3 Tips To Improve Your Pedaling : Climb Smarter Not Harder
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 พ.ค. 2024
- Last week we posted a video about climbing up technical ledges. During the filming process I helped April with some coaching on Pedal stroke, Cadence, and Seat Height which seemed to really help her climbing but it ended up being just a little too long to add to the video. We decided to take a little extra time with those lessons and roll that section up into its own video to share with you. We really hope this can help you pedal smarter and improve your ride!
Link to the climbing ledges video • How To Climb Technical...
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0:00 Intro
0:14 Powerstroke / Heel Angle
1:54 Scrape The Mud
3:11 Seat Height
4:28 Gear Selection
5:14 Too Easy 100+ RPM
5:53 Too Hard 40-60 RPM
6:41 Just Right 80-90 RPM
7:13 Outro - กีฬา
![[TH] 2024 PMSL SEA W3D5 | Summer | ชี้ชะตา 16 ทีมสุดท้าย](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PabKlXzcK8c/mqdefault.jpg)
Holly Cra..... Thanks for the great tip with regard to foot position and "mud removal"! Tried it out on a ride this morning and it was super helpful. Much improved steep climb to steeper climb results. Awesome tip, K&A!
Awesome we love to hear it!
Thank you all so much for the support on last weeks climbing video! This was actually a section we filmed during that ledge day and we decided to spend a little extra time on it and make it a separate video. We hope these tips help you out a bit! Let us know if you have any questions!
Kyle. What I really like about your instructional videos is the attention to detail you impart upon your audience for every new move you teach about. Your skill as a mountain biker can only be topped by your niceness as a human being.
April. You are the whip cream on the cake. Without you these lessons would not be any where near as good. As good as Kyle's explanations are, it makes it so much better to watch you actually going through the moves. First you will show the wrong way to do something and then the right way. It makes it so much easier for me, the viewer, to learn.
April, you are the reason that I have gained weight during the past few years of watching your channel. You are so sweet that after watching your videos I have to reach for a candy bar.
Haha thank you so much for the kind and thoughtful comment! 😊
Simple adjustments can make life easier and ridng more enjoyable. Love the advice and the demonstration. Gratitude!
So true!! Like many things in life its the small details that end up making the biggest difference.
Someone is finally talking about pedal sweeping on flat pedals. It helps a lot on climbing. And not just putting all the effort in your quads, by using your hamstrings as well.
I iust watched your last video with my wife. Shes not the biker.....but she enjoys your videos! I just got back into biking after 9yrs and your Videos help for sure!!!.......KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK
Thank you so much Nick! Thats awesome you two can watch them together :). We promise we have a bunch more planned for this year!!
Awesome! Cant wait and ill keep on Liking and sharing 💪💪💪💪
I can attest to the too low of a gear and spinning up like a hamster on wheel or too high and stall out! I need to be more mindful of the climbing gear. Sometimes though the trail changes so fast it's hard to get the perfect gear. You gave me something else to shoot for. Great tips!
I was taught by Trainer Road to “kick” across the top, drag across the bottom like the mud scraping, and to unweight the non working leg on the way up.
When you do it right you should feel your weight on the saddle and your feet should spin freely in circles. I only get this when I focus on it.
Good stuff, thanks!
Yeah those are awesome tips! I think so many people over look the top and bottom of the pedal stroke and end up just pushing up /down like pistons!
Kyle, April. Another great video. Great information on the heal position and the power stroke.. About putting down the power smoothly and not so up-down hard pulsing.
And yes, dropped the saddle a slight amount really helps (I've found) on steeps because often I need to slide forward a little to keep the balance. This means the distance from the saddle to the crank centerline has increased. Dropping the saddle compensates a bit.
And yes. Being in the right gear helps. Awesome stuff you guys.
Thank you!
I love your videos because you guys always NAIL the details!!! Thanks for the good advice on a topic everyone glosses over.
Thanks so much Dave! I think it helps a ton that April is a very literal learner and if i say the wrong thing it will show up in her riding within a few tries. She is the filter for if it actually works or not haha!
I am an older man and recently took up cycling again. Though I had been riding touring and road bikes, I have switched to an mtb. Your videos have helped me tremendously.
Great video! I did actually accidentally figured this out myself while mountain biking a week ago. I saw some riders with clipless pedals and tought to myself: it’s way more efficient to be able to pull in the awkward positions. Just to find out you can with flat pedals.
Thanks for the great tips! I used this technique on a technical climb over the weekend and was able to get a PR. I found the concept of "scraping the mud" very helpful.
