A reader joked that hills are what keep her from cycling. Understandably, she hates having to walk her regular bike uphill, and the thought of trying to propel a load of kids up an incline can't be much more appealing. Fortunately, there are strategies even novice cyclists can use to make climbing easier and more efficient.
This article outlines some of those strategies. To summarize and clarify:
1) Get into a lower gear than you think you'll need for the climb. For me on the bakfiets, that almost always means my lowest gear. Keep your cadence (pedal speed/RPMs) up, and try to maintain speed.
2) Avoid shifting gears frequently, stay in the saddle for as long as possible, and point your toes to get the most power from your leg strength.
3) Be aware of your posture and breathing. Imagine yourself as a star cyclist on an epic climb in a big tour. You have a calm expression on your face, you are leaning into the incline with a flat back, you are pointing your toes, you are breathing deeply and staying focused. Cheeks, shoulders, and fingers should all be loose.
4) Only stand up for extra pedaling power when remaining in the saddle becomes clearly unsustainable. Standing over the pedals is a way to use a different muscle group, but it probably won't get you very far. This strategy should be saved for when your strongest and most efficient muscle group can really benefit from a short break. Shift into a higher gear when standing up. When sitting back down, immediately shift back into lower gear and focus on keeping your cadence fast.
I found a collection of articles on the topic here, so know that you aren't alone in your desire for strategies to conquer uphill climbs! Know that some authors focus on increasing strength-to-weight ratio, which is not practical for those of us hauling kids, water, snacks, diaper bags, and toys.
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