Technique Maintain cadence to avoid stress on your knees Start in a lower gear; upshifts are easier than downshifts Keep upper body relaxed; elbows in, back straight, loose grip on the bars Mentality Confidence will help you ride the entire hill without stopping Be mentally tough and push yourself; the mind tires before the body Concentrate on form and breathing; the hill will soon disappear behind you Education Eat before you are hungry, drink before you are thirsty; every 20 minutes Rests should only last a minute or two; don't let the body think it's over Practice breathing and climbing techniques to be more efficient on the bike Gears A comfortable gear will be a factor of your fitness level Choose a gear that will allow you to spin comfortably; avoid excessive knee stress Use a lower gear to avoid exhaustion during the climb Endless climbs Combine sitting and standing to stretch and work different muscle groups Concentrate on your breathing; try to keep it at a constant level throughout the climb Remember to eat and drink every 20 minutes to maintain energy output
Left/Front/Ranges; Chosen as follows for what lies just ahead, 1. Low for starting out and climbing, 2. mid for most riding as in cruising along, 3. high for when you can't keep up in 2 or when you need to add more tension to the chain as in when your in the high gears with the fewest teeth on their cogs or the road is bumpy to keep the chain from slapping on the chainstay.
Right/Rear/Gears which are cogs, lowest first gear cog has the most teeth and your highest gear cog has the fewest teeth.
Tip - Choose Range just ahead of when you need it and Use an easier gear as opposed to a harder gear. That will help the shifting and be kinder on your knees along with your bikes drivetrain.
