What is the best technique for road riding up and down steep hills?

**orsem** · 5th November 2010, 19:43

As techniques and advice I have read on this site saved my skin last week, I thought I would seek info on road riding hills/steep inclines. Which brake to use, gear to be in etc....

**Smifffy** · 5th November 2010, 19:55

For me it's pretty much the same as riding anywhere else. You need to work with the bike. In terms of correct gear, you want to be in a gear that provides you with a good throttle response, without revving the rings off it, or bogging it down.

Quiet, unhurried practice helps immensely.

**White trash** · 5th November 2010, 20:02

Don't worry about it, there aren't any steep hills in Ashburton, you'll be fine.

**davebullet** · 5th November 2010, 21:37

Originally Posted by orsem

As techniques and advice I have read on this site saved my skin last week, I thought I would seek info on road riding hills/steep inclines. Which brake to use, gear to be in etc....

Transfer your weight back slightly down hill. Lean forward slightly going up. Gear the bike so you have the engine braking all the way down a steepy. Grip the tank with your knees and use your core to maintain your position moreso than when riding normally (eg. even lighter grip on the bars so you don't end up transfering a lot of weight to the front or unsettle the bike over bumps due to your body moving around if you use a deathgrip).

**orsem** · 6th November 2010, 04:42

Thanks for that. There are a few steep inclines into gorges etc... round canterbury I just wasn't sure how to tackle.

**=cJ=** · 6th November 2010, 07:21

My thoughts are if you're not sure, it's safer to be slower and a gear lower, than faster and a gear higher.

The caveat to this is you still want to carry a bit of speed so you can turn, balance etc, as you won't get up the hill if you're stationary

**ellipsis** · 6th November 2010, 09:13

....sounds like it would be a good idea if you had a chat with someone like Dan at www.motorcycletraining.co.nz ....your skills and confidence will take a bit of a boost ....well worth the cost in the long run....

**cheshirecat** · 6th November 2010, 11:23

This is a bit specialist, ie serious off road, but the principals are spot on, especially if loose stuff is about.
Here

Practising complete bike familiarity on a safe clear flat zone first covering smooth change ups, knowing where your bikes power comes in, blipping throttle whilst downshifting smoothly, front and rear brake control, relaxed body, cornering low speeds with body upright - the list goes on but a rider course as above will help enormously.

A bike is very good going uphill, the hardest part could be turning round at the top, especially if you're loaded up for touring and have a sports fairing with limited lock. (and a 17kg dog on the back)
Downhill, 2nd is a good gear, plenty of engine braking. Start slow. If speed builds uncomfortably use front first (gentle but firm) and a very small amount of rear - if speed still builds then change down using blip method to avoid rear wheel locking. Use front brake to keep speed within comfort zone and very small amounts of rear, but release when back within comfort zone and let the engine do the braking and all the work.

Never keep clutch in or use neutral and freewheel.

Look ahead and focuss ahead to assess hill exit - can you run out with no hazzards, is the No10 bus U turned across your exit?

If you are descending a steepy with gravel involved I'd keep speed to well under 20Kph.

I've been in situations (Turikino ski field access track) on the VFR when I've had to paddle the thing down with my feet at a very slow walk and every so gentle use of the front brake. Never be worried about going too slow downhill.

Hope this helps

**hellokitty** · 6th November 2010, 17:46

Originally Posted by =cJ=

My thoughts are if you're not sure, it's safer to be slower and a gear lower, than faster and a gear higher.

Yes! And practice practice practice, somewhere close to home. I used to go up and down my street and do slow turns and all the boring stuff - hill starts and emergency braking..... blah blah. I wanted to be able to handle my new bigger, heavier bike before I went into the general population

**meteor** · 6th November 2010, 19:01

Yip, and don't be too heavy on the rear brake with the clutch out or you'll stall... but then it's fun learning to jump start downhill when it fires you forward with you'r brains screaming at you to lock it up! Uphill... nuts on the tank (or stand up) with the throttle wide open, Downhill, mainly front and slide forward on the seat to help it bite. Enjoy...

**orsem** · 6th November 2010, 19:03

All good advice, thank you, and greatly appreciated. I have mainly ridden flattish roads on my cruiser, with the odd hillier rise to practice hill starts. Emergency braking saved my skin last week, when a cage pulled out in front of me at an intersection(I'm sure the lady driver would have to go home and shake out her undies, she seemed to get a bigger fright than I did).
My hill experiences til now have been with quad bike towing heavy milk trailer up/down very steep, gravelly, slippery farm tracks/river tracks.
I hope to head out on some smallish hills and gorge roads to have a practice on my cruiser when my next days off rock around.

**Smifffy** · 6th November 2010, 19:04

Turikino ski field access track on a VFR?

Originally Posted by cheshirecat

This is a bit specialist, ie serious off road, but the principals are spot on, especially if loose stuff is about.

I've been in situations (Turikino ski field access track) on the VFR when I've had to paddle the thing down with my feet at a very slow walk and every so gentle use of the front brake. Never be worried about going too slow downhill.

**cheshirecat** · 6th November 2010, 19:58

Originally Posted by Smifffy

Turikino ski field access track on a VFR?

Yeah I got up to the gate where the rear wheel lost traction so discretion was called for at that point. Of course before I realised going down was somewhat more taxing than going up - not to mention the turning round bit.
I think the VFR's a trifle weak in that stuff but no wish to fit knobblies or wide bars or loose 100kgs or . . just yet

**meteor** · 6th November 2010, 20:18

Oops sorry orsem, when I said put your nuts on the tank I didn't realize your a girl, my bad... don't quite know what you'd put on the tank?... just slide forward!

**orsem** · 7th November 2010, 20:22

Originally Posted by meteor

Oops sorry orsem, when I said put your nuts on the tank I didn't realize your a girl, my bad... don't quite know what you'd put on the tank?... just slide forward!

I had a bit of a giggle at the nuts on tank comment.

Had a guy a while ago race over to me to comment on my 'boulevard' bike, only to be taken back that I was a girl when I removed my helmet, and the bike was only a little V twin Intruder.

Or the guy who drove past my driveway when I was sitting on my bike, he gave me a

at the bike, only to nearly steer into a power pole when I took my helmet off and it was a girl riding it.