However fast (or slow) you're climbing, you're always climbing faster than the guy sat on the sofa.

“Successfully got up at all.” Agreed. I (50 yrs, 109 kg) go by the motto of the Sloth Cycling Club. “We get there when we get there.” Ride On!

I have been cycling for almost 2 years now. And since then I've lost 25kg weight. Really proud of myself. Not only due to cycling though, gym and food habits also, but cycling definitely keeped me being consistent. 110kg starting weight in september 2019 -- 85kg today! -- Hills are still hard though.

I found eating less for the ten years before the climb was a good idea unfortunately.

When struggling I rather do not look at the top of the climb but just at the road right before my front wheel. When looking to the top my mind tells me that it is still so far to go. When not looking at it literally I feel like it gets less steep. I also find that getting into a rhythm is key. Sometimes I even use my shadow for pacing me, looking at my shadows pedal strokes as if it was someone else and trying to stay in sync. This helps me to stay more constant withe the cadence. And do not feel bad when you get dropped. A lot of riders have problems finding their rhythm and may get slower and slower. I learned to approach the longer climbs with a high cadence and easy gears, finding that rhythm and then I might even shift to harder gears. When I was travelling with panniers and all sorts of bikepacking bags I was just into the climb up Mont Ventoux when a peleton of riders with an escort car took over. It was still early and I was slow but used them as a refference point in the distance. Within just a couple of minutes I caught the back of the group. I did not want to show off but they got kind of slow and I did not want to loose my momentum so I took over and rode on. Two riders of that group caught up and we had a kind of race up the climb. They always caught me in the steep sections and I was able to pull away again when it eased off. I was great fun.

Thanks for the tips! Recently back on the bike. 65 years old and 100kg. Its going slow, but its going. Have lost 5 kg so far.

A tip when you stop on a steep section and want to continue. Cross the road and even descend a couple of meters to get clipped in and then turn around to continue the climb.

Don`t cry for me if I drop dead on the road, because I died happy...

Doing wheelies up hill's helps me, as you only have the rolling resistance on the back wheel 🖒

Hi Leonard. Your video has just given me a boost. As someone who’s BMI chart say I’m too short, I decided at 59 to try cycling as a way of losing a bit of weight and increasing my fitness level. I often see the professional types with all the style and Gucci kit and you can’t help but feel a bit self conscious. Especially when you feel your struggling. But it’s not about others, I’m trying to do this for me. Your video has helped with my attitude and I’m going to bear your tips in mind. I’ll never be a pro but if I can maintain a positive mental attitude, learn a few tips then I know I’ll enjoy being out on the bike and as they say i’ll at least be better than the guy lying on the couch. Cheers

That was surprisingly, possibly alarmingly, interesting, informative, positive and encouraging. Thank you.

Great tips, thanks. I also use the "Little Engine That Could" philosophy by repeating "I think I can, I think I can".

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right" is actually a Henry Ford quote. But it's definitely funnier coming from Stewie.

Solid advice Leonard !! (also for riders of any weight) @ 4.27 re walking on cleats, I now use mountain bike cycling shoes with recessed cleats & matching peddles. Well presented, please keep up the good work. From Pete, an ex 1st Cat UK amateur cycle racer in the late 1950s to mid 1960s.

Your information and delivery as always is humorous and spot on. I am 55 years old and only took up cycling this year. I’ve started bike touring and so add 30lb to my 140lb body weight and bike, so your advise here helps me a lot. I’ve recently only had to climb a couple of hills at 7%, I had to get out of my seat and in my lowest gear but I was very happy to just get to the top.😀

Great video and info. As a clydesdale cyclist myself, I find your mental tips of getting to the next sign or focusing on the summit always helps. Thank you.

As a 70-year old guy who loves the bike, I have an ultimate fall-back: a very low bottom gear that I use when I absolutely need it. Then, I just resort to patience, and I get up the hill. The energy required is slightly greater, but the power generation is less than those smart Alecks who blow by so fast that there is a Doppler Effect.

Spot and and thanks for taking the time. Getting fitter, getting stronger and shape changing. 25lb down further 3 stone to go. Thanks for the inspiration. Cheers Sel

Thank you for posting this video. Great tips for those of us over 100kg. I agree that the right mindset is a key factor in climbing. I recently completed a "dream day" of climbing in the Cap de Creus region of Spain with my brother-in-law. We did 1534 meters over 4 climbs, and 85km distance for the day, in one of the most beautiful areas I have ever been to. The climbing was brutal but the descents were awesome! Never give up! Never give in! LIVE TO RIDE - RIDE TO LIVE!!

