Fifty Plus (50+) - Standing or sitting?

Do you climb standing or sitting?

Just as a throw in. The MTB community (press mostly) think that full suspension mountain bikes are much more effecient because the suspension allows the rider to spend more time in the saddle and less time standing. Now this may be obvious when discussing rough or loose terrain but they also claim that climbing hills is easier while sitting. This is the basis of the premis that a 30lb full suspension bike can be more effecient than a 25 lb hardtail with front suspension only.

2nd throw in. TDF riders appear to get out of the saddle for short bursts of power (or as reported to stretch muscles in a different way) but soon return to the sitting position to spin on up the hill. The idea here is that standing is powerful but consumes a great deal more energy than sitting.

Ready...Set....Go!

Sit, easier on the 53 yr-old knees.

I think it's pretty widely accepted that standing consumes more energy, and is therefore less efficient, than sitting. The only times I stand are:
When I want to stretch or give my butt a break.
When I want quick acceleration or extra power, and don't want to have to shift down.
When I've reached the lowest gear on a hill and and it's still too high. Once you go below a certain RPM, but you're still having to work hard to maintain momentum, it's easier on your knees to stand. When faced with this, I typically alternate between seated mashing of the pedals and standing.

Stand in a higher gear until I poop out, then shift to granny when I sit.

Mix, I stand when I need to get my cadence up and then sit once I have a tempo, I do this on the flats as well at times.

As I've gotten stronger and lighter (5' 11", 168 lbs), I find I do more climbing standing than I used to.

I now practice it, and can climb efficiently for 2 miles up a local 6% hill. When done right, it doesn't seem to use any more energy than sitting (at least, my heart rate's about the same). Plus, you can use your body weight to drive the pedals down. And, I strongly suspect it's easier on the knees than sitting because there's less torque when your leg's straight.

On short climbs, I'll mostly stand and power over them. On long sustained climbs, I'll mostly sit and only get out of the saddle for steep sections or for a change of pace.

As a nube building up my strength, standing is easier than sitting on the steeper hills. I can sit just fine on mild inclines.

BTW: I wasn't sure what the question would be from your title. Thought it might be a pottie joke. :)

Climbing?

I don't tackle anything over about a 7% grade. I do those sitting. Last time I remember standing and pedaling was back in May.

Recumbent: Sitting, of course.
Upright tandem: Sitting, since we haven't mastered, or even tried, out-of-saddle pedaling yet.

Sit, easier on the 53 yr-old knees.

Actually, standing is easier on the knees, but it is definitely harder on the frame and cranks. I alternate between sitting and standing, depending on the length and grade of the climb. Having snapped a crank during an out-of-saddle ascent, I do tend to quite a bit more sitting than standing, for safety reasons.

I sit and spin if the situation allows for it. I stand when I need to, for speed or (mostly for) power. I discovered that I'd lost the ability to stand and climb for long periods of time when I came back to cycling this summer, so at first I sat for all of my climbs. Lately I'm getting the fitness back so that I can stand if I need or want to and not have my legs get all rubbery. Yesterday on the training ride, we went up two rather steep and long hills where I was not able to sit and spin. Another rider, who is amazingly strong, was able to do just that and cruised up the hills and passed me like I was standing still.

-soma5

As a nube building up my strength, standing is easier than sitting on the steeper hills. I can sit just fine on mild inclines.

BTW: I wasn't sure what the question would be from your title. Thought it might be a pottie joke. :)

Moi..?..:eek:

I assure you that my jokes rarely get that good. :p

Sit. Obsessive fear of chain breaking unexpectedly :)

It does depend on how long and how steep. mile long 10 % and it will be sitting- 15% and the cadence will drop towards the top so stand- 20 % and I don't have low enough gears so stand most of the way.

