Slipping while climbing

[newpos]

There are a couple of trouble spots on my usual routes that have been frustrating me... Steep climbs with super hard pack sand with loose sand/dirt spots . Is there a certain technique I should be using to avoid tire slip and stalling on these climbs?

I usually try to stay seated with my body forward over my bars because if I stand up I really slip, lose traction, momentum, and fall over. I run either a 2.3 or 2.1 nevegal on the rear.

Should I be changing tire pressure, tires, technique, or do I need to just train harder and pound protein shakes?

[jamisjake]

I ride similar terrain (SRP, Hurkey Creek) and I use a Maxxis Crossmark in the rear and a Maxxis LarsenTT up front, both at about 45psi. Just keep working on body placement and a smooth cadence. MBAction pretty much says put your gooch on the front of your seat and go!

[Rockinthecasbah]

smooth pedal strokes, and drop your elbows to keep you from pulling the front wheel up

[BrewMaster]

Keep your momentum going forward. Sometimes you may have to drop your chest towards you bars to keep your tires weighted evenly and keep from sliding. Bringing momentum into these tough spots can you help too. You want to keep your center of gravity as low as possible so the unsteady terrain will not cause you to lean.

More importantly, practice. Session those trouble spots on your next ride until you find a way to clean them repeatedly. This will help develop your skills and will come in handy when you are riding on unfamiliar trails.

There may be gear improvements that could help like different tires or tire pressures, but better technique will do you more good than any equipment changes.

[G-MONEY]

Hey there-- In addition to the great words of wisdom above (ie. tire pressure), make sure you're in a gear where you can keep consistent torque on the rear wheel. Body English is crucial on steep, loose climbs. I'll literally be on the nose of my saddle with my chest nearly parallel to the top tube with my forearms kept low. You definitely don't want to be out of the saddle on steep, loose terrain cuz you don't want to unweight the rear wheel.

[oneredbike]

What about trying to pick a better line, I always try to roll over what I think is the best hard pack line when I can.

[JonnyRox]

I had the same problem a week ago, i threw on some bigger kenda's and my traction problem is over, i just gotta get the weight distribution dialed. It is wierd looking down at the front tire and seeing big a$$ tires. hmmm, good luck.

[Kritter]

do repeats of the hill until you get it...I have a similar hill I use for training since there is no other reason to go up it. First time I was 5 for 5 failure but the next time I went out the 4th time I got it, 5th time I pulled my calf but finished it out after I picked myself up off the ground and went for a 6th time for good measure. if I hadnt been using the hill for repeats it would have taken me 9 rides to clear it and even then I dont think I would have cleared it.

Taint on the tip of the seat is solid advice and run a gear tall.

[scruffylooking]

All good advice so far. I drop my nose to my stem, slide fwd on the saddle, stay seated (mostly), and pull down and back on my handlebars like I'm rowing to put weight into the rear wheel. That last bit may be psychological. Or it may be physics. But it seems to help.

[Pain Freak]

Scruffy pretty much nailed it on what works for me when the rear tire is slipping. Pull back, not up on the bars. A guy that was racing at Sea Otter told me this as he seen me racing there and immediately it worked for me. Tire pressure is important too and I like to run about 30 pounds with the Kendas on a tubeless set up. Lowering your torso to the top tube also helps a lot. And finding a gear that won't let you slip. Try peddaling a little slower or keeping your speed up sometimes works even better.

[dingleberry]

dang, all good advice.

I love technical, really hard and long climbs.

what works for me

stay on the power uncomfortably
pull back and down uncomfortably
recover when the hill lets you, its the only way

...and everything already mentioned

[OldDogDan]

All of the above, but regarding tire pressure, specific psi recommendations don't mean much without knowing a lot about you & your bike setup. I would just say that lower pressure than you normally run will probably help in the situation you describe. Experiment. Drop 5psi at a time until you know you've obviously gone too low...then go back up.

edit: of course you have to compromise with what's best for the rest of the trail ...

[hoovermd]

I ride both SS MTB and 'Cross bikes in the dirt.
If you think the MTB tires are prone to slippage, try the 35C wide Cross tires.

It really is a balance game. Every scenario requires a little different balance point. Lower pressure tires help a bit but don't go too low as I've managed to shear off a valve stem twice It is really pretty simple, if you slip, sit down or if you are standing move your weight back a bit.

On my MTB, I've been testing different tires and found that an Intense Downhill tire mounted in reverse climbs the best but it is really heavy. i'm looking at going tubeless so I can run lower pressures.

[zipsbiker]

1. Try running the Nevegals in reverse.
2. All the above on body position is right on point. The best trick for me in addition to all of the above. . .
3. focus on pulling up on your pedals using your hamstrings through your pedal stroke. That way you won't "mash" and put too much torque into the back wheel. It also keeps your front wheel from popping up. I really like to use this technique though the steep sandy sections. Good luck.

[Draheim18]

Originally Posted by JonnyRox

I had the same problem a week ago, i threw on some bigger kenda's and my traction problem is over, i just gotta get the weight distribution dialed. It is wierd looking down at the front tire and seeing big a$$ tires. hmmm, good luck.

I know that feeling, I just bought a new front tire and it is weird to look at how big it is.

As the others have said. Weight distribution is probably one of the biggest factors. If you feel that you're slipping shift some weight back until the slipping has stopped.