How to handle hills

Alex Wrubleski rules the climbs. Here’s how she does it:

1. Always climb with your hands on your hoods (the horn between your handlebars and brakes). That puts you in the best position to relax, but keeps you at the ready.

2. Stay in the easiest gear possible. “This advice has helped me a lot,” she says. “My legs feel noticeably fresher for the final climbs when the pace gets hard and the attacking starts.”

3. When attacks and sprints increase the pace on a climb, go for your drops, the lowest grip on a road bike handlebar. “I feel more powerful this way,” Wrubleski says.

This article was originally published on April 5, 2012