Climbing 1,000,000 Feet in 2017
It is our pleasure to introduce to our readers a climbing specialist and new contributor, Travis Streb. Travis is a Vancouver-based cyclist who lives at the base of one of the most daunting climbs in British Columbia. 12km at an average gradient of 8 percent serves as an excellent backyard playground but it also taught him how to climb efficiently.
Climb A Lot, Climb Efficiently
Travis has pledged to climb over 1,000,000 feet to help raise awareness for pancreatic cancer. His cycling club, Glotman Simpson Cycling, has raised over $2,000,000 for pancreatic cancer research to date, and is preparing for it’s 10th year of running the Cypress Challenge. Travis has decided to one-up us all. Suffice to say, he knows a thing or two about climbing.
Throughout the year, Travis will keep us updated on his progress, and contribute his tips to becoming a better climber.
Travis Says: Climb at the Right Cadence
“Climbing on a bike can be a ton of fun and it’s a great way to get a boost to your fitness. The problem is that too many cyclists end up mashing their gears and riding at a very low (and inefficient) cadence. In the first part of this climbing series, we’re talking about climbing at the right cadence and how your gearing (especially your rear cassette) can help you achieve this.”
Three Climbing Tips to Take Away
- Spin at a high cadence (keep track of it with a cadence sensor):
- 70-90 RPM
- Find the right gearing:
- Make sure you have an 11-28 or 11-32 rear cassette
- Climb a lot!