How do you climb?

[007]

When you climb hills. Steep ones. What method is more efficient to blast up them.

Sitting in the saddle spinning away with a low gear.

Or more aggressively Alberto Contador style - dancing on the pedals in a higher gear.

I think the Contador style feels better. It might be better to take in more oxygen - and certainly gets the hills out of the way quicker as opposed to spinning away....

Thoughts on how you all attack the hills???

 

[swee'pea99]

I always consider standing on the pedals an admission of defeat. Sit down, push hard, steady as she goes. Oh, and if you have gears, use them - 'spin don't grind', they say - and with good reason.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I'm a spinner.

Turned onto a short but steep hill behind a group of "properly dressed" roadies and was surprised when I reached the top of the winding climb that the lycra-clad-arse-in-the-air riders hadn't actually made that much ground over the baggy shorts clad fat bloke on a pannier-laden tourer twirling the granny ring

Longer climbs I alternate..I can rarely climb a full hill stood on the pedals but as I practice I can stay out of the saddle for longer

Other times I just stand when my backside needs a rest

 

[Smokin Joe]

Whatever suits.

I alternate between in and out of the saddle on long climbs as sitting and spinning doesn't do it for me.

 

[palinurus]

I often stand up, just the way I do it. I'm not especially good at cycling but if I do one thing reasonably well it's going uphill, although most of that is due to my build rather than my approach to training or technique.

 

[numbnuts]

Sitting in the saddle spinning away with a low gear
it is either that or walk and I refuse to walk when I do my bikes will be on ebay

 

[CapnAhab]

As a beginner, I have noticed that there is a massive difference between the lowest gear on my road bike and the lowest gear on my old mountain bike. So on really steep (to me!) hills even the lowest gear doesn't allow me to spin so I feel I have to either bite down and grind away or stand up. But when standing up, I feel the need to change up a couple of gears - is that right? (Should I have said down? I mean going to a smaller cog on the rear cassette.)

Do you use a different gear to stand than you would to sit? Sorry if that sounds daft to the experienced riders.

 

[Moodyman]

Sit, relax and spin.

Standing up induces harder gripping, teeth grinding and face pulling. All that uses up valuable energy.

If you relax, you can send more power to the legs.

 

[tyred]

Slowly...

I'd be more inclined to grind rather than spin but I rarely feel the need to stand up. 

 

[HLaB]

Whatever suits the situation, for instance if its a short sharp hill and I'm all going a decent pace I like to stand up and power through them, on longer hills I prefer to sit down and spin, standing up occasionally to switch muscles. I also like to sit up and relax again using different muscles. I'll tend also to do something in between when the situation is right.

In response to CapnAhab, I like to use a higher gear when I stand up and lower when I sit down, if you can get into this pattern it helps on long climbs but you have to keep your momentum up.

 

[CapnAhab]

[QUOTE 1168817"]
I'm surprised no one has mentioned to simply walk up hills.

Either way I like to spin, select a nice low gear, try and keep a good rhythm and spin your way to the top.
[/quote]


It's a serious point and I don't know if it's my ego (well, yes I do know, and IT IS) but to me that is the ultimate in defeat and is the last best motivator for keeping me going when the going is hard -"Don't stop. Don't stop. Don't stop. Don't stop. Don't stop." goes round and round my head. Don't get me wrong - I've had to do it on the mountain bike due to ridiculous terrain, but on a surfaced road? And I know there are probably some massive road hills that I could possibly climb (yet), lol, so there's no need for them to be pointed out to me.

 

[iAmiAdam]

I usually have to grind away out the saddle. Depends how long I've been out for. I can comfortably spin out the saddle and in the saddle if I haven't been out long.

 

[2Loose]

Whatever suits the situation, for instance if its a short sharp hill and I'm all going a decent pace I like to stand up and power through them, on longer hills I prefer to sit down and spin, standing up occasionally to switch muscles. I also like to sit up and relax again using different muscles. I'll tend also to do something in between when the situation is right.

Absolutely. Spin where possible until something gives, then stand and sprint until the legs give, then sit and spin again...repeat. Changing technique gives certain muscles a rest, so you can use them again after each change.

I refuse to walk...I have stopped at the top and fallen over while rather dizzy, but I refuse to walk up the damn things.

 

[amaferanga]

A lot of people, particularly beginners, seem unable to climb out of the saddle for any length of time as they are unable to get into a rhythm, but instead as soon as they stand up they accelerate. The result is they get knackered and sit down again thinking that climbing out of the saddle is too difficult!

Climbing out of the saddle on steep (say >10%) climbs is no less efficient than sitting so do whatever you find suits you best, but if you want to see if climbing out of the saddle suits you you will have to practice it first. A good way to get used to it would be to climb less steep, but longer hills out of the saddle.

Knocking your gear down a sprocket or two at the back usually helps as well.

 

[Ticktockmy]

I for myself sit and pedal, but once the speed is down to walking pace i normally get off and walk, cos I hate twirrling.

Last year when I was heading from Ullapool ferry port to Inverness at the end of my Herbriean tour, I was passed by two Lads on their road bikes head down arse up. Anyone knowing the A835, knows that there is a couple of quite steep climbs. When I got to the climb which goes up to meet the A832 at Corrieshalloch Gorge, I passed these two guys, they were down to walking speed and knackered.

It was with great pleasure when as I passed them, I asked if all was well, and then really pushed myself until I was out of sight, I was so chuffed, 40 odd years older on a loaded touring bike burning up two lads on road bikes. Mind when I got to the car park and sat in the bus shelter I was dead. The answer is pace yourself always try to hold back some reserve energy for the times you might need it. When the two guys come along they also stopped for a snack and a rest. Seems I impressed them.


Bloody Marvellous.