing is broader

    • @erlendsteren9466
      @erlendsteren9466 Місяць тому

      @@Andy13231 I have 11-25 cassette 10 speed Campagnolo record on my old Wilier Triestina Gran Tourismo roadbike that cant take 28mm tyres. I love that light, fast and stiff tarmacbike, but I stoppet using that heavygeared bike after getting my gravelbike. The gravelbike is heavier, softer and slightly slower, but it is so good in hills and bumps that I forget to take my Wilier for a ride. I think I should sell my racer ): I dont deserve it anymore. Its too good to not hit the road. In my opinion gravel bikes are the universal racerbikes for both gravel and tarmac that suits most people that is not going for winning tarmacraces. I am gonig on 38mm tyres with my gravelbike this summer. Those tyres are skinny enough for tarmac, and I probably will be good on gravel too because I have 30 mm suspension.

  • @peternijssen8708
    @peternijssen8708 Місяць тому +1

    Contrary of what David said, Not all of Holland is flat. Never watched the Amstel Gold Race? Or ridden the amateur’s version, It’s in the south of Holland. Also in the east of Holland around the cities Arnhem and Nijmegen you will find Some decent hills to practise climbing.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      To be fair, it's still quite flat overall as the length of the climbs are not like even some of the UK ones, let alone anything alpine. But appreciate those short sharp ones are still brutal! Ardennes is my personal hell for climbing (Belgium I know)

  • @Nonkel_Jef
    @Nonkel_Jef Місяць тому +1

    Bridges however, I just get out of the saddle and take them as fast as possible

  • @3TZZZ
    @3TZZZ Місяць тому +1

    Helpful introductory video. However we need more discussion about the truths of age diversity, relative max heart rate management, the fact that humans are all different body types, and also gravel bike gearing which is far better than road bike gearing for the majority of us mortals in the hills.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      Hence why I'm on a gravel bike ;) what do you mean by age diversity sorry? Heart rate is certainly a very interesting topic to delve into. As for body type, I'm 190cm and never been the lightest, even when racing professionally, I wish I had realised I didn't need to try and be a GC climber to perform well! I think if I had focussed more on out and out power rather than trying to get myself too light in some seasons, I would have performed better overall and won more, rather than being average across more terrains. Very good point you bring up about body types and that not all humans will be able to look like Vingegaard and shouldn't try

    • @3TZZZ
      @3TZZZ Місяць тому

      Age / Max HR is the most important factor for climbing in my experience. Max heart rate lowers as we age. Hence the available range between resting and max heart rates reduces dramatically. This range reduction is most evident on climbs. In my experience, managing HR on climbs is the most important factor as we age, because reaching max HR comes much quicker. @@Andy13231

    • @3TZZZ
      @3TZZZ Місяць тому +1

      Age diversity and body type diversity is seriously neglected in cycling training advice, which is mostly centred around Grimpeur shaped mountain goat pros in their 20’s-30’s. IE: the minority. (This also extends to cycling clothing sizes, all marketing, most cycling journalism, max bike weights, and often bike fits). In reality, the majority of us cyclists are either naturally larger or older, or both. Yet most of the focus assumes we are all aspirational pro’s. …which is one reason I like David’s channel, some good diversity in terms of real world bikes, but could also be much better in terms of diversity across the board.
      Hill climbing when you’re naturally 90 kg and in your mid 50’s for example is a whole different matter, in comparison to naturally skinny younger fella’s. In my experience (as an ex pro triathlete) heart rate management only becomes a reality in your 50’s. Obviously this varies for everyone, but in my experience managing the dramatically shortening gap between zone 2 and max HR as I age is the most important aspect of hill climbing. More than interesting, HR management is crucial the older one gets.
      I too was always a so-called ‘heavy triathlete’, yet as in cycling, the definition of ‘heavy’ is benchmarked against the 1% - pro’s who are in reality, genetic freaks; and naturally skinny people with fast metabolisms, another minority. Even though I could finish in the top 20 (occasionally) on a flat/rolling course, I could never beat the naturally slimmer pro’s with a resting HR of 40 (mine has always been 60bpm).
      Ageism is a big factor too. It’s as though because pro’s retire in their late 30’s anyone over 40 is a has been, especially when it comes to cycling journalism, which is almost entirely focussed on the newest and fastest equipment, when in reality it’s only what perhaps 10% of cyclists actually need. It’s a big problem that among other things affects perceptions about what makes a ‘good’ climber. A ‘GC’ (General Classification of the Real World cyclist) climber might max out their heart rate at 160bpm, which means managing it in zone 4 under 150bpm to stop going into the red, which in my case due to my naturally larger physiology (not lack of training) is only 30bpm over zone 2! @@Andy13231

