To stand or sit

[malcermie]

On a reasonable incline is it better to change down several gears or stand on the pedels, i.e. which one uses less energy?
Malc

 

[Rob3rt]

This has been debated to exhaustion recently in the Training section.

http://www.cyclechat.net/forums/health-fitness-and-training.36/

 

[redcard]

On a reasonable incline you should be upping the gears and powering up that mutha.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

For steep, short hills I'll normally just power through it and for the long ones, I'll try my best to stay on the saddle spinning but I quite like giving it a burst of power to get to the top.

 

[Basil.B]

I usually get out of the saddle up hills. A case of having too as I have only got a singlespeed bike.
Well I did have, frames got fractures in it, not safe to ride now.

 

[PpPete]

Changing down and staying in the seat will use less energy - but over a longer time. Generally thought to be less long term fatigue effect than from getting out the saddle and powering up, which might be important for later on, on a long ride.
OTH on a long ride, changing your position is a good way of avoiding numbness in the contact points (arse, hands, feet) and getting out the saddle is as good a way as any of changing position without losing momemtum.
Mix it up would be my advice.

 

[Pedal pusher]

I usually get out of the saddle up hills. A case of having too as I have only got a singlespeed bike.
Well I did have, frames got fractures in it, not safe to ride now.

Sorry to hear that. Could a frame builder help you out?

 

[Easytigers]

As PpPete... I try to sit for as long as possible but there's a time for getting out of the saddle...when tiring sit back down (repeat if necessary), It won't work for everyone but gets me up the hardest of them (up to now).

 

[vickster]

I get off and push - uses much less energy

 

[Bill93]

lol vickster

I prefer to get out the seat all the time, if im standing i can push up the hill at a decent speed but when I sit i just feel like im going so slow its embarrassing

 

[Nigelnaturist]

lol vickster

I prefer to get out the seat all the time, if im standing i can push up the hill at a decent speed but when I sit i just feel like im going so slow its embarrassing

I don't give two figs what people think about my speed, I am just bothered about getting up, when I started in June I didn't have the strength to stand and climb a hill, now I can at points, there will come a time I will be able to choose what I do, well with in reason.

 

[Basil.B]

Sorry to hear that. Could a frame builder help you out?

Will bin the frame (old alloy GT) and transfer the components onto a Ribble 7005 frame I expect.
Hoping to get A Giant Defy 1 soon.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Yeah...mix it up