best way to conserve energy

[gavroche]

Is it better to go uphill standing on the pedals or sitting down. I heard that standing up uses more energy. What do you think?

 

[ASC1951]

I reckon you use more energy stood up. It's not so noticeable with gears, but on my fixed wheel there are hills I can get up sat down but not stood up.

 

[Chris.IOW]

I find I climb different hills differently.

Short sharp hills I like to get out the saddle and stamp on the peddles, longer hills I tend to stay in the saddle and spin a lower gear.

It tends to help to change position occasionally on a longer hill to give different muscles a rest, but on the whole out of the saddle will use more energy.

 

[Andy500]

I tend to stand for most hills but I suspect thats due to having the wrong gearing. But I always get to the top first

even if I am then shattered.

 

[exbfb]

I tend to mix it up.
Do a bit sitting down spinning until the inevitable "f***k this for a game of soldiers" thought comes into my head.
At that point, I'm likely to gear up between two and three gears and stand up for a short burst.
Again, inevitably, I reach the "f***k this for a game of soldiers" breaking point and gear back down for a bit of seated spinning, with the benefit of having maybe picked up a bit of pace.

This process repeats until I get to the top. Spin, stand, spin, stand. Give the muscles a bit of a rest.

I'll also add in, that I occasionally do a bit of lighter effort climbing standing up where I really concentrate on pedalling circles and bearing more weight on my arms, just to make sure I'm not working at absolutely maximum effort. I do like to remember my very limited abilities.
This seems to be much easier to do and gets me there too.

YMMV as they say on the tinterwebnet.

 

[al78]

http://sheldonbrown.com/standing.html

(although someone on here disagreed with this).

 

[HLaB]

I like to mix it up, sitting and spinning for longer hills but not losing momentum for smaller lumps and stand up to tackle them but doing both on some hills. I find it better for me to keep the momentum going and stand up or sit down appropriately.

 

[pepecat]

I figure if the pros stand up sometimes going up Ventoux or Alp d'Huez, then its ok for me to stand up sometimes on hills too!

 

[coffeejo]

To conserve energy use the lowest gear you have and slowly make your way to the top sitting down. To get to the top quickly, use a higher gear and honk you way up, but it doesn't half burn up your energy resources.

+1

 

[colly]

I used to be a honker but now I find it more comfortable to spin a lower gear and sit down. Having said that when the gradient rears up it can help to get out the saddle and grind away.

Also on a very long climb, especially when you have a done lot of miles already, getting out of the saddle to vary the muscles you are using helps ease aching legs.

 

[Adasta]

I have a double which I'm not fit enough to use effectively. Therefore, when on a hill, I sit down until I feel my cadence is dropping to "dangerously inefficient" levels, then (attempt to) honk my way up the rest of the hill.

 

[HLaB]

I have a double which I'm not fit enough to use effectively. Therefore, when on a hill, I sit down until I feel my cadence is dropping to "dangerously inefficient" levels, then (attempt to) honk my way up the rest of the hill.

I'm similar but I try to counter act that fall into the inefficient zone by standing up earlier, leave it too late you've not got enough strength to honk up the hill. I like to stand up for a couple of revs to get the efficiency back then sit down again and repeat this depending on the length of the hill. Easier said than done, but I also like to change up when I stand up and down after I've sat down to keep the cadence going.

 

[cyberknight]

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oLQdXw9K_M&feature=related[/media]


The best way to save your energy ....

 

[tyred]

If you really want to conserve energy while riding a bike, get one with an engine.