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      @@3TZZZ I understand where you're coming from, the advice around climbing performance in this video is geared towards riders of all ages and abilities. As although the gaps between intensity domain boundaries narrow as people age, the thresholds themselves are still determined via the same methods and the physiological phenomena internally is still mostly the same, just slightly different in some ways. The same way it is between a pro and amateur. I actually coach a lot of 50-70 year olds and many riders I coach are cycling for fitness and longevity rather than event performance. It's another reason I advocate S&C, not for performance, but for long term health with muscle atrophy and bone mineral density reductions in riders over 50, especially in those who have had hormone treatment for prostate cancer or women post menopause. Much of the advice here still is relevant to all populations, as working below Critical Power will avoid over fatiguing during a climb, and appropriate cadence for you as an individual is key, rather than trying to emulate the pros. Climbing performance as well is all relative, I'm a lot slower than when I was a pro, many KG heavier and more than 100w less powerful at CP, so I now base my performance against myself and my capabilities rather than others. It's why I recommend gearing to suit your riding. I used to push 53/39 with 11/28, now I use a 48/33 with 11/34 as it suits my needs. It's not the gearing a road bike comes with, so I had to adjust myself for my needs, and is something I encourage everyone to do. Fully agree about cycling kit often being sized like clothing for super models, same with new lightweight components having weight limits sometimes under 100kg.

  • @pandemicratparty2277
    @pandemicratparty2277 Місяць тому +1

    Because I weigh over 100 kilos! Duh! Always catch you on the other side though. ;)

  • @jamesfernando2972
    @jamesfernando2972 Місяць тому +4

    for beginners, if your heart rate goes too high just easy off

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      If using just heart rate, it is useful to know your maximum heart rate and threshold heart rate. Often if you hit max heart rate you have to slow down quite a bit to recover it and then can't go as fast afterwards. If you work out your peak sustainable heart rate for 10-30min say, you can then work to that heart rate and avoid spiking above that

    • @3TZZZ
      @3TZZZ Місяць тому

      This is the most important advice here. How to actually do this would be a very helpful video on its own in terms of climbing. @@Andy13231

  • @dechaisoul
    @dechaisoul Місяць тому

    Dancing around the core of climbs, in that you should want them to hurt, and you look for the pain not to make climbs easier. If you want easy climbs it means you’re not ready to climb.
    Avoid them until you start wanting them.
    Watch what you put in your gut. Think about how important beer poison is to you. Don’t overeat. Make your legs stronger. Takes time. Enjoy the journey.

  • @dermitdemkuchentanzt4026
    @dermitdemkuchentanzt4026 Місяць тому

    How do I enjoy climbing with 110kg and 184cm , tell me pls ….. oh wait I will have none because I can’t get a grx setup with a 40-42 cassette….. ;)

  • @DionLewiis
    @DionLewiis Місяць тому +1

    Please can somebody disclose what Andy is wearing in this video? That chameleon jacket I think is really nice!

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      Rule28 Spectral jacket!

  • @ariffau
    @ariffau Місяць тому

    Wow! A Defy instead of your TCR

  • @PaulTheCyclistSturrock
    @PaulTheCyclistSturrock Місяць тому

    I envy anyone who can spin a low gear up a climb. I am a low cadence and bigger gear climber I have tried to become a spinner but am not built for it.

    • @stephenjhughes64stephenjhu26
      @stephenjhughes64stephenjhu26 Місяць тому +1

      Why ! 99 % of spinners I have known for 30 year are rubbish at climbing .my tip for people is just do it the way you get best results. Not about fashionable in group.