Now offroad poses a problem- 15% hill on loose soil or rocks and you need grip on the rear tyre so sit. But a slight rise in elevation and you want to get out of the saddle- so you lose grip-back in the saddle and the front wheel comes off the ground so throw the weight forward and stay on the saddle. So weight is more forward and wheelspin- It is a juggle as to where the weight is going to have to be on the bike

I sit most of the time, but I don't hesitate to stand when I need a burst of power or to stretch my back.

As I've gotten stronger and lighter (5' 11", 168 lbs), I find I do more climbing standing than I used to.

I now practice it, and can climb efficiently for 2 miles up a local 6% hill. When done right, it doesn't seem to use any more energy than sitting (at least, my heart rate's about the same). Plus, you can use your body weight to drive the pedals down. And, I strongly suspect it's easier on the knees than sitting because there's less torque when your leg's straight.

On short climbs, I'll mostly stand and power over them. On long sustained climbs, I'll mostly sit and only get out of the saddle for steep sections or for a change of pace.

Now here's a rider who has mastered the art of standing and using his weight to mash the gears. I think he will save his knees and still be fresh at the top of the climb. Somehow he's conserving his energy by not overworking the quads. He's so efficient that if you watch him from his back, there's very little sway from side to side. This takes practice. Now he's got another "trick" in his arsenal.

Now here's a rider who has mastered the art of standing and using his weight to mash the gears. I think he will save his knees and still be fresh at the top of the climb. Somehow he's conserving his energy by not overworking the quads. He's so efficient that if you watch him from his back, there's very little sway from side to side. This takes practice. Now he's got another "trick" in his arsenal.

Yep...with practice you can get very comfortable at it, and not go anaerobic.

Here's a few specific tips for efficient standing:

1) Straighten your leg on the downstroke and use your body weight.
By straightening your leg (similar to the "mountaineer's rest step" taught in climbing schools), you give that quad a temporary reprieve from effort.

2) Stay "light on the pedals".

3) Don't get too far forward.
That puts excess weight on the front wheel, which makes forward progress more difficult. I find I have to straighten my arms and force myself back a bit from what feels like the more "natural" position, in order to get my weight far enough back. This might, or might not, apply to everyone - body dimensions and bike fit/size come into play here. The important thing is to make sure you're not hovering over your bars, pushing that front wheel into the pavement.


Find a one or two mile climb, and practice climbing it entirely out of the saddle. Before long, you'll look like Lance or Pantani, "dancing on the pedals" up the mountain. And even if you're not as fast as them, you'll still look way cool. :D

Mix, I stand when I need to get my cadence up and then sit once I have a tempo, I do this on the flats as well at times.

+1

Haven't had to stand yet this year. Of course now with the 'bent I won't
be able to so perhaps my stubborness about staying in the saddle on
hills will payoff in less transition time into the new realm.

My first thought was this thread was about using an outhouse in the middle of a long ride. :D

I'm a girl; I always sit. Or perch... ;)

I usually get out of the saddle on hills when they start getting steep enough that I really lose pace as I downshift going up. It just seems more natural to push it uphill (for up to 10-15 seconds) until I get close to the crest or it levels out more. Most hills are short around here, thankfully. For the longer hills, I generally keep it parked and grind it out at the slower pace, though I might get up briefly a time or two.

As to pro's climbing techinque: I usually don't have a serious climb after 100k of flat out riding! Ever notice when a group of pro riders are climbing and one guy stands they almost all stand for how ever long the fisrt guy stays up does. Point being that it is pretty hard to use pro racing techniques in everyday riding.

I alternate but usually stand. Feel I get more of my upper body involved with standing.

Sit, easier on the 53 yr-old knees.

Well, that's certainly NOT true. As someone who has had 4 knee operations I can testify to standing while climbing as much better for your knees. It's harder on your legs though, especially if you don't do it a lot.

Frank

Well, that's certainly NOT true. As someone who has had 4 knee operations I can testify to standing while climbing as much better for your knees. It's harder on your legs though, especially if you don't do it a lot.

