The picture at the left is from my 2022 across Australia epic bike ride. Scotty was my ride partner, Chris, aka, Bushy, was the support van driver and responsible for booking all our overnight accommodations and keeping us safe along the Great Eastern Highway. The Nullabor Roadhouse is an Australian landmark. The adventure was 44 days overall, 35 days of riding, 4403 kilometers (2736 miles) from Perth to Bondi Beach in Sydney. 

About Rat Racer Coaching and coach Pat Whelan    Time for me, Pat, to start to share in all the wonderful experiences and knowledge I’ve acquired racing at velodromes around the USA and the World. I’ve also been lucky to experience epic rides in the USA, across Australia, numerous routes around France, Belgium, Netherlands. I’ve been lucky to have some great coaches encourage and train me to get some personally rewarding results and experiences. I’ll share some of that knowledge as well. Currently I host Zoom trainer rides at no charge for all levels of cycling enthusiasts. Connect with me to get a free invitation to any or all the upcoming rides. About an hour per event, ride at your own pace and intensity within a suggested structure for each ride. Check out the tab above for details. New to cycling or to having a coach to help you improve on your cycling? Connect with me and we can cooperatively build a variety of training options that will help you succeed in that next cycling challenge.       As mentioned above, I have a choice of training programs I offer. Click the link above to get to all the details. 

  A 1st Step in an athlete/ coach relationship is to get to know each other. I use an extensive athlete survey to help determine what plan would be a good fit and to determine what your hopes are through the coach process. It also helps me understand what equipment you own that will make our journey a good one.  Again, click the link above to get to more details.

My coach, yes, I’ve had a coach for over 20 years, helping me learn and grow in the sport I love.               I came into coaching through racing, where like many riders I initially relied on volume and instinct rather than structure. That experience shaped how I now coach. I understand what it looks like when riders are committed but not progressing as they should, and more importantly, how to change that. My coaching is built on bringing clarity to the process. Training is structured, feedback is direct, and the focus is always on developing performance that holds up under fatigue and over time. I work with riders who want to improve with purpose, not just train more.
            The generous person Robert is, he is offering a 10% discount on any coaching package you put together with him, just mention Pat’s name.

    How to become a better cycling climber, 11 tips courtesy of Pactimo, a Colorado cycling kit manufacturer and one of my teams’ sponsors.

            11 Tips to Climb Hills Faster and More Efficiently             Whether you’re facing your first local hill or tackling an iconic mountain pass, climbing is one of cycling’s greatest challenges—and one of its biggest rewards. Unlike a flat road where momentum does much of the work, every climb asks more from your legs, lungs, pacing, and mindset.             The good news? Becoming a stronger climber isn’t just about weighing less or producing more power. Smart pacing, efficient technique, proper fueling, and consistent training can make climbing feel noticeably easier, regardless of your experience level.             Colorado cyclists often use climbs like Lookout Mountain, Deer Creek Canyon, or Flagstaff Mountain as benchmark efforts because repeating the same climb makes it easy to measure progress over time.
1. Pace Yourself From the Very Beginning One of the biggest mistakes cyclists make is attacking the bottom of every climb. The excitement of starting a hill—or trying to stay with faster riders—often leads to riding well above a sustainable effort. It may feel manageable for the first minute or two, but that early burst usually catches up before the summit. Instead, settle into a pace you believe you can maintain for the entire climb. If you’re using a heart rate monitor or power meter, resist the temptation to spike your numbers immediately. If you’re riding by feel, you should still be able to speak in short sentences early in the climb. A climb ridden at a steady effort is almost always faster than one ridden with repeated surges.
2. Find a Comfortable Cadence Many recreational cyclists try to muscle their way uphill in a gear that’s simply too large. Grinding at 50 or 60 RPM may feel powerful for a short time, but it places tremendous strain on your muscles and often leads to fatigue before your cardiovascular system reaches its limit. For most riders, a cadence somewhere around 70–90 RPM is a good target on sustained climbs. Don’t become obsessed with hitting an exact number—find the rhythm that allows you to pedal smoothly without bouncing in the saddle or feeling like you’re pushing concrete. Remember: spinning efficiently usually beats mashing a big gear.
3. Shift Before the Grade Steepens Shifting becomes much easier when your pedals are under lighter load. As you approach a steeper section, shift into an easier gear before your speed drops dramatically. Waiting until you’re already grinding uphill often results in rough shifts or unnecessary strain on your drivetrain. Modern drivetrains perform exceptionally well, but anticipating changes in terrain is still one of the marks of an experienced climber.
4. Stay Seated Most of the Time Standing has its place, but sitting is generally the more efficient way to climb. Remaining seated keeps your weight balanced over the rear wheel, conserves energy, and allows your cardiovascular system to work more efficiently over longer efforts. Because you’ll spend long periods seated on sustained climbs,  comfortable bib shorts become even more important on mountain rides.

