Hill Climbs - Stand up? or sit down?

bigpedaler

yep. a saying among too-serious riders is "train doing what you suck at doing".

and remember: LeMond said, "it never gets easier, you just go faster."

mikesbytes

Hi Wishes, sitting down is more efficient than standing up, however when you stand up you use more muscles including your back and triceps.

On big hills such as the road upto the top of Mt Eden or the road out of Phia, I'd defenently be sitting down, where on bumps such as the intersection of Sandringham rd and Mt Albert rd, I'd hold my gear stand up and power over.

Congratulations on your weight loss.

PS sogood was just joking and he's going to have to eat his words on the 4th of March.

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sogood

As I said, I am fully prepared to walk up at 7km/h. But I prefer to know my limits and avoid hills I can't tackle.

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thomas_cho

I think I am getting better at hill climbing. I recently tried climbing black mountain, and Mount Ainslie in Canberra.

I laboured up both pedaling. Didnt walk. I thought I did well until a couple of roadies came along and did repeats!

Tried to pedal a bit standing up, but the effort was too much, had to sit back down to keep from going into the red zone. I might start trying to stand for the last 100m ...

wishes

Well after doing a SUB race yesterday, im very glad ive been practicing the hills, both standing and sitting.
It was full of lots of little hills - perfect for standing up on. Im sore today but i managed to stick in the first group the entire way (though the backs of my thighs are a little sore now).

Thanks re the weight loss - as of today ive lost 54kg

Oh yeah, and i got to meet Sarah Ulmer and do a photo op with her

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mikesbytes

Twins !

Where were your riding, I can't quite make it out from the pic ?

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wishes

Clevedon to Maratai (15km) and back, twice (65km).

Very nice ride i must admit as well

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HowardSteele

I find sitting and easing up on a gear the most functional,walking is never a option it sucks and i swear its more tiering.
Standing and climbing on certain sections gets the circulation flowing and if my strenth on the day allows it i'll try and climb out of the saddle for a while then drop to a smaller chainring and spin,seated up the rest of the hill.
Personally a indication of my level of fitness is when i alternate subconscioslly between the two.

bikerboy

If you need maximum power than the only real option is to get out of the saddle. I live at the top of a hill thats about 20% for a block, and to get up my driveway I need to lean back while out of the saddle.
Especially with salt and sand on it in the winter... In a race situation I try to go up as many short and long climbs in the saddle because of efficiency. Often the only reason I stand is to stretch out. In training I get out of the saddle on recovery rides to use my weight to lean on the pedals to push me up steep hills around my house without raising my hr. And of course on a long climbs I alternate but mostly sit. If I'm about to get dropped I'm usually sitting. If your popping the problem is, if you get out of the saddle your cadence drops and you slow down big time.

Japheth

My younger brother (a master athlete) taught me how to ride:
maintain same rpm as much as possible
so it's ok to stand or sit or whatever, but try to go the same speed in the same gear on the parts of the hill which are of the same steepness.
Also, btw when climbing a monster hill avoid trying to go for speed; concentrate on technique instead.

Sincerely,

Jacob

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mikesbytes

Hey Wishes, I found your photo

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wishes

Haha OMG! we must be twins!!

I need to get a pic of me on my bike one of these days, im less shy of the camera now than i was 60kg ago *G*

I recall one of my first races, and i was sitting at the start, and all i could think of was 'oh my god, wonder what the person behind me is thinking looking at my huge rear end!'
Now its more along the lines of 'im gonna whip that guy ... and that one ... and that one over there .. oh yeah!'

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mikesbytes

U got it wrong, I'm thinking how big that bum is in front of me, I'm thinking about how much wind break I'm going to get, the bigger the other riders, the easier it is for you.

Amazingly smooth legs, perhaps I should wax mine too.

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wishes

Haha yeah well that was the other thing - everyone hides behind me :/
When you said 'Break wind' and 'bum' in the same sentance i get horrid thoughts though.... oh wait it was 'wind break'


Turbo boost

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