BIKERZ HAVEN

Tech Tips

Uphill Technics

As from the title, one can tell that I am going to talk about cycling uphill. After completing half of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Mountain biking course, reading books about mountain biking and cycling up slopes in my neighbourhood for half a year, I can say that I have a little bit of experience. Firstly I would like to review about uphill technics. I have actually summarised them
1) Do not change gear half way up the hill
2) Try to stand up ( Use your body weight if necessary)
3) Increase the height of your seat and sit at the nose of the saddle, almost standing
4) Bend forward, put your weight on the front wheel so you do not wheelie backwards
My personal experience. I was cycling with my friend and we were going up a hill. At this time, my friend's father was standing nearby. My friend was changing his gear while going up the hill, despite his father telling him not to do so. At that time, I felt that his father was a nut. What's wrong? I thought. Now I realise that the bike's chain may slip out if you change gears and during this point, you will not be able to proceed forward. This will also cause you to slide backwards. I am seeing this as the only problem with changing your gear uphill as of now. I believe this theory of mine is quite true. If the going really gets tough, just turn the crank one more time with all your energy and while the bike is kept going by momentum, change the gear. After that, pedal slowly but powerfully until the gear is fully changed.
Another personal experience was when I was going up the hill in the mountain biking trail at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. I did not lean forward while going up a hill and I could feel the front wheel wheelie a bit.