Energy conservation ... sitting vs standing on hill climbs.

[david k]

im not fat but my bike is

 

[kedab]

sit and spin!

i'm sure we used to use this as an insult when we were kids...or was it swivel?

 

[GrasB]

Surprised that nobody has mentioned bike weight as this makes a massive difference when climbing

Except it's outside the scope of the OPs question that boils down to - sit or stand which uses less energy?

 

[AndyPeace]

I go for a mix of the two. Standing is less efficient but more powerful, as you are lifting more of your body weight up and down as you pedal, whereras sitting your weight is supported by the bike. However mixing the styles lets you use different muscles. Science will tell you one way is more efficient than the other, in the real world its about recognising what your body needs. It's less effiecient to let yourself get shagged out in one style compared to switching methods before you reach that point.

 

[Crankarm]

Errr .............there aren't any hills in the Fens.

 

[GrasB]

But you don't have to go that far to start finding smaller climbs.

 

[Crankarm]

But you don't have to go that far to start finding smaller climbs.

How far is far? Wales has some steep climbs which are far far away. The Chilterns are a bit nearer. How about the Peak District, still a bit far. Castle Hill in Cambridge?

 

[GrasB]

Chapel Hill Haslingfield, 0.5km, ave 8.5%
Back road to Littlebury Green, 1km 6%
Back road around Wimpole hall, 1km ave 4.5%
Barkway rd/B1039 Royson, ave 4.5% over 1km
Linton-Hadstock-Safron Walden 2.5km ave 2.5%
Road between the B1039 & Royson Rd Barkway, 2.2km at ave 4%
Ickleton to Elmdon, 5.25km at 2.1% ave (including a little dip in the middle)
Road between Hildersham & Balsham, 2.5km at ave 2%