Any good climbers NOT standing up on the climbs?
03-10-11, 07:02 PM
#26
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There was a study done somewhere which showed that smaller lighter riders climbed more efficiently standing and heavier riders were better off sitting more...
https://pedalclan.wordpress.com/2010/...ing-on-climbs/
https://www.cptips.com/climb.htm
https://pedalclan.wordpress.com/2010/...ing-on-climbs/
https://www.cptips.com/climb.htm
03-10-11, 07:39 PM
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nice! this is helpful to me! I'll be sure to try it! it's a climb up to tahoe and I'm only making it up the first 3800ish ft of climbing(14 miles)
I am REALLY eager to get past that barrier and make itthe next 14 miles and be able to see tahoe!!!!
I am REALLY eager to get past that barrier and make itthe next 14 miles and be able to see tahoe!!!!
A 14 mile climb is definitely long. You should try to sit as much as you can. A general rule of thumb some people use is to sit unless your cadence drops below 70 (60 for others), then stand. Lower cadences put more stress on your knees and muscles. Standing in those cases for short periods of time would help.
If you're having trouble climbing while seated, do some seated climbing drills. On a trainer at home, raise the front wheel of your bike to simulate an incline. After a good warm up, do some intervals where you put your bike into a large gear where you can only pedal around 50-55 rpms. Do this while seated for 3-5 minutes. Then shift to an easier gear and spin for a while. Repeat 2-3 times and alternate with easy spinning and some lower gear/high cadence climbing intervals. Those would be around 80-85rpms for 3-5 minutes. This will help you develop power you can use while still seated so you won't go anaerobic quite as fast and will last longer on long hill climbs. You will eventually be able to sit and spin over grades that used to force you to stand up and power through.
neneboricua
If you're having trouble climbing while seated, do some seated climbing drills. On a trainer at home, raise the front wheel of your bike to simulate an incline. After a good warm up, do some intervals where you put your bike into a large gear where you can only pedal around 50-55 rpms. Do this while seated for 3-5 minutes. Then shift to an easier gear and spin for a while. Repeat 2-3 times and alternate with easy spinning and some lower gear/high cadence climbing intervals. Those would be around 80-85rpms for 3-5 minutes. This will help you develop power you can use while still seated so you won't go anaerobic quite as fast and will last longer on long hill climbs. You will eventually be able to sit and spin over grades that used to force you to stand up and power through.
neneboricua
03-10-11, 08:12 PM
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For reference, I weight 143 lb and tend to stand around 40% of the time (probably more for shorter climbs).
With that said, I work with Dirk Friel (offspring of Joe Friel) and he has a theory that one of the reasons that smaller rider time trial poorly is due to the fact that it's really easy for us to stand on the climbs. He thinks that this limits the amount of strength that we build in our hip flexors (and surrounding muscle groups).
With that said, I work with Dirk Friel (offspring of Joe Friel) and he has a theory that one of the reasons that smaller rider time trial poorly is due to the fact that it's really easy for us to stand on the climbs. He thinks that this limits the amount of strength that we build in our hip flexors (and surrounding muscle groups).
03-10-11, 09:10 PM
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I don't know if this makes a hill of beans (see what I did there?) , but when I'm climbing with others I notice that when the wheel I'm following stands, I can back off my effort 5% or more and "rest" in the saddle while still keeping up the pace. Then if I want to attack, when they sit down I stand and go with a "fresh" legs. If I don't want to gap someone, I can just keep my ass in the saddle and save some matches for later.
Edit: I should have said " often when I'm climbing.................
Edit: I should have said " often when I'm climbing.................
Last edited by nacler22; 03-10-11 at 09:16 PM.
03-10-11, 09:36 PM
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It depends on the length of the climb for me. If I'm climbing a mountain for hours on end, I'll sit for over 90% of it and stand just to change things up/give my ass a rest. If I'm in a circuit race with a fairly short climb where everybody wants to drop everybody else, I'll stand for almost the whole thing. If it's a medium length climb, I'll sit for a long time, then stand to accelerate/change muscle groups a little, then sit again to get my HR a bit under control and keep switching.
There is no one formula for getting up hills. If you're with a group and you're barely hanging on, you do what you have to in order to stay with them. Your body will tell you what to do.
