Hill Climbs - Stand up? or sit down?

wishes

Has anyone got any info on whats the better/faster way to climb a hill, lower gears and sitting down or higher gear standing up?
I can get up a hill faster standing but theres a lot more effort and im panting at the end.
Do i keep training to do long haul standing for large hills? or do i practice sitting down and trying to get the speed up?

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Rockslayer

If you are looking at endurance and trying be more efficient learn to "Spin" especially if you are doing alot of longer climbs

Speed and stamina will increase gradually with more riding/climbing you do.

- Save your energy and speed for going downhill.
- Plan ahead build your momentum when approaching the hill and try predict the right gear to use you may stall if you suddenly have to jump 2 to 3 gears.
- If you riding a dualie you are probably better sitting pedalling while standing causes alot of bobbing while climbing unless you have lock out.
- Stand if you can comfortably make it up to the top (mostly small hills)
- Riding up technical terrain and erroded trails you'll probably spend most the time out of your seat it's usually a balance of both.

Try not to measure your speed/time purely on your climbs, measure over the whole ride/track. I try to ride to be efficient over the distance I am riding rather than slug it out up all the hills at the beggining and limp home.

At some point you will find the balance between sitting and standing when climbing. Train Train and more training.

wishes

Ahh much help!
Yeahb thats pretty much what im aiming for. I just wasnt sure if thats what i SHOULD be aiming for

Currently for smaller hills ill stand, longer harder ones ill do a combo or just sit (depending on the hill)

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Alida

With me it depends on the hill - I tend to be one of those cyclists that likes to power up a hill in a big gear but I need to work on sitting down because sometimes there's a hill thats very steep and very long and riding a 53-19 is just not going to get me to the top.

So yes, it depends on the hill

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sogood

Don't forget there's always that third options... Walk!

But on a serious note, I wonder what's more energy efficient and faster on a steep hill. To ride up on an appropriate gear or run up pushing your bike?

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thomas_cho

I am so bad at climbing.

I had to get off and walk when my speed fell to 5 km/h. Walking up on cleated shoes are just as tiring as trying to turn the pedals.

I stay seated on most climbs, but thats because its all I can do.

Is more hill climbing the only way to get better at it?

sogood

Well, there are MTB shoes/cleats. Isn't that how cyclocross people do it?

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Rockslayer

Walking sucks.
On Technical climbs where the track is uneven standing is about the only option apart from walking. For me sudden switching from spinning/pedalling to running often causes cramps . On more even trails seated often better if on a dualie as standing can cause bobbing = drop in efficiency unless one has lockout.

sogood

I think we are talking about road biking, no?

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Fastguppy

some of it applies for hills in general..

sogood

Agreed. However, uneven ground and dualie/suspension really aren't applicable for road bikes.

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Rockslayer

Totally!

I wasn't too sure either I geuss "Mountain bikes" heading for this thread can cover road and offroad MTB riders as it doesn't really say Mountain biking.

wishes

Yeah walking in cleated shoes would be an ass lol.
I road race rather than MTB, though both are cool

Thanks everyone for advice, except for you who suggest that 'walk' thing

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