Frank


Really!? Every time I stand to climb a hill my left knee hurts. When I sit it feels much better. I strained it earlier this summer when climbing a hill in the wrong gear and it has hurt ever since when I stand to climb a hill regardless of the gear. I don't mind the workout it gives my legs I just wish my knee didn't hurt standing.

Bob

Like others here, sit /stand where it feels appropriate. Trying to stand more frequently, as I also try to improve my climbing ability. We need to hear from jppe - King of the Carolina Climbers.;)

I just want to share my recent experience.
I also stand to accelerate and or aggressively power up a hill.
I want to contribute to the idea that standing is more easy on the knees. That may be so but if you do what I do standing, it ALLOWS excessive load in a burst of enthusiasm.
My CV system is so good these days that I can easily blow my knees. I have overstressed my knees on a recumbent and on a Madone standing on the flats and going over 30 MPH burst speed. I had to take doses of Advil just to sleep the next day.

On short hills I sprint them standing. On long hills I sit & spin. I don't find that I can up my cadence with a stand while climbing. If it is so steep that I am standing by the time I sit back down my speed has dropped and any speed gain I made I lost.

I am amazed at how people seem to know the % grade of thier climbs, I have no idea. My GPS doesn't give me good data on this, I suspect I would need a speedo with a barametric altimeter to get a good measure of grade.

I stand to 1) crest hills, 2) stretch out my legs, 3) get cadence back up after a stop sign or sharp turn. Interesting thread, especially about the straight leg/quadriceps technique. Have to try that. Yikes, hadn't thought about what might happen to certain parts of my anatomy if a crank or chain broke! Wish I hadn't read that. Ouch.

Yes!

Actually it varies for me. I hit the 10% hill just off my circle standing in 4th and sometimes sit and drop to 2nd near the crest. On other, longer hills I usually sit - and when I slow down too much I stand for awhile. Standing wears me out fast so I usually end up sitting and spinning again.


Yikes, hadn't thought about what might happen to certain parts of my anatomy if a crank or chain broke!

I had a chain break while standing in 1st gear on a steep hill. I slowed to 0mph very quickly spinning against no resistance and just barely got unclipped while falling to my left. I took the rest of the climbs that commute while standing - on the pavement.

I don't find that I can up my cadence with a stand while climbing. If it is so steep that I am standing by the time I sit back down my speed has dropped and any speed gain I made I lost.

Are you shifting to a higher gear before standing? That lets you build more speed while you stand. Then you can sit and shift down to a lower gear that you may be able to spin at a higher cadence and maintain the speed. Standing in the same gear you were using while sitting won't gain enough speed to help.

Really!? Every time I stand to climb a hill my left knee hurts. When I sit it feels much better. I strained it earlier this summer when climbing a hill in the wrong gear and it has hurt ever since when I stand to climb a hill regardless of the gear. I don't mind the workout it gives my legs I just wish my knee didn't hurt standing.

Bob

You must have a mechanical problem with your knee that should be looked at. If you just look at the physics of standing versus sitting...sitting is a lot like doing full squats in a steep climb while standing uses a lot more of your upper body pushing and pulling on the bars and driving the pedal down.

Sit. I've been riding a recumbent.;)

You must have a mechanical problem with your knee that should be looked at. If you just look at the physics of standing versus sitting...

You're right...just trying to avoid the inevitable. Right now the knee doesn't bother me so long as I stay in the seat. I can climb standing if I am careful. Rather wait until there is snow on the ground before I have the knee looked at.

You're right...just trying to avoid the inevitable. Right now the knee doesn't bother me so long as I stay in the seat. I can climb standing if I am careful. Rather wait until there is snow on the ground before I have the knee looked at.

That's a good plan. When your over 50 it takes quite a while to recover from these darn things. My last op was November late 90's and I was mid 50's. Even though I was on the bike in 10 days (trainer) it took a full year to really get back and several more before my op'ed leg was the same size.

It's nice to have the winter to recover.