Electric Bicycle Climbing and Descending

CLIMBING AND DESCENDING

Climbing Technique
• Maintain a high cadence to avoid stress on your knees
• Start in a lower gear; upshifts are easier than downshifts
• Keep upper body relaxed; elbows in, backstraight, loose grip on the bars

Climbing Attitude
• Confidence will help you ride the entire hill without stopping
• Be mentally tough and push yourself; the mind tires before the body
• Concentrate on form and breathing; the hill will soon disappear behind you

Climbing Efficiency
• Eat before you are hungry, drink before you are thirsty; every 20 minutes
• Rests should only last a minute or two; don’t let the body think it’s over
• Practice breathing and climbing techniques to be more efficient on the Electric bicycle

Gearing for Climbs
• A comfortable gear will be a factor of your fitness level
• Choose a gear that will allow you to spin comfortably; avoid excessive knee stress
• Use a lower gear to avoid exhaustion duringthe climb

Endless climbs
• Combine sitting and standing to stretch and work different muscle groups
• Concentrate on your breathing; try to keep it at a constant level throughout the climb
• Remember to eat and drink every 20 minutesto maintain energy output

Speed control
• If you do not know the road or traffic volume, ride with extra caution
• Hazards are harder to avoid at high speed, especially while turning
• Do not overtake motorists unless the road allowsit

Ride predictably
• Remain in the same portion of the roadway down a curvy descent
• Take the lane if you are traveling the sames peed as motorists
• Take the lane if the road is narrow and curvy regardless of speed

Brakes
• Make sure that your brake pads have at least1/8” of wear left on them
• Brake pads should hit only the rim; pads rubbing the tire can cause a blowout
• There should be 1” or more between the lever and bars with brakes depressed

Braking technique
• Long descents require uniform pressure on front and rear brakes
• Constant braking can overheat the rims resulting in loss of braking response
• Brake before a curve

Safety
• Riding upright will increase wind resistance and help slow you down
• Always keep both hands on the bars; slow down if the bike shakes at high speed
• Slow down for wet rides; ask ride leaders about general road conditions