Easy Riders Bicycle Club

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Come back frequently to find newly listed easy rides, from 2.4-25 miles long. Updated 6/26/08.

Easy Riders Alki Bakery and Beaches ride March 22.

Photo by Maverick Homer.

Make Hill Climbing Easier

Tips and practice dates for Easy Riders

(C) 2008 Riskin Writing & Editing; all rights reserved worldwide in all formats; no reprinting without written permission of the author—yes, really

A major impediment to commuting for Easy Riders—and for joining more-difficult rides—seems to be hills.

Yes, hills are hard. The following tips really do help, though:

• Get clip-in pedals or at least toe clips: Utilize your leg strength at all points of rotation.
• Get the right shoes: Clip-in shoes or at least real bike shoes, with rigid soles, help transfer the power of your rotation directly into the pedals.
• Get a granny gear: Some bicycles are geared better for hills than others. A large cog in back will make hills easier, a lot easier.
• Downshift: The closer your chain is to you when you're pedaling, the easier each revolution is. In lower gears (small in front, large in back), you are pedaling more revolutions per mile, but each turn of the crank is much, much easier. You'll save your knees, and you'll stand a better chance of cresting that hill.
• Time your shifting: This takes practice. Downshift slightly when approaching a hill to save your energy. But take advantage of your momentum. Time your downshifting to the point at which you're starting to lose momentum, just a few seconds before you really need to use those low-low gears.
       Better to shift to a gear that's lower than you want. It's easier to shift up than it is to shift down when you're straining that crank.
• Sit as upright as possible: Doing so engages your quadriceps, which are those big muscles on the tops of your thighs.
• Keep your feet parallel to the ground: Quads, again. If you point your toes downward, as beginners are apt to do, you are using smaller muscles that fatigue more easily.
• Focus on 6, 9, 12: Focus on pulling your pedals or toe clips with your feet at 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock in your crank rotation. You'll get more power all the way around. 
• Keep your arms relaxed and wide: The better to get air into those pumping lungs.
• Breathe evenly: Try to time your breathing with your pedaling. If you find your breathing becoming ragged, focus on the out-breath. Be sure to breathe all the way out. That should help even out your breathing before you go anaerobic.
• Charge the peak: You're nearing the top... and you're fading out at the same time. Now is the time to get aggressive. Consider that last little bit your biggest challenge. The resulting flush of energy will help take you over the top.
• Keep pedaling on the downhill: Yay! You've made it! Don't give up now. Keep pedaling lightly—even if you don't engage your crank. You'll clear the lactic acid out of your muscles quicker and be prepared for the next hill... or whatever comes next.