There is no one formula for getting up hills. If you're with a group and you're barely hanging on, you do what you have to in order to stay with them. Your body will tell you what to do.
03-10-11, 09:45 PM
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I try to sit and keep the revs up, but stand to mix it up and also to keep up the pace when it gets really steep. I rode up a very steep hill the other day that looked like a wall as I was approaching the steep part. there is no way I could have generated enough power to turn over even my compact at 34x23 seated. even standing I felt like if I were to let up the effort I would decelerate so fast that I might fall over. I paid the price later when I had to pull over and give in to the nausea from the max anaerobic effort. going down at 45mph made it all worth it.
03-10-11, 09:46 PM
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03-10-11, 10:16 PM
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I didn't read any of this thread except for the OP, but here's my input:
I love climbing, but it's different for everyone. So, when doing long climbs, I'm mostly seated. I stand to accelerate, put the hurt on, and to stretch some different muscles and stuff.
When doing climbs under two miles on a training ride, I stand and motor them because I like to climb. But it's different for everyone.
In case it matters for consideration, looking back at a link, I weigh 125 at 5' 8.5".
I love climbing, but it's different for everyone. So, when doing long climbs, I'm mostly seated. I stand to accelerate, put the hurt on, and to stretch some different muscles and stuff.
When doing climbs under two miles on a training ride, I stand and motor them because I like to climb. But it's different for everyone.
In case it matters for consideration, looking back at a link, I weigh 125 at 5' 8.5".
03-10-11, 11:40 PM
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You need some steeper climbs
Seated climbing is easier on your body since a bulk of your weight is supported by the seat. When you stand up, you have to support / move your whole body and will wear you out faster.
In my case .. I am prob a 60-70% seated climber, but it just depends on the climb. When some ramp up near the top, I stand up and just hammer down to get to the top.
Seated climbing is easier on your body since a bulk of your weight is supported by the seat. When you stand up, you have to support / move your whole body and will wear you out faster.
In my case .. I am prob a 60-70% seated climber, but it just depends on the climb. When some ramp up near the top, I stand up and just hammer down to get to the top.
03-11-11, 12:11 AM
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I don't know if this makes a hill of beans (see what I did there?) , but when I'm climbing with others I notice that when the wheel I'm following stands, I can back off my effort 5% or more and "rest" in the saddle while still keeping up the pace. Then if I want to attack, when they sit down I stand and go with a "fresh" legs. If I don't want to gap someone, I can just keep my ass in the saddle and save some matches for later.
Edit: I should have said " often when I'm climbing.................
Edit: I should have said " often when I'm climbing.................
In the long sustained climbing that I do, my best opportunity to drop those I'm riding with is to simply stay seated, set my highest sustainable effort and hold it there. I'm no good with attacking when I'm already at the redline, and also find that if I try to use standing to produce enough kick to break any elastic, I pay for it.
-Jeremy
03-11-11, 01:02 AM
#39
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It's probably important to understand the difference between the various reasons for standing. If the pace is slowing when the rider ahead stands, it's likely that he's ONLY standing because he needs to change muscle groups, and he too is "somewhat" resting. True "out of the saddle" climbers will be able to easily keep the pressure on while standing, and will often use standing to produce the "kick" necessary to shake you. Everyone uses standing for resting occasionally, but not everyone can use it for efficient sustained efforts or to turn the screws on others. That's usually reserved for the small climbing specialists, i.e. Shleck and Contador.
In the long sustained climbing that I do, my best opportunity to drop those I'm riding with is to simply stay seated, set my highest sustainable effort and hold it there. I'm no good with attacking when I'm already at the redline, and also find that if I try to use standing to produce enough kick to break any elastic, I pay for it.
-Jeremy
In the long sustained climbing that I do, my best opportunity to drop those I'm riding with is to simply stay seated, set my highest sustainable effort and hold it there. I'm no good with attacking when I'm already at the redline, and also find that if I try to use standing to produce enough kick to break any elastic, I pay for it.
-Jeremy
If I am just hanging on to someone's wheel and they stand and accelerate , then I too, will most often stand as well. If they are not making a strong move, I will stay in the saddle unless I feel like standing. More often then not, they come back to me before the top.
That said, I get dropped sometimes no matter WTF I do.
