Training Tips
Understanding gear ratios
Interested to learn more about the science of gear selection and why certain gears feel harder than others? Check out this in-depth post from CyclingTips’ Australian tech editor Matt Wikstrom. Beyond the big ring: understanding gear ratios and why they matter
Read MoreIs A Compact Faster Than A Standard Chainset?
Chances are that when you bought your first road bike, you didn’t think too much about the gears that were on it and the options available to you. But there’s real value in considering the combination of chainrings and cassette that will best suit you and the riding you do, as GCN explains in this video.
Read MoreWorkouts for climbing hill after hill
http://www.bicycling.com/2011-tour-de-france/cycling-workouts-climbing-hill-after-hill
Read MoreTop 10 Descending Tips
Want tips on how to improve your descending? The guys at the Global Cycling Network have you covered with these 10 pointers.
Read MoreClimb like a pro
One of the tricks we find useful when tackling a climb is breaking that climb up into chunks. Don’t think of Mt. Hotham as one 30km climb – think of it as three 10km sections, and congratulate yourself when you finish each one! For more on this trick, and other ways to tackle big climbs, check out the following video from…
Read MoreDescend like a pro
Descending is one of the great rewards for those of us that like climbing. And for most of us, descending fast is one of the biggest thrills you can have on a bike. But it’s important to stay safe when making your way down a mountain. GCN has tips on how to do just that.
Read MoreTraining
There aren’t any shortcuts when it comes to improving your climbing. You simply need to get out there and get used to it! Training up for an attempt for one of the 7 Peaks? Find some shorter climbs close to home and get comfortable there. Concentrate on finding a comfortable rhythm and getting used to the gearing that best…
Read MoreGear
Gone are the days of grinding up mountain passes in gears big enough to blow out your knees. The introduction of compact chainsets has been a boon to recreational riders who love climbing, allowing you to spin away on even the steepest of grades. If you’re tackling a particularly steep climb — Mt. Baw Baw or Mt. Hotham,…
Read MoreNutrition and Hydration
Climbing mountains is energy-sapping work and it’s important to make sure you’ve got enough in the tank to get you to the summit! Ensure you’ve got enough water (and possibly electrolyte fluids) to stay hydrated, and enough food to keep the dreaded hunger flat at bay. If you’re doing a big day in the mountains with several climbs, it…
Read MoreAscent and Descent
The experience of cycling in the mountains can be broken into two distinct elements: climbing and descending. On the way up it’s all about finding a comfortable gear, settling into a rhythm and trying to enjoy the challenge of tackling the climb one pedal stroke at a time. Take the time to look around and appreciate your surrounds.…
Read MoreThe Horn
Arguably the best part of climbing any mountain is the views when you get to the top. Check out this stunning video from the team at NorthSouth to see what Mt. Buffalo has in store for you when you reach the top. Hot tip: The Horn is a few kilometres beyond Dingo Dell on a gravel road but you’ll…
Read MoreHydration on the bike
There’s a bewildering array of sports drinks on the market and it can be hard to make sense of all the options. This post at the British Cycling website should help https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/knowledge/article/izn20140514-Nutrition-Hydration-101-0
Read MoreSports nutrition supplements
Spend enough time as a cyclist and you’ll come across plenty of brands claiming they’ve reinvented sports nutrition with their latest and greatest supplement. In this post, dietitian Alan McCubbin helps us to untangle the science and the hype so we can make better sense of all the nutrition options available to us. Sports nutrition supplements : untangling the science…
Read MoreClimb Steep Hills Like a Pro
There are climbs, and then there are CLIMBS. When the road gets steep you’ll need more than just some smaller gears to get you up in one piece. GCN has some advice.
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