How to Mountain Bike Uphill

Video Transcript

PANCHO HERRERA: This is Pancho Herrera. Here are some pointers for climbing hills on your mountain bike. As a beginner, you might not be totally used to shifting gears. So the first thing to look at as you see hill approaching is, "What gear am I in? What gear do I need to be in?" Generally speaking, you're going to use a lower gear ratio. Pushing the thumb button on your right hand will access a lower and easier gear. Your pedals will spin faster, but it'll make the climb easier for you. Your left hand is controlling the three ratios in the front. If it's a really steep hill, don't hesitate to push the finger trigger and use the smallest of the gears upfront. That's an extremely low ratio and meant for extremely steep terrain. Also, think about your body position on the bike. You'll need to lean slightly forward as you climb the hill. This counteracts the force of the front wheel pulling up off the ground. We certainly don't want to ride the wheelie up the hill, so we'll position ourself slightly forward. Let's also remember to keep enough weight on that rear wheel to resist it spinning. The steeper the terrain, the more likely that rear wheel is to slip. So let's keep some weight on the back but yet balancing that forward leaning position.