Your channel is my new favorite go to for MTB tips. This was awesome. Ankles down and scraping mud are dynamite and easy to remember and focus on. I remember an equestrian friend would always say hands and heels, about keeping heels down. Also, awesome to see a Fezzari, I just purchased a King's Peak from them and they are dynamite at customer service!
Never thought too much about foot angle before but this makes a lot of sense. Thanks for sharing!
A lot of it is intuitive, but breaking down mechanics is how you hone the skill. These 2 are great teacher/student.
Great tips! Power stroke section reminds me of my high school marching band days, we were taught to "roll your heels" for smooth marching, and the movement looks exactly how you described pedaling (without pedals). Looks goofy while walking, but really makes for smooth movement, and I've been able to apply the same technique for pedaling.
Oh cool! It’s awesome when skills can transfer over like that. I wonder if you already have some good muscle memory built up from marching?
@Kyle & April - Ride MTB Definitely some muscle memory! I automatically drop my heel in the beginning of power stroke, and automatically drop my toes at the end of the stroke
Hope to see you in Bentonville next week Doug
Hey Doug! Yeah we will be there!
I was gonna say - this dovetails perfectly into your previous video 😂 …but it’s just a removed segment. I’m looking forward to using the content from both in future rides 😎
Hey you two,I got started on mountain biking watching your videos a few years ago and now I'm 72 and still klicking and still watching and learning.thank you
Great to hear :)
Can you do a tutorial on how to breathe? All your awesome tutorials have made me rethink how I do everything.
Haha thank you! Check out James Nestors book Breathe it will make you rethink it big time haha!
Amazing explanations!! 🤘
Y’all really are the best! Thank you.
Thank you both so much for this great video! Amazing technical tips and analyses. Great to see you guys in action again. Take care and be well. Namaste.
Thanks for this. I just bought an Enduro bike not known for great peddling and I’m going to get some pre-bike park practice on it tomorrow by riding it around on a local trail. I’m gonna try and use all of these tips on the trail
Hope it will help!
Great stuff Kyle/April! This is exactly what I needed for this technical feature I've been trying to conquer
simply fantastic, thank you
These are great tips! I always learn something from watching your videos. Thank you!
good to see u guys doin wel mate, havnt checked in in over a year
Really helpful thanks.
great info!
I'm going to be more mindful on my ride today and put these tips to use. I struggle with climbing and am excited to try out your suggestions. Thank you!
First time I’ve heard about foot angle in the power stroke- great info! Can’t wait to try it out on the trails- thanks!
Such amazing video full of info
Great content, I can’t wait to try the heel back and sweep pedaling method.
New to your channel and love your content, these tutorials are brilliant :)
Thanks so much Tim!
Greetings from Singapore. Thank you for another awesome tutorial as always.
Love your vids. Thank you!
Thank you!
AWESOME content as always. You guys have the best way of demonstrating techniques. Keep it up guys!!!!
Thank you!
Excellent video, you break everything down so well.
Thank you!
Excellent simple explanation that should really benefit riders. Thanks. What a great couple you guys are and such an excellent presentation team.
Excellent explanations and I love the graphics!
Much appreciated!
Another excellent video!! Thank you!
Thank you!
Quality data points here that have not been addressed anywhere else that I am aware of. Always keeping up with your uploads, keep up the great work!
Thank you!
Awesome video!
Thank you!
Great video, will definitely try the scraping mud thing, I feel like when I get tired I'm just smashing my pedals up and down.
Great video👍😃
Great video guys. It's not always about the downhill, though it's fun. But knowing your limits at certain points of a climb and selecting the right gear is just as fun, atleast in my opinion. Analog bikes are still where it's at
Brilliant! So simple but makes perfect sense. Thanks!
Thanks Susan!
Thanks, guys!
Good stuff!
Thank you for all the great videos I’m new to Mtb but used to ride moto x which is similar but very different at the same time so I’m watching all your videos for tips ❤🇬🇧👊🏻👌🏻🙏
Yeah Moto is deceivingly different for sure! Thanks for watching all the videos! Glad they are helping!
Wow never thought about the position of the heels when doing a power stroke. I am excited to try these tips during my next climbing and see how it will be improved. Thank you for another great video!
Hope it will help!
Thank you both for this, and any info to help climbing. I’m a natural descender, but you know Boise, you gotta climb. Climbs DESTROY me, and I’m starting to understand why. This was a big help, as was your last video on punching up ledges. Really appreciate you both! 🙏 I think I’ll head out to Eagle BP and practice some of this right now! 🤘
Awesome, we love to hear when people can go out and practice right away! Hope it will help a ton 😊
Great vid thanks guys 💪💪👋👋👋
Thank you!
This is an excellent demonstration of how to produce an instructional video. Clear, concise information, presented in multiple ways so that all can learn easily. Kyle, you are a born teacher. 😊
Thank you!
