Most cyclists lose their climbs in the first 90 seconds. Here are the three pacing errors I see constantly — and the fixes that immediately improve performance.

Mistake #1: The Adrenaline Surge

You hit the base of a climb feeling strong. Heart rate spikes 15-20 BPM above your sustainable threshold in the first minute. By the halfway point, you're grinding at 50 RPM wondering what happened.

The Fix: Start the first 2 minutes of any climb at 5-10% below your target power. It will feel easy. That's the point. Your body needs 60-90 seconds to shift from aerobic cruising to sustained climbing effort. Let it.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Gradient Changes

A 2km climb at an average 7% gradient is not the same as a flat 2km road. But many riders treat it like one. They hold the same gear through steep ramps and shallow recovery sections, blowing up on the steep parts and wasting the easy parts.

The Fix: Think in segments, not averages.

• On steep ramps (>8%): drop 1-2 gears, increase cadence to 75-85 RPM, accept slower speed

• On shallow sections (<5%): shift up, recover your heart rate, bring breathing under control

• On false flats: this is your gift — use it to genuinely recover, don't accelerate

Mistake #3: Death Grip on the Handlebars

Tension in your upper body steals watts from your legs. Clenched hands, hunched shoulders, locked elbows — all of it creates an energy leak that compounds over a 10-minute climb.

The Fix: Every 2 minutes during a climb, do a quick body scan:

1. Relax your hands — light grip, thumbs on top of the bars

2. Drop your shoulders away from your ears

3. Unlock your elbows with a slight bend

4. Unclench your jaw

This takes 3 seconds and can save you 5-10 watts of wasted effort over a long climb.

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These three fixes alone can drop 30-60 seconds off a 10-minute climb without any fitness improvement. It's free speed.

I teach a complete system for hill climbing endurance — from pacing and cadence to power zone training and race-day execution — inside Summit Cycling Lab. If you're serious about becoming a stronger climber, check it out.