03-11-11, 01:51 AM
#40
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There was a study done somewhere which showed that smaller lighter riders climbed more efficiently standing and heavier riders were better off sitting more...
https://pedalclan.wordpress.com/2010/...ing-on-climbs/
https://www.cptips.com/climb.htm
https://pedalclan.wordpress.com/2010/...ing-on-climbs/
https://www.cptips.com/climb.htm
I liked this part:
Tip: Do “Mosers” to condition muscles for standing even if you don’t have any significant hills. We call them “Mosers” because this was a favorite drill of Francesco Moser, the great Italian road pro in the 1970s and ’80s.
On a flat road, shift to a very large gear and stand. Don’t accelerate, just turn the crank at a steady 40-50 rpm, letting your weight push the pedals down. Many riders need the big chainring and the 12- or 13-tooth cog to get the desired cadence and effect, particularly if there’s a tailwind. Actually, a headwind is a good thing for this training.
Continue standing and pedaling like this for 5-10 minutes, then sit for 5 minutes and spin an easy gear to recover. Repeat once.
On a flat road, shift to a very large gear and stand. Don’t accelerate, just turn the crank at a steady 40-50 rpm, letting your weight push the pedals down. Many riders need the big chainring and the 12- or 13-tooth cog to get the desired cadence and effect, particularly if there’s a tailwind. Actually, a headwind is a good thing for this training.
Continue standing and pedaling like this for 5-10 minutes, then sit for 5 minutes and spin an easy gear to recover. Repeat once.
03-11-11, 01:52 AM
#41
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Whatever feels right, really. Feel like dropping someone, stand up for a little bit. Feel like chugging along and pacing, sit. Tough.
But wait, let me give you numbers...
But wait, let me give you numbers...
03-11-11, 06:58 AM
#42
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so...if i can inquire...
I notice that on a particular 14 mile climb... I stand what seems every bend. the road gradient is steeper in the corners. since there are alot of turns... I'd guess I'm standing about 40 % of this climb. I mainly stand as a last resort... I'm tired of sitting and need to push through the turns. however... I almost always lose speed while changingto a standing effort...
is it better to increase my sitting efforts to maintain speed? or just get better at standing?!?
also... the amount of standing on this particular climb is, I think, because of all the varying gradients... any advice how to cope with this as it breaks my rhythm alot
I notice that on a particular 14 mile climb... I stand what seems every bend. the road gradient is steeper in the corners. since there are alot of turns... I'd guess I'm standing about 40 % of this climb. I mainly stand as a last resort... I'm tired of sitting and need to push through the turns. however... I almost always lose speed while changingto a standing effort...
is it better to increase my sitting efforts to maintain speed? or just get better at standing?!?
also... the amount of standing on this particular climb is, I think, because of all the varying gradients... any advice how to cope with this as it breaks my rhythm alot
When you go up the steep part of the turn it's the equivalent of gearing up because the road got steeper. And while you may see your speed dropping, your rate of ascent is liekly the same or higher because the road got steeper.
So doing switch backs the basic options are take the outside flatter line, stay seated andkeep the same gear, or
take the steep line and stand up. The second option tends to work out as a nice way to break up the climb.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
03-11-11, 07:01 AM
#43
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Was that you?
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
03-11-11, 08:46 AM
#44
grilled cheesus
depends a bit on the climb. short and steep i may stand for some of it. long and steady then i only stand to change position up a bit. later.
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03-11-11, 04:17 PM
#45
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I do a pretty good mix of both, but i stand the F*** out of some climbs. when i need to fire up a grade, i'm absolutely out of the saddle. i do love me some climbing.
03-11-11, 06:57 PM
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03-11-11, 07:32 PM
#49
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im small (123 lbs) and a decent climber. in general i sit 90% on the time, its more efficient. I think there is big difference in what your goal is... are you just riding or are you in a race? i race, that means that i am at threshold (or a few beats above) the entire climb. When i stand, its to make an acceleration or to take the inside of switchback. if i were to stand much longer than 5-10 sec, i would likely put myself too far into my anaerobic zone to complete the race strongly. my 2 cents
03-11-11, 09:45 PM
#50
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the more you stand the more efficient you'll be at it. I love trying to stand as long as possible without going over 160bpm. Its just a thrill to me to be able to stand up the whole time, I think helps to get your whole body going and loosened up a bit.