  • @davidhenner9367
    @davidhenner9367 Місяць тому

    I'd like a cycling coach that weighs more than half of my weight and has a normal FTP

  • @iancarson8614
    @iancarson8614 Місяць тому +1

    Andy talks a lot of sense.

  • @robertmcfadyen9156
    @robertmcfadyen9156 Місяць тому

    The best climbers hide their talents .

  • @richardmarzec9136
    @richardmarzec9136 Місяць тому

    Yes! View #100

  • @robertmcfadyen9156
    @robertmcfadyen9156 Місяць тому

    The coach was puffing too .

  • @lovenottheworld5723
    @lovenottheworld5723 Місяць тому

    You wouldn't mean 'easier', you would mean optimising for the fastest time up the climb.

  • @TheCyclingCardio
    @TheCyclingCardio Місяць тому +17

    Why so many dismissive comments? These are legit climbing advice on critical power, cadence, long vs short climb, including the inertia thing on indoor trainer…

    • @WerdnaLiten
      @WerdnaLiten Місяць тому +1

      Cycling is meant to be fun, why take it seriously as if you're a racer........

    • @Jay-nt2ew
      @Jay-nt2ew Місяць тому

      some people find it fun to improve at the sport.@@WerdnaLiten

    • @govermentsoundsystemrootik8887
      @govermentsoundsystemrootik8887 Місяць тому

      Because it's alot of long winded bull crap that really & truly means nothing to the every day rider, as i said just get on ya bike & go for a ride, when you encounter a hill just start of easy, pace yourself & take your time & enjoy...,how hard is that.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      Thank you for the kind feedback!

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      @@WerdnaLiten agreed, it should be fun, I know plenty of people who don't race but still want to improve their climbing as they feel that helps them enjoy it more and hopefully this helps them a bit

  • @jackkramer3884
    @jackkramer3884 Місяць тому

    This bloke’s hilarious! Talk about stating the bleedin’ obvious. It’s just an exercise in using as many big words and impenetrable jargon as possible, to try and explain the most simple, straightforward, basic stuff that’s totally obvious to anyone who’s ever done any exercise whatsoever In a nutshell, pace yourself. Cheers for that.

  • @peterbedford2610
    @peterbedford2610 Місяць тому

    Gravity??

  • @robertoduranos5196
    @robertoduranos5196 Місяць тому

    But you have a size small Castelli on, you are forbidden to give advise. Good luck on the sportive.

  • @m1les7
    @m1les7 Місяць тому +1

    I’m sure this is great advice, but in layman’s terms would help some of us understand a bit better.

    • @jimfreeman7656
      @jimfreeman7656 Місяць тому +1

      What I took away... Go ride your bike!

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      @@jimfreeman7656 essentially :P

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      What terms in particular would you like some better explanations for? Happy to elaborate, I can sometimes get a bit over sciency with some terms

    • @m1les7
      @m1les7 Місяць тому +1

      @@Andy13231 hey Andy. Thanks for getting back to me.
      The critical power point, and the low critical power point?
      I’m a weekend gravel and road rider, far from pro! But any tips like this vid are a big help!
      Much appreciated
      Myles

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      @@m1les7 so Critical Power is another one of those terms that covers the 'threshold' where aerobic power becomes unsustainable. So FTP, Lactate Threshold 1, Anaerobic threshold, Ventilatory Threshold and Critical Power are all pretty similar and cover a power zone that's a bit blurry rather than a set line. Critical Power is potentially more useful for those who do efforts outside of 20 and 60 minute where FTP is actually fairly useful. CP is what I use with the riders I coach and can be used alongside Work Prime (W') to determine how long you can sustain a given wattage or what wattage you can sustain for a given time period. Often accurate to 5ish watts between 3-45 minutes. A lower CP is similar to low FTP, as in overall sustainable aerobic power is lower meaning you can't recover as easily at given intensities, and going above that 'threshold' will not be sustainable and lead to more fatigue. I've written a few pieces on both CP and W' both on my website and for magazines but can't post the links in comments unfortunately
      Glad you enjoyed the video and hope you find the tips helpful! You don't have to be pro to want to know more about these things or improve your bike riding, I'm certainly no pro anymore :P

