Quick Tip: Maintain Your Momentum on Successive Rollers

Most riders can find a road where little hills come one after another.

When you feel good, attacking these humps can be a peak experience — like riding a roller coaster. You fly up one side, blast down the other and use your momentum to conquer the next rise.

But if you use improper technique, you can get bogged down. Instead of grinning, you’re grinding. You churn up, coast down to catch your breath, then bang against the next wall.

Rhythm is everything. Here’s how to keep yours on successive climbs:

As you ride into a hill that takes just seconds to climb, shift one gear lower (next larger cog) than you might normally use. Stay seated and spin fast for about two thirds of the climb.

If you’re riding with others, they’ll probably be standing, pedaling slower than you and maybe pulling a little ahead. Don’t worry about getting dropped. Keep spinning. You’re saving your legs.

In the final third of the hill, click to a bigger gear (next smaller cog), stand and apply the pressure. Your legs will still have snap, thanks to spinning to this point. When you hit it right, you’ll know where the phrase “dancing up the hill” comes from.

You’ll roll right by your laboring companions. Even better, your momentum will carry you over, down and well into the next rise. Then do it again.