This exercise is unlike all the others – since it encourages super slow pedalling.  It really is not a good idea to do this if you have any sort of knee problems, so stay clear if that’s the case.

Power climbs are designed to strengthen the muscles in your legs, and force you to think about every part of the stroke – since in a very high gear, every motion is important as you’ll struggle to turn the pedals if there are weak spots.

10 of the UK’s Toughest Climbs

You need a fairly shallow hill, ideally around 8-10 minutes long, but 6 minutes+ will do if there isn’t one nearby, and you can do it on the turbo if need be.

Click the gears right up to the highest gear you can stay in, whilst still climbing seated.

Aim to hit around 50-60 rpm, working in ‘zone 4’ , that’s ‘Threshold’ which is about 7/10 in terms of effort. This is the kind of interval you could just about hold for 1 hour if really pushed – you should be able to speak, but it should feel like hard work.

At this level of resistance, sitting at 50-60 rpm, you should be able to feel every part of the stroke, and if you concentrate on making even circles with your feet, you’ll find it’s easier. You can do anywhere between 1 and 4 of these in a session.

If you enjoyed these drills, check out our Top Tips for Training on Your Road Bike for more advice on getting stronger and faster.