Your tutorial videos are always the best. Simple, clear, makes a difference. I'm about to have my first race of this year and this will be useful.
Thank you, good luck with your race!
Happy to have come across your channel. I haven't ridden a bike in 10 years😅 but now I'm looking to get a budget MTB and start slowly getting into it again. Mostly to change my lifestyle and improve my mental health. Just wanna say thank you for the tips videos! New follower here for sure! Great spirit, great informative content with no bs, straight to the point, while remaining very enjoyable to watch. And overall you and April seem really kind and positive people🤗
Best of wishes all the way from Europe
Great to hear! You sound exactly like the type of person we think about when we make videos, so we hope they will be super helpful for you!
Great tip... Now I will be watching the position of my feet while climbing.
This is a great video! I have used these techniques for years and I always have a hard time explaining newer riders the fundamental on riding up on a trail. I for one, like the "climb pain", it just makes going down hill much sweet and deserving. Keep it up!
Thanks Joe! I wish I could understand liking the climb pain too and just hope it hurts less over time haha
-April
I haven’t seen you before but you popped up in my Google. I really appreciate your presentation. You speak so clearly and don’t studder or say umm. Also the video editing and simple graphics are perfect. I am definitely going to watch more.
Thank you!
Tou two are a great teem. Keep it up and thanks
Thank you!
Nice job of teaching the "circle" of efficient pedaling. I learned spinning circles riding road, TTs especially as part of duathlons. Yes, clipped in, and that helps, but you never really pull up unless you're working on that muscle group in training. Done properly, and it takes focus for awhile, you completely forget you're doing it. Like anything practice makes perfect or whatever level you work toward. Moving to flats on the mtb felt odd out of the box because the cleat does help center your foot on the pedal, and without that, I had to focus on the technique to keep it centered. But once found, it was just a natural pedal stroke I was used to on my roadies. Especially important for both disciplines.
Oh nice tips thanks
I've been experimenting with 3rd and 4th gears up steeper and technical stuff instead of 1st. I like the feel. Thank you for confirming!
Glad to help!
Great content I’m a newbie thx
I never thought about this. Always knew to keep heal down during descents. Thanks for the instruction can’t Waite to practice technique at GooseBerry Mesa this weekend 😊
Hope you will see improvement!
Nice lesson👍especially the pedal power. I've probably said this before. I don't have a foot, and pumping is difficult due to TDC lock up. Most of my power has to come from sitting position. That's why I ride an ebike. I'm always looking at options or different techniques to overcome this. Just a matter of time.
Nice video guys I learned about the power stroke when I started riding again. Figured it out from riding with a few friends. But I didn’t know about changing my seat height. Gonna try that on this weeks ride. I really like the new bikes. They look really cool. I’m former military and partial to green. 👍🏼
Thank you, we like the green too! Hope the new tip will help you 😊
Very useful
My tip is to say in my mind : knee(on the Up)/heel(on the down)-knee/Heel... It helps spin the right way. On the long run, you'll get use too.
Thanks for the tips guys. I haven't really thought about this sort of technical stuff. Anything helps to get up a hill easier. However, I was amazed at how low a gear was on your bike. Such a small front gog combined with a big one on the back. You could climb a cliff with that.
Hope the tips will help!
Thanks!
Awesome guys you got the art of teaching tech down to a fine art
Thank you!
2:27 I've been doing this for yearrrrrrrs😁. It takes some thinking, but cranking from the one o' clock position uses less energy that trying to crank from 12.
I'm going to try that tip by using slightly harder gear when climbing. I usually ride paved trails and there are a few steep hills. I always go with the easiest gear (10 speed 28t single chainring and 46t big ring in the back). I'm spinning like a mad man and I'm usually gassed by the top. I'll try the 2nd or 3rd to largest gear and see if that makes a difference. Thanks for the tips guys! :)
Awesome, hope it will make a huge difference!
Great video! Was this made in Upper Park! You guys are great and loving the content from another Chico native!
Thank you, yes it was!
Tried the pedal tip on our bike club road bike time trials. A little awkward getting into the habit with both feet but the results are there for me at least. Thanks for posting!
Great to hear!
Thanks for the tips used them today . Any tips or future video's on how to whip the back tire on turns ? Looks pretty cool .
Definitely a video we want to do! Kyle tried to teach me one day and I would love to try again and get better at it.
Once again excellent tips. While I don't have much problem with gear selection (after many years of riding). My climbing technique I feel is wanting. I have have spent a lot of effort trying to smooth out my pedal stroke and I eventually worked out that my saddle was too high (a friend saw that I was ankle'ing too much). Bringing my cleats as far back as possible also helped a lot. I think the last bit of missing theory is the first bit you shared on timing of the stroke. That makes so much sense I almost feel ashamed😅. I can't wait to try it out in the morning. Thank you guys and pleasant dreams 🙏👍✌🐺
Awesome, I hope it will help you!
