Climbing on a unicycle is something that many riders struggle with, but is not that difficult once you get the basics right.  Here are few tips that will help you climb like a mountain-goat!

1. Relax

This is the number one rule for road unicycling, but especially so for climbing.  Having a relaxed upper body, arms, and legs helps you adjust your balance, and prevents wasting energy that should be spent on propelling yourself forward and upwards!  Don’t grip your handles with a deathgrip, and keep your head up and shoulders relaxed.  You should ‘float’ youself on the pedals and think about ‘floating’ your way up the hill.

2. Use a handle

Most distance unicyclists these days ride with some form of handle extension.  Even the KH plastic handles gives a good platform for your hands as you climb.  The trick is to use it like a handlebar on a bike.  It gives you better leverage and a place to rest your hands.

3. Get off the saddle

If you’ve ridden a bike, chances are you’ve stood up off the saddle on occasion to get up a steep climb, or to use different muscle groups.  The same applies to unicycles.  Handles are not just for pulling up on, you should use them to take your weight when you stand up and pedal.  This is useful on steep climbs and to give you an added power boost.  Standing up constantly can be tiring, so alternate between standing and sitting when going up a long climb.

4. Breathe!

Too often I see riders holding their breath, gnashing their teeth, and looking like they’re pumping iron instead of pumping pedals.  If you start turning purple and your face looks like it’s ready to explode, chances are you’re not breathing properly.  Keep your shoulders relaxed, you chest out, and concentrate on taking deep, steady breaths as you climb the hill.

5. Milk your momentum

Once you have your unicycle revved up to speed, try to make the most of it.  If you are at the base of the climb, concentrate on keeping your cadence high, rather than thinking about trying to muscle your way up the hill.  Your pedaling cadence will slow down naturally as you head up the hill, but use your momentum to your advantage as far up the hill as possible.

6. Look ahead, think ahead

There is nothing worse than going up a steep climb and giving it everything you’ve got, only to turn a corner and find an even steeper hill or rough terrain which you didn’t leave enough juice in the tank for.  Anticipate the hill getting worse before it get’s better.

7. Crank length

Longer=more leverage, so it’s important to get this right.  However, climbing is more than just being able to muscle up a hill.  Having leverage does not equal higher power output (=work done/time).  So pedalling speed, smoothness and momentum are just as important, particularly for lesser gradients.  Long cranks often increase the ‘dead spot’ and gives you more leverage at the expense of power.  The only way to know this is to experiment with different lengths and have some idea of what works for you on different grades.

8. Lay off the pies!

Because you will have to lug that extra bit of cellulite up the hill.