Stand briefly to: ·       Stretch your back ·       Relieve pressure from the saddle ·       Accelerate over short, steep pitches ·       Maintain momentum over the crest of a hill Think of standing as another tool—not your default climbing position.
5. Relax Your Upper Body Watch experienced climbers and you’ll notice something surprising: they often look relaxed. Many newer riders unknowingly waste energy by gripping the handlebars too tightly, shrugging their shoulders, locking their elbows, or rocking the bike excessively.

Periodically check yourself during a climb: ·       Relax your shoulders. ·       Bend your elbows slightly. ·       Loosen your grip. ·       Keep your upper body quiet. ·       Let your legs do the work. Small improvements in efficiency add up over long climbs.
6. Fuel Before You Need It Long climbs demand a steady supply of energy. If you’re already feeling hungry when the road turns uphill, you’re probably behind on your nutrition. For rides lasting more than about 90 minutes, aim to consume carbohydrates consistently throughout the ride rather than waiting for fatigue to appear. Energy chews, gels, bars, bananas, or drink mix can all work—find what agrees with your stomach. Hydration matters just as much, especially during warm weather climbs where sweat losses increase significantly.
7. Climb Hills…Then Climb More Hills There’s no shortcut. If you want to become a better climber, you need to climb. That doesn’t necessarily mean riding epic mountain passes every weekend. Repeating the same local climb several times can be incredibly effective. Try using one familiar hill as your benchmark. Ride it every few weeks under similar conditions and compare: ·       Time ·       Heart rate ·       Power (if available) ·       Perceived effort Watching your progress over time is motivating and provides real evidence that your training is working.
8. Ride Your Own Climb Nearly every cyclist has made this mistake.

A stronger rider increases the pace, and you instinctively try to follow—even though you know it’s too hard. Five minutes later you’re exhausted, breathing uncontrollably, and losing even more time than if you’d simply ridden your own pace from the beginning.

Ride the climb that’s right for your fitness today—not the climb someone else is riding.

Ironically, you’ll often catch riders later who started far too aggressively.
9. Train Your Mind as Well as Your Legs Long climbs are just as much mental as physical. Instead of focusing on how much climbing remains, break the ascent into smaller goals.

Ride to the next switchback. Then the next road sign. Then the next corner. Small milestones make long climbs feel far more manageable and keep your mind engaged instead of overwhelmed.
10. Dress for Changing Conditions Mountain weather can change surprisingly quickly. You may begin a climb wearing arm warmers or a  lightweight vest on a cool morning, only to remove layers as temperatures rise during the ascent. The opposite is often true for descents, where sweat-soaked clothing and higher speeds can leave you chilled within minutes. Pack lightweight, easily stowable layers whenever you’re expecting significant elevation gain. A  compact vest or  arm warmers can dramatically improve comfort without taking up much jersey pocket space. Planning for both the climb and the descent helps you stay comfortable throughout the ride. Once you’ve mastered the climb, you’ll also want to improve your confidence on the way back down. Our guide on  How to Descend Better on a Road Bike covers braking, cornering, body position, and line choice.
11. Climbing Gets Easier With Consistency Every experienced climber remembers struggling on hills that now feel routine. Fitness improves gradually. So does confidence. The climb that leaves you breathless today may become your warm-up next season. Don’t judge your progress by one ride. Judge it by where you are six months from now. Consistency beats occasional heroic efforts every time.