😳 This little secret really works and it is so simple. It does require a lot of concentration especially since old habits die hard (and I am over 60). Thank you so much 💖
I loved the video and will be putting it into practise as soon as the weather clears up. Just one inconvenience for me, I would have loved to save this video to my MTB collection, but there is no save option. Thanks for putting this out.
Glad you liked the video! You can save it just like our other videos. If you scroll through the buttons under the video before the comments where you can like, share, remix, thanks, download, clip and then the last one is save. After you save it you can chose which list you of your saved videos you want it to go to.
@KyleAprilRideMTB thanks, the save button is now visible. Did the scrape motion while out riding today and WOW what a difference. Thank you.
Thanks
Would love to see a video of you talking about how to correctly size a bike. Especially for those people in size purgatory at 5'11". Most people say to clishe smaller more lively and bigger for more plowy. Was wondering if you could help me out. Thanks!
These tips were huge and I haven’t even implemented them yet!
Great to hear!
u guys the best 🥰
At the risk of being redundant: Great video. You both make it look so easy. I watch the videos and think to myself that I will try that. But, on the trail, things happen too quickly for me to be able to actually do what you demonstrate. ... But, I keep trying.
Thank you! It can be hard to practice skills if you are just on a trail ride. I usually have to do mindful practice where I purposefully focus on a skill by just going to a spot to do it or stopping on the trail and redoing a section a few times.
These are great tips, even for experienced riders who may have let poor habits creep in. I love the colour of that Fezzari!
Thank you!
The powerstroke thing was something I learned while I was trying to emulate what clipless shoes do while I'm on my flat shoes. Thru that, I kinda' figured out the proper "push and scoop" foot positions. Definitely felt my calves and bum almost cramping at the start though. XD
i think this is important while learning wheelie. at least those tips helped me:)
thx
I totally agree! Since Kyle taught me this, I had a little breakthrough with my wheelie practice!
I'm a clippers pedal rider, but I really want to learn hoy to use properly flat pedals,
BTW I LOVE THE DELANO PEAK
Awesome
I bought an oval chainring for my girlfriend and she feels much confident in technical parts. IDK if oval leads to bad habits but the fact she is riding with me is worth it.
A good way to increase your muscle memory to be in the correct position w your heels down is to always sink your heels when track standing or just coasting every time. Getting zero drop heel or "barefoot" shoes will increase ankle strength and flexion... not to mention strong feet. It really helped my ankles and I wear nothing but them. Been walking incorrectly for over 30 years, until now. Nice advice and tips. I think many develop poor technique from only riding clipless. I ride both flats and clips just to stay sharp.
Another great video. April had mentioned heel down in a previous video but this is my first time hearing about the scrape. I'll practice it to round out my peddling. I'm older with too many years of off road motorcycling injuries. Can you advise on best exercises to improve ankle mobility? Thanks.
Hey Nate, April here. I think my ankle mobility issues also come from old motorcycle injuries haha I followed some stretches in this video one month and gained a lot of mobility! Only thing is you gotta keep doing it, because I found that my ankles got stiff again and these will now need to be part of my routine. th-cam.com/video/Y8Vqc2gypkE/w-d-xo.html
@@AprilRideMTB Excellent. Thank you.
Great vid. Do you have a tutorial on steep rock rolls?
We do not have one yet
@@AprilRideMTB Nice, if you’re ever in the Tucson AZ area there is a really cool trail called the advanced golder ranch loop. Lots of cool rock rolls and flats to huck.
Hey there Kyle... in the realm of the power stroke, etc., was curious what your thoughts were on oval chain rings? Thanks...
Super Wonderful 🔄⭕🔄 my dear friend
Thank you!
What are your thoughts on oval chain rings? I’m not entirely sure how it changes the power stroke? I’ve never tried one but interested in your thoughts.
My worst thing personally in biking is switching gears while trying hard uphill. That’s when it skips in me and I fall off pedal and calf gets eaten by pedal peg grips. Anu pointers fir what I’m doing wrong. Fine it my whole life. Always had decent to top of line bikes and result always the sane. It’s a me problem as I feel like no one I ride dues this. Thx in advance
I'm better because of you
Thats so cool to hear! Thanks for the nice comment Georgi!
Question on foot position. I rode clipless for years and that puts the ball of your foot right over the spindle. But from watching it appears you have the ball a little bit forward of the spindle. Am i seeing wrong or do you have an opinion on this?