Training: Hill Climbing

To get better at climbing hills on a bicycle requires practice. As well as strength and stamina, practice also increases confidence.

The more hills that you climb, the more your physical and mental self becomes accustom to climbing.

Cadence

Use a sensible cadence for hills. 70-80 RPM for modest hills should avoid grinding all the way up the hill (until you run out of gears).

Minimise Powering Up Ascents

Pushing very hard on peddles can be useful training, but not for a long ride where lactic acid build up and greatly increase fatigue in your legs

Standing whist climbing

takes more effort
a little less pressure on the legs, so it can be useful to alternate between sitting and standing
makes more use of upper body strength
may increase heart rate slightly
rock the bike (gently) in rhythm with peddling will make the most of your climbing effort
can help you get up the most steepest parts of a hill
can make you feel like more progress is being made

Sitting