Climbing technique

[lpretro1]

Its more about maintaining a decent cadence than in or out of the saddle - if cadence drops too low you'll find it harder so if you may need to stand up to keep it higher. Everyone has a different climbing 'style' anyway so no hard and fast rules

 

[HelsBells Cambs]

Mmm, I've been reading this thread with growing interest. I think I've been doing this hill thing all wrong. I thought lower gear = easier climb (even if it takes flippin' ages) but maybe I need not such a low gear and more power. I feel an experimental ride coming on....

 

[Citius]

Saying 'more power' is all very well. Producing it and sustaining it is usually the hard part.

 

[Doyleyburger]

Short and sharp hills I usually get out the saddle and grind it out to get them out the way quicker. Long drags I stay seated with the occasional out the saddle burst.
Love climbing

 

[lpretro1]

If you use too low a gear and then have to stand up you will likely find you have to shift down to a smaller cog or two to turn the cranks over more effectively

 

[leedsmick]

I am definitely in the camp of standing to climb small hills that take 10-20 seconds. Longer slower climbs I always stay seated.

 

[Subotai72]

When I first started I assumed that standing up was the way forward (quite literally) until I found myself gassing quite badly!. I now find myself quite firmloy in the longer/seated + shorter/standing school of thought, although I did stand up all the way up a long(ish) steep, climb on Sunday which I was quite impressed with (mind you that was partiallyto alleviate my sore hoop )

Have taken on one peie of advice I saw in Cycling Weekly the other week. Don't immediately drop to the lowest gear when you're finding it hard going on a hill, you end up using more effort simply spinning in a really low gear for the actual level of gain you acheive. Choose a slightly bigger gear and you'll find breathing easier. Apparently. Seems to work a bit better for me but then I am working from a very low base level!

 

[rourkey34]

You decide what's best.

I tend to stay in the saddle and find a steady rhythm so I'm not wasting energy bopping around out the saddle.

I only get out forthe really steep bits.

I do however ride with some who get out the saddle for every lump or bump so it really is what is best for you!

 

[Sbudge]

Well I reckon I certainly need to do something different. Looking at my Strava comparisons I'm consistently slower than folk of similar age and/or weight profiles climbing (typically about halfway down the list) than I am on the flat or descending (typically top third or better). I certainly can't blame the bike so it's me! FTP and VO2 max etc are respectable so I guess it's just finding a technique that works better for me. Thanks for all the advice though.

 

[Ian H]

If you're on a long ride, staying in the saddle does save some energy. But, on the other hand, sometimes a change is as good as a rest.

 

[Cold]

I sit the whole way when I go up up hills , when I try to stand up I end up trying to go fast and I'm done in after about 3 seconds of effort.

 

[outlash]

Well I reckon I certainly need to do something different. Looking at my Strava comparisons I'm consistently slower than folk of similar age and/or weight profiles climbing (typically about halfway down the list) than I am on the flat or descending (typically top third or better). I certainly can't blame the bike so it's me! FTP and VO2 max etc are respectable so I guess it's just finding a technique that works better for me. Thanks for all the advice though.

Strava means nothing. Comparisons mean nothing. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters.

 

[Sbudge]

Thanks Outlash, Strava's just really confirming something I already knew...I'm a poor climber and would rather I wasn't! The irony is that when running it's the other way around, I love running uphill and am generally better than my peers at it. Humans are strange.

 

[Citius]

Well I reckon I certainly need to do something different. Looking at my Strava comparisons I'm consistently slower than folk of similar age and/or weight profiles climbing (typically about halfway down the list) than I am on the flat or descending (typically top third or better). I certainly can't blame the bike so it's me! FTP and VO2 max etc are respectable so I guess it's just finding a technique that works better for me. Thanks for all the advice though.

Don't kid yourself that 'technique' is holding you back. Those other guys are going up the climbs better because they are fitter.

 

[Sbudge]

Don't kid yourself that 'technique' is holding you back. Those other guys are going up the climbs better because they are fitter.

Quite probably. To be honest fitness/technique fall into the same category of self-improvement for me...both require hard work to get better.