Easyier Climb?

[vandeec5]

A friend of mine wanted me to make a post for him for his new mountain bike that his parents has just bought him for his bday a few months ago.

He is currently riding this
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/...in/1382/29355/

and was wondering if there are any parts that he can buy so that he will have an easier peddle going uphill? Or just build up muscle and skills that will eventually get him up there

[airgabe]

Ride it or use it as an ashtray....

[Wrecker]

If you find anything, please let me know (short of a fuel-injected rocket launcher camel back--which I haven't been able to find either)

[Blue Rat]

Continually riding the things that are most difficult will make him better at them. One really great climber that I used to race with said would attack hills on his training rides. He would do this until that particular hill was nothing for him to climb. He kept upping the ante (hill size) until he was really good at climbing.

There are a lot of good training books that could help a rider improve on their weaknesses.

[ryandood]

sell bicycle and get dirt bike. he'll kick ass on climbs.

[Zippy]

This may sound flippant and blase, but the best way to improve your riding is to ride more. Honestly at the early stage of cycling development more is better. He'll get stronger the more he rides. Getting started is tough until you build a solid fitness base.

Welcome to Mountain Biking.

[drew12]

to get better, ride more.
And hills for me are slow and hard. Sometimes I walk up, most times I ride up.
I kept thinking if I had better equipment, and spent more money riding would be easier. Nope, wrong. It's still hard, but as fun as ever. Moer you ride, the more you'll enjoy it.
Although I now have some good bling on the bike....

[ohyeah89]

My mountain biking "coaches" have advised me that trying to learn how to attack climbs now in a harder gear (ie the middle ring) will make me a better rider faster. I've also heard from others that this has definately worked for them... It SUCKS at first but it gives you such a sense of accomplishment and when I use my granny now it seems kinda easy... Maybe that might work for him?

[ubermensch]

If he's still struggling (pain in the knees or something similiar) to get up hills after a month or so of consistent riding, then he can think about changing gearing. Other than that, everyone already stated the obvious.

[JohnnyDalton]

One word, "wheels." Lots of wheelsets out there running at about 1500 grams. If he's got some $$, try ebay. Look for some Mavic Crossmax, Stans, or something built with a Chris King or DT Swiss Hub. Should find something for about $600. Then through on some S-works Fast Track tires. He'll love it.

[Pho'dUp]

Assuming the bike is the correct size and in working order...The best help for climbing at first is to work on technique and fitness. Throwing a ton of money trying to lighten that bike is probably a bad idea.

Tell your friend to learn to pedal in smoother circles and maybe try clipless pedals. Learning to be more efficient and having better technique when climbing will help your friend way more than any part upgrade.

[bighit8]

Before STR I rode a few times a month. Now I ride 4-5 days a week and feel stronger,dont mind climbs (used to dread them),and riding is all around more enjoyable. Not that I never enjoyed it, but the climbs are just not dreaded anymore.So in closing, just ride a lot and you will get stronger.12 miles used to be long, now 20-25 is a "normal" ride.

[Rockinthecasbah]

take off the granny and you cant be lazy, or just ride more, theres no reason he cant climb on that bike

[Pickettt]

Originally Posted by vandeec5

A friend of mine wanted me to make a post for him for his new mountain bike that his parents has just bought him for his bday a few months ago.

He is currently riding this
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/...in/1382/29355/

and was wondering if there are any parts that he can buy so that he will have an easier peddle going uphill? Or just build up muscle and skills that will eventually get him up there

You cannot buy what you're looking for. It's not magic. You've got to put in the work. Period. No light parts will substitute. If climbing is your achilles heel, then climb more.

[jeffj]

It appears that that bike comes with an 11-32 cassette. This 11-34 will make climbs a bit easier. Apparently, 11-34 8 speed cassettes are just slightly easier to locate than hen's teeth

http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=729

Also, action-tec makes some 20t four bolt granny chainrings that might fit his cranks. This will also make climbing a tad easier. For me, on steep climbs, these two things are sometimes the difference between pedaling and walking.

That said, regular climbing will steadily increase one's climbing ability.

[vandeec5]

Thanks for the info everyone. I have emailed him the link to this page.

[mottmcfly]

Originally Posted by airgabe

Ride it or use it as an ashtray....

I don't think there's anything wrong with this as a starter bike. It's way better than what I started out on 4 years ago. (Marin HT from Sports Chalet)

As many have stated. just ride that thing. Take it up hill until he/she cant go anymore and hike the rest.

Best of luck and welcome your friend to the gang!

[BFloFoxRider.]

try filling the shock with alot more air to make it stiffer, and as he gets in better shape let more and more out until its comfortable to ride on any terrain.
But the Maestro suspension technology is supposed to pedal well anyways

[Kid A]

forget buyin stuff. just rife the bike u(he) got. on long non tech grinds just find the right gear and smile. on the steep techs make sure u pick a decent line and always give it one more crank before bailing. it amazing how u get through the tough sh!t if u don't give up. put enough weight up front to keep the fork from wandering but make sure u lean back over back tire as or before starts to spin out. climb on!

[BoingBoing]

He's another approach. Find fun climbs and ride them lots. I used to ride around Bonelli because it was close to me. Then I discovered Marshall Canyon and I really liked the scenery. I wanted to go there all the time because it was challenging (with the sand and climbs, etc) and I simply liked the place.

Recently, I returned to Bonelli and my first thought was, "Who flattened out all the hills?" My second was, "Where did all the rocks go?"