Climbing is never easy – throw in an few loose rocks and you’ve started dreading it before you’ve even started. Technical and steep climbs are really fun to tackle especially when you successfully pass through and over them! Trust us, here’s how…
By implementing an few elements, conquering these sometimes very daunting parts of a trail make it much more doable and also fun!

SCAN:As always, scanning the trail for the best line is crucial. Finding the right line (not the shortest). When approaching the climb, you want to scan the climb for the best line – without too many loose rocks and obstructions.

DROP YOUR CHEST/SHOULDERS: By lowering your chest you are distributing your weight evenly. Your chin should ‘automatically’ be over your stem which is perfect! This will put more weight on your front wheel, which is crucial for keeping your line. Too little weight isn’t great – the slightest bump and your front wheel will bounce off-line.

SIT ON THE FRONT OF YOUR SADDLE: This will allow you to put more power into your pedalling stroke as well as keep you centred on the bike for maximum traction. Many riders tend to stand up (to pedal harder) thus taking weight off the rear wheel and spinning out. 

CADENCE (IS KING): Keeping your cadence on the higher side is your go to! Almost like riding dunes in your much loved 4X4 – The revs need to be kept high… but, you should still be able to accelerate or increase your cadence in case if necessary. This will allow you to keep the wheels turning, helping you keep momentum!

Keep this in mind on your next ride: When you get to a technical, steep climb at your local trail park. Stop, and walk the line you think is best. Study the section from the bottom and top to determine what the best line would be as well as any potential hazards along  the way. When going up a climb you should in theory be going up at an pace ‘slower’ pace. If you do attempt going up the climb and something happens breaking your momentum, unclip, put your foot down. There’s no need to feel super anxious trying to conquer these climbs! Enjoy!

If you want to improve your skills under the guidance of a professional, contact Markus van Niekerk on 071 6062341.