Hills

[flyingfish]

Hi
I have just started cycling again. I am riding a hybrid and was wondering if the normal technique for tackling hills was still to stand on the pedals? That was how I used to do it years ago but a coupkle of people I have met with road bikes say you should stay in the saddle
Pete

 

[Hacienda71]

A bit of both. To a certain extent it is down to what you feel comfortable with and find most efficient.

 

[KneesUp]

Staying in the saddle is more efficient because you aren't lifting your body weight with each stroke, but you can generate more power in a burst if you stand - watch a sprint finish - so if it's a short hill and you want to keep the speed up, stand. If it's a long hill you have to grind up, sit. Or stand to get some momentum at the start then sit - it's up to you - but the basics as I understand them are sitting = more efficient, standing = more power.

 

[helston90]

Mix it up, it depends on the length of the hill, the gradient of the hill, where you are on the ride/ intention of the ride and just how you feel at the time.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Whatever works for you. I've got low enough gearing that I can stay in the saddle for all but the very steepest hills but I still quite often stand, especially if it's a short climb.

 

[helston90]

Another thing I do because I'm a bit of a kn-bber is if someone else is on the hill who I'm likely to pass I will stand to catch up to them and then sit back down to spin past- but hey that's just me!

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I stand on most of my climbing even though I know sitting should be better, maybe that is why am crap at climbing and hate hills.

 

[HLaB]

I sometimes find standing more efficient contrary to most but if its a long hill I like to mix it up (gear up when I stand up and gear down when I sit down).

 

[Andrew_P]

When my legs are saying stop I get up and grind a bit out of the saddle in a lower gear, then when my lungs say that's enough of that I sit down again and look around me at the scenery trying to ignore my legs (and now my lungs as well) instructions to take a break and look as nonchalant as possible to passers by.

Above all a sustainable rhythm helps.

 

[fossyant]

Depends upon the gradient. I ride a fixed and it does mean you do tend to ride out of the saddle a bit more when it's lumpy. Personal preference !

 

[Steady]

I got into the habit of staying in the saddle whilst going uphills and to be honest it overall feels a lot better to the point it now feels unnatural to get up out of the saddle so I'm forcing myself on the peak to stand up and power over it.

 

[Old Plodder]

Stay seated, that's what the saddle's for!
I actually ride to where it becomes hard work & then get off & walk!

 

[totallyfixed]

Hi
I have just started cycling again. I am riding a hybrid and was wondering if the normal technique for tackling hills was still to stand on the pedals? That was how I used to do it years ago but a coupkle of people I have met with road bikes say you should stay in the saddle
Pete

Let's get a popular misconception out of the way, staying seated is not always more efficient than standing. The following will affect which method you use:
Technique - critical and oft dismissed by non specialist climbers.
Fitness / Physical ability / weight of rider v bike
Type of bike / bike fit / gearing - you would think a given but you would be surprised.
Gradient
Speed of climb
Mental attitude

Not an exhaustive list, lots of minor stuff that will affect climbing such as tyre pressure, particularly in front tyre if standing. A hybrid bike is not ideal for standing because of hand position, bull bars will help with this.
Climbing hills is an art, one of the most enjoyable things about riding a bike, IMO of course.......

 

[BAtoo]

I sit on the hills (such as there are around here in Suffolk) mainly because I often get knee pain if I stand and it doesn't seem to be lessening with my increasing fitness. I usually get up them OK... if not I walk

 

[Big Nick]

I tend to 'spin' to get up hills as I like to keep as much energy in reserve as possible to avoid the dreaded 'bonk'!!