cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Rubbish ability to climb out of the saddle
- Thread starter Mr_K_Dilkington
- Start date
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nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
Wouldn't mind seeing the science behind this assessment as research thus far contradicts this finding totally
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Just keep training. It's simple. Do more of what you struggle with.
Doyleyburger
Veteran
- Location
- NCE West Wales
As above really, just keep on at those hills !
I wouldn't get too worried if you've only been cycling 2 months, that's a very short time even tho it seems you are doing very well indeed. I live in west wales where u can't avoid them so I haven't had choice in the matter and even tho I class myself as relatively fit, it's taken me 6-8 months to get used to them. Core exercises will help I'm sure but the best thing you can do is just get out on the bike as much as you can. Otherwise, things can get over technical.
With the whole getting out the saddle thing....iv found that sometimes when encountering a short steep hill I will almost certainly get off my arse and gun it!
But with the long drawn out ones I don't get out the seat all that often, literally just to change position now and again. So I would say the best thing is to keep practicing those hills
I wouldn't get too worried if you've only been cycling 2 months, that's a very short time even tho it seems you are doing very well indeed. I live in west wales where u can't avoid them so I haven't had choice in the matter and even tho I class myself as relatively fit, it's taken me 6-8 months to get used to them. Core exercises will help I'm sure but the best thing you can do is just get out on the bike as much as you can. Otherwise, things can get over technical.
With the whole getting out the saddle thing....iv found that sometimes when encountering a short steep hill I will almost certainly get off my arse and gun it!
But with the long drawn out ones I don't get out the seat all that often, literally just to change position now and again. So I would say the best thing is to keep practicing those hills
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Fair enough i am only passing on what the mag says , the could be talking turnips
Regular rides on a single speed really helped my leg strength and out of the saddle efforts. I find now I can get into a decent out of the saddle rhythm and maintain it for some time without blowing up. I find you have to be careful though as it's this sort of high intensity riding that is not sustainable for longer rides. I find 50 miles to be about my limit on a single speed as my legs feel like jelly. On a geared bike you can take the climbs easier but pushing a lower gear, which means I can cycle for longer.
If you watch the pros there is still a lot of variation. Froome seems to do little out of the saddle compared to Contador say. Chris Horner (vuelta 2013 winner) seems to spend all the time in climbs out of the saddle. What I'm trying to say is that you may be a sit down climber compared to some. The best method for you is the one that gets you up the hill quickest.
If you wanted to improve your leg strength for cycling I wouldn't do squats as the number of reps would always be far lower than in a climb. Other than just doing out of the saddle hill climbs I'd do some running up steps (some nice long flights with 50 plus steps at least).
If you watch the pros there is still a lot of variation. Froome seems to do little out of the saddle compared to Contador say. Chris Horner (vuelta 2013 winner) seems to spend all the time in climbs out of the saddle. What I'm trying to say is that you may be a sit down climber compared to some. The best method for you is the one that gets you up the hill quickest.
If you wanted to improve your leg strength for cycling I wouldn't do squats as the number of reps would always be far lower than in a climb. Other than just doing out of the saddle hill climbs I'd do some running up steps (some nice long flights with 50 plus steps at least).
Julia9054
Guru
- Location
- Knaresborough
I stay seated. Shift body weight forwards, concentrate on keeping shoulders absolutely still and visualise all the power going downwards into my legs. Grit teeth and get into a rhythm. If I stand, I feel I am wasting energy on balance and control. My partner stands - he's beats me at short, steep hills. I often beat him on long, grim drags!
numbnuts
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gone over the hill and far away
Save your knees and sit and spin