Great video mate. Atleat I'm not alone in this struggle. I'm now 50 yrs about 100km. What keeps me going is the knowledge and believe in what the younger me was able to do, believing that you are only a failure when you give up. The trick is to run my own race and slowly but surely with determination, I will improve💪

Great video. It's worth mentioning that changing to an 11-32 rear cassette is a real help on the steep stuff. Sometimes the difference between getting up there of having to stop. It's also a great confidence booster, knowing you've got that bit of extra leeway. It's really helped my climbing on the steep stuff.

Thanks Leonard, Totally agree with relaxing and breathing correctly, your vid clips reminded me of last October going up the Formentor on our first day. I'm 15st, & 50 years old, staying "on top of the gear" and spining at around 100 cadence certainly is the way to go for us more "rotund" athletes..ahem..

you are really cool and a good cyclist. Love your oh so british way of talking. In cycling as in so many other things you get better by repetition, repetition, repetition, climb, climb, climb..... you will be astonished how much progress one can make. After even 1 month or 2 of repetitive climbing & climbing & climbing you do things that were utterly unthinkable before. Everything gets stronger, mind, legs & lungs.

My love of beer outweighs my desire to be thin.. but it will never stop my legs from going around in circles on my bike.. I fell in love with cycling 2 years ago and will never stop. I’ve since bought a road bike, a fat bike for the trails and a gravel bike that I also use as a grocery getter / commuter bike.. I haven’t lost a pound in 2 years but I love the excercise and adventure I get out of my bikes everyday. Cheers Lenny! 🚴🏻‍♂️💨

I'm a big old boy and I ride a big old bike. I pump and grind and get it up the hill. Breathing technics are so important I count it out to match the rhythm of the pedals. Love the challenge. I'm about 325 and my bike empty weights 47. That's pounds, would hate to dragging around them stones.

Plus side of hill climbing, is on way down with my wieght, im like the runaway boulder in Indiana Jones. Flying by all the skinney guys.

Great tips! Thank you! I would like to add that equipment choice will help significantly. After spending a lot of money experimenting, here is where I've ended up. I do live in the Denver, Colorado metro area, so yes we have a lot of climbing! Gearing: I am running an FSA Gossamer TRIPLE crank on my Synapse, with an 11-34 cassette and a Shimano 105 GS 10-speed derailleur. I believe the 10-speed 105 is only rated to accommodate a 32T rear cassette, but the 11-34 does work flawlessly. Caution-the big-big, 50/34 combination stretches the derailleur out, leaving very little play in the derailleur, but I shift to the middle chain ring way before I get to that point. I have found I spend 75% of my time in the 39T middle chain ring, and I use the 50T chain ring only for flats and downhill runs, and the 30T small chain ring for climbs. While the light-weight arrogant roadies will make fun of you for having a triple, here's the math. A 39/11 gear combination with a 25 tire at 100 cadence will carry you to 27.94 mph or 44.97 kph. How many people can hold 25+ mph on a 2% grade? If the tiny people continue to deride you, sit on them until they stop breathing. This strategy leaves no marks on the body. Wheels: Buy a set of wheels that have heavy-duty or touring/trekking rims, and 32 or possibly 36 spokes. Let's be honest. For all of us in the 100kg/220lb range, a 20 spoke front wheel is not going to cut your climbing time by 25%. Go for strength (and therefore safety); ignore the wheel weight. I had a set of wheels built up with Ultegra, 32 hole hubs, DT Swiss spokes, and Mavic Open Pro rims. After about 6,000 miles, the rear rim cracked. I have nothing but praise for the Mavic rims, but I would say they are not designed for heavy people coupled with the "quality" pot-hole covered Colorado roads. Lesson learned-stay away from light weight rims, regardless of manufacturer, or you WILL be repurchasing or rebuilding wheels. I had the wheels rebuilt with DT Swiss RR511 rims and 32 spokes. While these rims are not cheap or especially light, they have a recommended system maximum weight of 130kg! If your wheels look like they came from 1970, you know it is built correctly. Heavy person = boring wheels. Bike Choice: The gravel bikes that have come out in the last few years really do give a heavier person options. Many of them are coming with 48/32 or 46/30 cranks and 11-34 cassettes. For a road bike, a strategy for a heavier person in a mountainous area may be to buy a Sora equipped aluminum model bike, and then install a Sora triple. Yes, this is a bit pricey, because you will be changing the crank, front derailleur, and shifter, but it will get you a bike that works for you. My opinion only, after owning the Synapse with a triple, I would never go back to a double crank because of the 16 tooth jump between the two front chain rings. I found myself either spinning too fast in the 34T, or grinding in the 50T, spiking my heart rate. I often was shifting both the front and rear derailleurs trying to find the right gear as the terrain changed from flat or a descent to a climb. Another interesting point-the first time I took the triple-equipped Synapse out on a ride, I had twenty-four 1st, 2nd or 3rd best times on Strava segments over a 32 mile loop I ride often. Granted, most time improvements were only a few seconds, and I was not trying to set a fast time, but it is intriguing how more efficient gearing does make you faster.