  • @marktucker6749
    @marktucker6749 Місяць тому +7

    Someone just said it. Overly long explanations of simple concepts. Numbers (rpm) would be easier for beginners.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      The issue with specific numbers is 'it depends'. The correct RPM for a rider will not be right for another. It requires personal trial and error to find what is efficient to you. Some people will be most efficient at 60rpm and 200w, some more efficient at 90rpm at the same power. There unfortunately isn't an optimal number to apply to everyone which I why a lot of my coaching is helping people understand that what works for someone else isn't always going to work for them. Once people optimise things to themselves, they often perform a lot better than when they were trying to apply someone else's ideal to them

  • @dickieblench5001
    @dickieblench5001 Місяць тому

    Weigh

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      I climbed quite well above that weight. It's Power to weight after all and given the losses to rolling resistance are not dissimilar between two riders of different weights, a higher power requires a lower w/kg to go up a climb. So two riders with identical w/kg, the one with the higher power output will climb faster all things equal

    • @dickieblench5001
      @dickieblench5001 Місяць тому

      @@Andy13231 looking at your photo I'm guessing you were 80+ kg with FTP 320+W

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      @@dickieblench5001 in this photo I was 74kg and FTP/CP of about 415w

  • @pauljordan2955
    @pauljordan2955 Місяць тому

    Dark clothing on a dull day do yourselves and other road users a favour and wear something more visible
    Nothing new about climbing but a good refresher.

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      My jacket reflects when light from cars when the light hits it, I also have a garmin varia light/radar going while we're not filming behind the bike. Thank you for the concern though :)

    • @pauljordan2955
      @pauljordan2955 Місяць тому +1

      Ride safe.

  • @AG-el6vt
    @AG-el6vt Місяць тому

    jUsT wAtCh AdS. 4 sections of 2xunskippable ads in a 20min vid. $$$

  • @kevintraynor4508
    @kevintraynor4508 Місяць тому

    I have the answer to the question Why is it hard climbing a hill. Answer : because you don't have an E. Bike 😂😂😂

  • @masterwu22
    @masterwu22 Місяць тому +3

    Yes! View #1 :)

  • @RachelSchloer
    @RachelSchloer Місяць тому +1

    This could’ve been a 3 minute video

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +1

      Without any explanation as to why, probably. It comes down to climb more for the most part, but there are reasons as to why you should, what to do if you can't, and how to optimise your individual climbing performance based on your goals/reasons for climbing :)

  • @Bswithjay
    @Bswithjay Місяць тому

    Hills are the only thing no cyclist should mention, as men go through them silently & stop your nagging you sound like my 5 year old daughter, how dare you mention hills 😅

  • @Lamby1010
    @Lamby1010 Місяць тому

    Too much technical talk about how big wheels are what gear to use blah blah , a bikes a bike just get on it and pedal 🙄🚲

  • @87togabito
    @87togabito Місяць тому

    Wrong bike; get an ebike and problem solved

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому

      I would have preferred that for the steep ones

  • @govermentsoundsystemrootik8887
    @govermentsoundsystemrootik8887 Місяць тому +81

    Blah, blah, blah, long winded explanations..., steady easy pace & take your time, just enjoy it as your doing it.....

    • @Andy13231
      @Andy13231 Місяць тому +3

      And enjoyment should always be key, but for those wanting to maximise their own performance I think it's important to understand the science behind why I suggest they try something. If they want to just ride their bikes and enjoy it, then great! If they want som pointers and the reasoning behind them, then also great

    • @brianmcewen3082
      @brianmcewen3082 Місяць тому +2

      My doing or his doing?

    • @richeeg3271
      @richeeg3271 Місяць тому +1

      Thanks, you saved me 20 mins :)

    • @govermentsoundsystemrootik8887
      @govermentsoundsystemrootik8887 Місяць тому +1

      @@richeeg3271 your very welcome...,👍🏾

    • @neilfox9540
      @neilfox9540 Місяць тому

      Have you tried any of the Fred climbs? Enjoy is not a word that comes to mind