Do you need to train on long climbs to be good at climbing on long climbs?
No.
To become a better climber there are five simple things you can do in your training on short climbs, flat terrain, or even on an indoor trainer.
1. Train the zones you that you will need for climbing. Within our CINCH FORM system, we have six zones that we use for climbing. Three below your Lactate Threshold and three above your Lactate Threshold. You don’t need to train these zones for long periods of time, or in large quantities, you just need to consistently train them in specific, and quite minimal amounts.
2. Train the cadences you will use in climbing. Climbing requires using a mix of low and high cadences, so it is important that you incorporate training them both on their own AND with the zones you will be using for climbing.
3. Train transitioning. Climbing requires many controlled transitions between zones and cadences. It is best to incorporate these transitions frequently in your intervals.
4. Train the key body positions in climbing. This begins as basic as working on your standing efficiency and gets as advanced as practicing specific seated/standing body positions based around the intensity you are doing.
5. Train your pedal stroke. This is best done by working on the control of your power in both the seated and standing positions in ALL powers and ALL ranges of cadences. How well you control your power directly correlates to how well you can stay in your zones no matter what the gradient of the climb is doing.
Give these tips a shot and transFORM yourself into a better climber.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CINCH CYCLING COACHING HERE