Thanks for the tips! Love the mental side of things! Probably the most major factor :-)

What great advice for any cyclist 😉 You've created a classy video. Thanks a lot 👍👍👍

Al good advice Leonard Among many others , Sevy used to say that the biggest distance in golf was between the ears. As someone at. 60 returning to cycling after many years and victim of middle age spread , climbs are as much a mental obstacle as physical. The other day "defeated" by a local climb where l had to dismount ( 14Kg Bike 97kg Rider ) l,thought tomorrow lm going to concentrate on climbs. Took the car for a 25 mile tour round our local roads thinking "no way could l do this but following day rather than think "oh god here's a climb" , l went out knowing they Were coming - 6 miles in the middle of a 25 mile run and 1,000 ft (No dips ) average gradient 7.5% on a hybrid. Never dismounted once . Chuffed & inspired by your own efforts . Thanks. Keep the videos coming.

Your videos are encouraging and inspiring. You've given me a much needed confidence boost and strengthened my resolve to keep at it. THANK YOU

Thank you Leonard for these great tips fro commuters too. I climb a double hill on my commute home and the only thing that keeps me from getting off the bike are your tips! ! Your music is also very cool 😎

Wonderful advice. Exactly what I've experienced these past few years. Thank you for taking the time to put this video together.

I just love your videos because of your enthusiasm & great ideas. You're also encouraging to the average cyclist & present cycling as fun & for everybody

Getting back into mountain biking. Saw this in my feed and watched it, thanks for the video and inspiration! I'm 6'2 235lbs and i often struggle with how slow i go uphill. Thanks for the vid 🤙

I love biking too. Did a lot of swimming in my past, thus forming my upper body structure to be much heavier than the one of the average cyclist. I'm going strong on flat land but I happen to live in Tuscany, known for the many hills and mountains, sometimes roads are even steeper than in Switzerland! hhhhhhh... Your advice about climbing is definitely accurate, I had found out exactly the same techniques by myself already so I can herewith confirm that it works in our favour. Good luck, friend, and keep the pedals turning

I really look forward to these videos. As always, good advise. We are currently taking an advanced climbing, descending class and one of the cyclists told me to move more forward on the climb in order to put more weight directly over the pedals. I always scooted back on long steady climbs.

I love your video§s as I am a heavy guy and need all the encouragement I can get . Keep them coming

My favourite climb, Cap Formentor, love it. Thanks for this, subbed

Great video. Had a 6 mile climb the other day that I didn't think I could do, but I made it. I used some of these techniques.

Thank you for the tips and leaving weight to the end. I have battled with people about this that suggest I swap my touring bike with something lighter. I pointed out that even the lightest bike still had me a weight disadvantage. Hills are not my favorite but have accepted that and moved on. Love the videos

Thanks. Can’t wait to go and enjoy rides in a place like that! Good tips, cheers.

Hi Leonard ! An over weighted cyclist here too, from Mallorca. Nice video !

Climbing is very mental, you got that right! I just did my third century, the last one with a 10 mile climb. I found that dialing back a bit and not pushing too hard made the difference. Also, I use mountain bike shoes, you can walk with those if you have to. Really the only way to get better at hills is to just ride them. Keep up the good work!

Totally get the vlog. Glad you didn't go down tighter lycra, shaving your legs route... your vlogs are honest, informative and me relevant. It looked like a great place to ride as well.

You would have made a great neighbor. Thanks for your perspective and honesty, From across the pond, slaint

I lost 80 lbs. cycling and eating healthy meals with calorie and portion control. The weight melted off at about 1 lbs. every 10 days. Anyone who is bigger can do the same if they really want to.

Great video ! (Subbed) I started cycling a year ago (43) and got an ebike through C2W scheme. Best investment I ever made, I lost a stone in 6 months just cycling to work and back and slightly modifying my food intake. I now have a carbon road too bike which I love to ride. Still a relatively heavy rider at just over 15 stone but the more I ride the easier hills become and riding becomes so much more enjoyable! My tip is to keep hydrated and keep tackling those hills.. they get easier, the reward is the ride back down the other side :)

I use these tips myself and am not overweight. Especially concentrating on my controlled deep breathing, that helps a lot. Though I can't look up at the summit, but set little check points along the climb. For example, lamp post in the distance, once I hit that mark I pick something else and only focus on covering that part of the road.

