I love hill climbs….. said every ebiker ever!!
Hill climbs can ruin a day out for a lot of cyclists. Some worry about them for ages before the actual bike ride. Others get a sinking feeling when they are going downhill as they know they will have to go back up again. Some worry about whether they will have enough power in their legs to get them to the top.
However, there is an answer to having a lot more fun on your bike on hill climbs – try an ebike.
‘but I want to get fit…’
Ebikes make cycling easier. It doesn’t mean that you won’t get a workout or won’t get fitter as you still have to peddle. The bike won’t do that for you; if it did, it would mean you were on a moped.
It is entirely up to you as to how much you want to use your motor; you are in control and therefore you can raise your heart rate as much or as little as you like. However, using the gears is also of great importance – this saves your muscles and the battery power.
Hill Climbs and what they mean to me
I live in the mountains of Austria, and I used to hate going out on my mountain bike, as I knew I had to cycle uphill to get home. It meant I’d dread going home as I was already tired, and I still had to tackle a hill climb. It could lead to tears or tantrums sometimes, as I couldn’t make it up the hill to get home.
Now I love hill climbs. I am at my most happy when on the mountaintops surrounding our village. The feeling of freedom I get from being on my ebike and going uphill is amazing.
Over the years, I have learned a few things that help when tackling hill climbs on your ebike, which make for a better experience. I am happy to share, but remember, this is all unique to me, so try it for yourself.
Gears and power level
Most importantly, choose the right gear and level of power before you start a hill climb. Practice this on a small hill first, as well as practise a hill start. Hill starts straight up are really challenging, so go for a more diagonal approach to give yourself a chance of getting going again. Practice these a lot before going on something steeper to avoid hurting yourself when you try it for real.
Position on the bike
How you position yourself on your ebike on hill climbs can help or hinder your progress, so a little bit of thought is worth it.
- Your upper body should be open enough so your lungs can expand.
- Handlebars should be wide enough so your chest is open in order to get air into your lungs.
- Being hunched over your ebike will lead to a lot of panting and a sore back and shoulders.
- Keep your clothing loose; any restrictive clothing will restrict your lungs.
- Ensure your saddle is at the right height. You don’t want to be over or under-extending your legs.
- Don’t cling to the handlebars in a death grip. Your hands will cramp, and your shoulders will hunch. Keep a nice loose grip.
- The steeper the track becomes, shift your weight forward and back in order to keep traction on the back tyre and ensure that the front tyre doesn’t rear up.
If you are unsure that your position is correct on your ebike, then go to your local bike shop to get a bike fit done.
Cadence
Cadence means the number of times you turn the cranks per minute.
You don’t want to be grinding a big gear. (pedalling slowly but using brute force). Or spinning furiously (turning the pedals around so fast that you wobble about). You need to be somewhere in the middle of the two. This saves energy and will avoid muscle pain afterwards. Learning this was a game-changer for me, no more sore thighs and funny walks the day after a big hill climb.
You can carry on on a hill climb for much longer the higher cadence you have.
The optimum cadence varies by the motor system, so check on your ebike manufacturers’ information for your ebike model, as they all vary. They will be able to tell you the optimum for your ebike.
Psychology
A lot of people dread the hills, and an ebike makes them easier, but the effort is still needed. So, having a strategy to tackle the hill climb is a good idea.
If it’s a particularly long climb, break it into sections, aiming for the next 100m or 200m section. (or whatever works for you).
Or you can take a break at every section to take in the view, get your breath back, take a photo or sip of water.
If there is a café halfway up, take a break there, have a coffee, and admire the view. You are not in a race; this is about enjoying your day.
Physiological
A consistent pace will make your hill climb much more enjoyable. Avoid speeding up or slowing down; aim to keep a pace that is comfortable for you and that you can maintain for the duration of the climb.
A heart rate monitor is really good for this as you can ensure to keep your pulse at a steady rate. This means you can increase or decrease the power levels of the motor depending on where you want your heart rate to be and the steepness of the hill.
Tyres & Pressure
Check you have the right type of tyres for the terrain you are cycling on and that they have the right pressure in them, the pressure affects the tyre’s grip and its rolling resistance. The tyre pressures are on the outside of your tyre wall. If you are unsure, then ask your local bike shop.
Push assist function
If all else fails and you have to get off and push. A lot of ebikes have a push assist function. On my bike with a Bosch motor, this is a button that you push to activate, then press the + sign to start the assistance. This slowly turns over the motor, so you don’t have the full weight of the ebike to push up the hill. It took me years to use this function properly, and it’s a huge benefit when you are trying to push 23kgs up a hill as well as yourself!
Above all, remember to enjoy it. The reason you are tackling a hill climb is generally for the view. So, keep a positive attitude and breathe in that clean air; just enjoy being out in the open. Go ahead and enjoy your hill climb; you will soon love them.
Need more information?
If you want to get a bit more technical, click this link to the EMBN video on riding up steeper terrain. https://youtu.be/OZa3i6q7cX8