{"id":670,"date":"2025-03-12T14:05:28","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T14:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/?p=670"},"modified":"2025-03-12T14:09:33","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T14:09:33","slug":"brads-top-5-hill-climb-tips-smash-this-weekends-iom-hill-climb-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/2025\/03\/12\/brads-top-5-hill-climb-tips-smash-this-weekends-iom-hill-climb-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"Brad\u2019s Top 5 Hill Climb Tips \u2013 Smash This Weekend\u2019s IOM Hill Climb Championships!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alright, folks \u2013 the IOM Hill Climb Championships<\/strong> are coming up this weekend, and if you\u2019re looking to squeeze out every last bit of power on the climbs, you\u2019re in luck. Brad\u2019s been there, done that, and probably left a few people gasping for air in the process. So here are Brad\u2019s top 5 tips<\/strong> to help you climb like a pro and crush the competition this weekend! \ud83d\udc4a\ud83d\ude80<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. \ud83d\ude80 Pace it Like a Pro<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Look, it\u2019s a race, so you\u2019ll need to push harder than your usual training climb \u2013 but don\u2019t get carried away at the start. It\u2019s tempting to go full gas from the gun, especially if others are attacking early, but Brad says hold your nerve<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Start at about 90\u201395% effort<\/strong> \u2013 you want to build into the climb rather than fade halfway through. If you\u2019ve got the legs, you can always empty the tank in the last 30 seconds when it really counts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca1 Pro tip:<\/em> A negative split (getting faster as you go) is the goal \u2013 save that final push for when it matters most!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u2699\ufe0f Nail Your Gear Choice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Picking the right gear is massive. If you\u2019re grinding in too high a gear, you\u2019ll burn out your legs; too low a gear, and you\u2019ll lose momentum. Brad\u2019s golden rule? Aim for a cadence of 80\u2013100 RPM<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Start the climb in a gear that lets you spin comfortably but still gives you the option to push harder if needed. And don\u2019t be afraid to shift mid-climb \u2013 better to adjust than blow up halfway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca1 Brad\u2019s tip:<\/em> Pre-ride the course if you can \u2013 knowing where the steepest sections are means you can plan your gear shifts in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. \ud83d\udeb4\u200d\u2642\ufe0f Body Position is Everything<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Climbing efficiently isn\u2019t just about leg power \u2013 it\u2019s about technique too. Brad says staying seated is usually more efficient, but sometimes you\u2019ve got to mix it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Stay seated<\/strong> for longer climbs to conserve energy, but if the gradient spikes or you need to respond to an attack, get out of the saddle for a quick burst of power.
\ud83d\udc49 Keep your upper body relaxed \u2013 no death-gripping the bars! Let the legs do the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca1 Brad\u2019s tip:<\/em> If you do stand, keep it short and powerful \u2013 staying out of the saddle too long drains your energy fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. \ud83c\udf2c\ufe0f Control Your Breathing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yeah, you\u2019re going to be gasping \u2013 it\u2019s a hill climb, after all \u2013 but the key is to keep your breathing under control. Brad swears by deep belly breathing<\/strong> to maximise oxygen intake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Focus on long, deep breaths rather than shallow chest breathing.
\ud83d\udc49 If you\u2019re hyperventilating, slow it down \u2013 even mid-climb, a few controlled breaths can help reset your rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca1 Brad\u2019s tip:<\/em> Practise breathing techniques in training \u2013 it\u2019ll make a huge difference when the pressure\u2019s on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. \ud83e\udde0 Get Your Head in the Game<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Hill climbs are brutal \u2013 not just physically, but mentally. Brad says the secret is to break the climb into chunks and focus on short, achievable goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Instead of thinking about the whole climb, aim for the next bend, tree, or lamppost.
\ud83d\udc49 If someone attacks early, don\u2019t panic \u2013 stick to your plan and trust your pacing. Most early attackers burn out before the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca1 Brad\u2019s tip:<\/em> Confidence comes from preparation \u2013 know the course, have a plan, and trust your training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd25 Final Thoughts from Brad<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hill climbs aren\u2019t won by luck \u2013 they\u2019re won by smart pacing, solid technique, and a bit of mental grit. Follow these tips, stay cool under pressure, and you\u2019ll have every chance of smashing this weekend\u2019s IOM Hill Climb Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And hey \u2013 if you see Brad at the finish line, maybe let him buy you a post-race coffee. You\u2019ve earned it. \ud83d\ude0e\u2615<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Good luck this weekend \u2013 go out there and smash it!<\/strong> \ud83d\udeb2\ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
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Alright, folks \u2013 the IOM Hill Climb Championships are coming up this weekend, and if you\u2019re looking to squeeze out every last bit of power on the climbs, you\u2019re in luck. Brad\u2019s been there, done that, and probably left a few people gasping for air in the process. So here are Brad\u2019s top 5 tips<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":224,"featured_media":673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[34,71,70,72,18,73],"class_list":{"0":"post-670","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hints-tips-and-how-tos","8":"tag-cycling","9":"tag-hill-climbing","10":"tag-hill-climbs","11":"tag-iom-champs","12":"tag-isle-of-man","13":"tag-tips"},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/213\/2025\/03\/Brads-HC-Tips-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Cycle 360","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/author\/cycle360\/"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/224"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":676,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions\/676"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/cyts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}