An excellent video. Initially I thought it was one of those “tips videos” that are more excuses by an overweight cyclist than any real advice by a good cyclist. But I was wrong. This guy gives sensible and meaningful advice to us older and heavier cyclists.

Solid advice. Hill training is a focus area this summer. Weather has finally permitted some riding. Thanks

As a heavy MTBer, I am always behind on the climbs. My lightweight friends are going up like crazy and they are super awesome amd always wait for me. It seems like the only thing I can do is improve my leg's power and cardio along with mental focus. If I have to walk my bike up I'll do it. Thanks for the tips, ride on!

I just wanted to encourage your video making as you have been excellent in focusing on the activity as opposed to the weight. However, we should all try to drop the weight.... it is possible. There's such a benefit when we can do this. No sugar, 2 meals a day, don't eat after 6pm, and no snacking between meals. It really works. Good luck.... and great video!

One other helpful tidbit - do squats 3 times a week. Work your way up to doing 25 - 30 squats with 10 lb dumbells in each hand. This will help your climbing immensely. My advice: 1) Time in the saddle, train on short but steep hills. Do at least 6 climbs in say an hour. 2) Lose weight !!! 3) Do squats.

Here in mountainous Utah, USA heavier riders benefit from having a triple chain ring with a cassette having at least a 34-tooth cog. All about the cadence and staying in the aerobic effort range.

"REST STEPPING" is used in climbing up mountains and can/should be applied to bicycle hill climbs. This works by stepping up to the next foothold and immediately straightening the leg to "rest" on your skeletal frame, rather then support yourself with muscle. "PRESSURE BREATHING" is also employed where your breathing is managed by forcefully exhaling fully to enable yourself to inhale fully so you do not have to stop and catch your breath. I find there is much in common, physically with both endeavors, but is worth the effort and the use of logical technique for each situation. Most importantly; HAVE FUN!

great content, keep rolling! ps. When the climb is steep somewhat I like to imagine that my cranks are rolling a flag up a flagstaff, just gives you better feel for a lot of spinning with a little distance covered.

I’m not a very good climber but have got better since my bike fit which has naturally increased my cadence and being advised to ride more in my little ring! Great video as always 👍

Good video! Power to weight ratio applies to many things. The most affordable performance part around is a diet. Eating less costs less and makes you go faster. Great video. Keep up the good work!!

I'm 85 kg and actually Iike climbing. I on an objective basis I suck at it - as a heavyweight should. But I like it. It's a Zen experience. All good advice in this video. The only additional comment I'd make is that when I climb I think of myself as being alone in the world. I'll give a nod to oncoming cyclists but in my own direction I'm going at my speed, my cadence, and my heart rate. And please don't try to chat with me. I'd love to get to know you over a cup of coffee after the ride but at that moment I have more urgent things to do with my oxygen. Particularly liked the quote, "Whether you think you CAN or you think you CAN'T.......you're right. I'll be meditating on that one on my next climb.

Leonard this was a great motivational video. I am going to bookmark this link.

you are an inspiration.. detailed and very precise advice for climbing.. ride safe sir

Thanks for your tips and encouragement!

Hi Leonard another great video i,ve just got into riding after some health issues im 66 years old, just love the bike there,s a climb near me that i,ve been avoiding after this video tomorrow is the day to give it a go if i have to push so be it. It will be good comming back down thanks for the inspirational videos

I been riding again for the first time in 20 years I could not make it around the block 1 and a half years ago now 20 miles a day is a norm. But you ste definitely right about eating to lose weight I lost alot the first year and I am plateaued right now but it's time for a major eating ch as bad...I am so glad I c as me across your videos

Tips valid for everyone! Great to be cycling and everything that goes up has to come down!

Great advice for this older, lighter rider heading to the Pyrenees. Enjoyed the presentation style very much.

What a wonderful vid. Thank you so much for this, it's inspired me!

Thanks for this video, mate

Hi Leonard, A wonderful video. A couple of things I do to aid in climbing as I am an older ride (70's) and about 10-15 lbs over the ideal. I use mtb shoes and double sided XT peddles; this way getting into the peddles on steep sections is not an issue. On my 2 main bikes I have moved away from what the manufacturers generally include which is a compact with an 11/28 cassette. On my Domane I use a 34 tooth cassette (700cX25MM tires) and on my gravel bike running 650b/47 I use a 46/30 chainset with a 36 tooth cassette which is particulalrly good for steep gravel inclines. As the world moves to larger tires, such as 700c x 28mm, or bigger on road bikes, for most recreational riders a compact with a 28 tooth cassette is not ideal for steeper terrain. Anyway, please keep up the great work.

