Climbing techniques

[853]

How do you guys and gals like to climb? Any tips for someone like me (lots of power, but still learning)?

I live in an area with only small climbs, so it's only now that I've remembered something I found important: Breathing technique

The first cycling I did abroad was on a CTC tour (it was a long time ago) to the French Alps, riding the famous passes used in the Tour de France. Prior to that I'd ridden for four years with a Derbyshire club, and had ridden all the major climbs in the Derbyshire part of the Peak District, so I knew I was ok on shorter climbs but was very unsure about how this would translate to long climbs at altitude.

In view of the altitude factor, I decided to climb only using nasal breathing as I'd read that this boosted your oxygen uptake. I was sceptical (to say the least) of this, but I chose to try it and at the bottom of a climb I would take a sip out of my bottle and keep it in my mouth for the whole climb to force me to breathe through my nose.

This was over 30 years ago, before power meters and affordable heart rate monitors, so I can't present any data. What I found, however, was that it seemed to work well for me. I found that I never went into the red, so felt fresh at the top of climbs. I never hyperventilated either, so probably used less energy to power my diaphragm (as I was breathing at a lower rates). It might not work for everyone, but I still use it on the rare occasions I encounter a longer climb.

As you've expressed a hunger to learn about climbing it might be worth you trying. As I believe you have some power-measuring equipment (and probably a heart-rate monitor too) it would be interesting to see if this altered the watts you could produce at a given heart-rate.

[Jon in Sweden]

How do you guys and gals like to climb? Any tips for someone like me (lots of power, but still learning)?

I live in an area with only small climbs, so it's only now that I've remembered something I found important: Breathing technique

The first cycling I did abroad was on a CTC tour (it was a long time ago) to the French Alps, riding the famous passes used in the Tour de France. Prior to that I'd ridden for four years with a Derbyshire club, and had ridden all the major climbs in the Derbyshire part of the Peak District, so I knew I was ok on shorter climbs but was very unsure about how this would translate to long climbs at altitude.

In view of the altitude factor, I decided to climb only using nasal breathing as I'd read that this boosted your oxygen uptake. I was sceptical (to say the least) of this, but I chose to try it and at the bottom of a climb I would take a sip out of my bottle and keep it in my mouth for the whole climb to force me to breathe through my nose.

This was over 30 years ago, before power meters and affordable heart rate monitors, so I can't present any data. What I found, however, was that it seemed to work well for me. I found that I never went into the red, so felt fresh at the top of climbs. I never hyperventilated either, so probably used less energy to power my diaphragm (as I was breathing at a lower rates). It might not work for everyone, but I still use it on the rare occasions I encounter a longer climb.

As you've expressed a hunger to learn about climbing it might be worth you trying. As I believe you have some power-measuring equipment (and probably a heart-rate monitor too) it would be interesting to see if this altered the watts you could produce at a given heart-rate.

It's a very interesting reflection that you share. I remember as a 13 year old that my uncle (who cycled a bit) encouraged me to nose breath where possible.

The issue is that I am almost certain that I have nasal polyps. My mother has had them (and had them removed). My daughter has them and my nasal breathing has never been strong.

My lung capacity has always been my strong point. It's very rare that I get out of breath, even on maximum efforts. It's almost always lactate build up that is the limiting factor for me. I hope that by incorporating some standing climbing that I can reduce lactate build up a bit by utilising other muscle groups.