Top tip from 63 year old. I have fitted my bike with shimano xtr mountain bike cassette with 11 40 ratio. You may need a wolftooth roadlink adding to the derailure. It will depend on the cage length you have . This allows you to cruise up the hills with a decent cadence rather than get out of the saddle which always feels exhausting. Keep up the great videos.

Excellent tips for the hill climbs. When I was a featherweight I searched for climbs as a super heavyweight I dread the climbs. Attitude attitude attitude is something I have to work on . Especially the beer and pizza ;)

This is great advice for any cyclist casual or racer who will get older. Sooner or later this will apply. I know.

...man... you're good. Thanks for the inspirational ideas.

I missed that Mallorca for 2 consecutive years now. I’m pacing my self and watching my heart rate all the time on hilly rides.

Thanks for the tips, I really need this as a heavy cyclist.

At our hippo riding club we specialise in flats and downhills 🤣🤣

Great video - love the cake versus carbon comment. I've been saying this to people for years. Being a lardy 54 year old (getting lighter by the day though!) getting back to after a break, I have found a well built steel frame far more comfortable and ridable than any wafer light carbon bike and half the price (I do have carbon forks on one of my bikes as they are almost standard these days)! I am enjoying getting back on a bike after a break of over 5 years and back on a road bike after a break of over 35 years - keep the videos coming.

This is the second video I've seen from this guy, and I really like (and appreciate) his honest and pragmatic approach to cycling, which, at even the basic standard, can be very elitist.

Great advice.Nowt patronising,just well thought out help.Thank you.

I agree with his statements. I do a lot of what he said and also put a larger cassette on the rear....ha...like a 11/34... that also helps alot...👍

Good advice, thank you. Love that ride out to the lighthouse! 👍

Definitely it’s valuable advice and bound to show results

Great tips Leonard. I generally like climbing - until I hit those climbs where I run out of gears and then it's a grind to the top or, even worse, having to stop. A good tip for clipping in on a steep climb is to set off across the slope.

At 60 kilo and standing 5'8" tall I consider myself skinny. I recently did a 150 km ride in tge Himalayas - my first at age 54. I agree 100 per cent with everything that is said here, particularly the first point. The philosophy and approach preached here is universally applicable to all - skinny or fat. The best video I have seen on the subject.

I was diagnosed as diabetic last year , handed down from my grandmother so changing my food intake as helped me loose a little more weight and with bike riding as put this condition into remission , riding as got a lot more easy and I can keep up with the young skinny ones now and drop a few too. I'm 57 and living the dream lol .

Wonderful advice. You can also lighten up in your “mind”

Here's some sage advise from an old guy (69). Never feature a women in a film about "Climbing Tips For Heavier Cyclists."

Beautiful Mallorca love those climbs!!!!!

This is such a simple and really well-thought-out information, I am thoroughly enjoying this and the relaxed method in which you are speaking translates into the relaxed method in which we should be pedaling try to make the correlation between the two and the miles up that steep grade will become easier yep I really like your how are you explaining this

Your videos are aesthetic, entertaining and informative :)

Grest video! Thank you, i needed that

thanks for videos you're a inspiration

Thanks for the info [Class of 40Years +107kg] 👊🏾

Enjoyed the video, looking at your calf muscles Leonard I couldn't help but notice you fed a few mosquitoes too. It really put me in the mood to do some cycling in the sun.

Great video, @leonardmlee and some good tips

This was great! My friend and I used to have this conversation. He calls my 21 LB (9.5 Kilo) bike “heavy”. But we both agree if I lost the 15-20 pounds I’m overweight I’d have a lighter bike! Thanks!

Great Video and awesome footage. At 100kg I'm pretty slow at climbing, and if Im riding with faster riders I just let them fly off ahead and focus on myself. Theres no point hammering yourself if you can't keep up anyway.

I live in a very hilly area.....lol it's Wales, so there aunt too much flat. Hills are just such hard work and never seem to get less painfully, eve though you go up quicker the more you do......You are a good advert for the usual cyclist though Leonard, there are alot more cyclists carrying a few pounds than super slim guys, and yours are the only videos I have seen really representing your normal cyclist.

A Clyde climbing tip from a Clyde; EBIKES! Totally transformed my cycling adventures!