Professional Cycling For the Fans - LA out of the saddle

Does anyone ride out of the saddle as much as Armstrong?

Actually, when Lance is out of the saddle alot he is struggling (His words, not mine). He knows he is more efficient when he stays seated. To answer your question, it's the same reason he is winning the race...... he is in better shape.

I remember he did it quite a bit last year and I saw him doing it a bit on the CBS recap today.

Does anyone ride out of the saddle as much as Armstrong?


not many these days....

Marco Pantani (RIP)
Thierry Claveyrolat (RIP)
Lucho Herrera
Richard Virenque

The "pure" climbers tend to be in and out of the saddle all the time....constantly changing the pace and tempo to either get away or thin out the group. Ass soon as they sense the pace dropping, they'll spring out of the seat and accelerate.

Richard Virenque is out a lot of the time.

The "pure" climbers tend to be in and out of the saddle all the time
Basically, the lighter you are, the less difference in effort between standing and sitting.

Notice Lance's cadence when he's out of the saddle... he's often turning a higher cadence than the guys around him that are sitting.

Basically, the lighter you are, the less difference in effort between standing and sitting.


true.

Umm, to give the boy's a breather?
I mean, isnt that why you stand up now and then? I sure do.

Umm, to give the boy's a breather?
I mean, isnt that why you stand up now and then? I sure do.

YUP!

I will stand once every 15-20 minutes for about 20-50 pedal strokes to break up the discomfort of being seated too damnd long.

Umm, to give the boy's a breather?
I mean, isnt that why you stand up now and then? I sure do.

But sometimes it seems like he is out of the saddle more often than sitting!
He must have a really efficient technique in standing.

But sometimes it seems like he is out of the saddle more often than sitting!
He must have a really efficient technique in standing.

Well, if you notice, his shoulders barely move when he's dancing on the pedals.

Well, if you notice, his shoulders barely move when he's dancing on the pedals.

Lance out of the saddle is a great contrast to Voeckler's climbing on the Pyrenees stages - his shoulders and body were swaying and rocking a lot, which must be less efficient.

Lance out of the saddle is a great contrast to Voeckler's climbing on the Pyrenees stages - his shoulders and body were swaying and rocking a lot, which must be less efficient.

Not only that, Voeckler is all bow legged. He didn't look confortable at all. The man's got my admiration though that's for sure. Kid's got a lot of heart.

Well, if you notice, his shoulders barely move when he's dancing on the pedals.

Excellent technique, considering how high his cadence is (I figure it would be much easier to stay smooth when standing at a lower cadence)

Not only that, Voeckler is all bow legged. He didn't look confortable at all. The man's got my admiration though that's for sure. Kid's got a lot of heart.

I noticed the bow-leggedness too. It seemed like his right knee especially was way out away from the frame. I was wondering if he was favoring a saddle sore or something.

Does anyone ride out of the saddle as much as Armstrong?

I noticed alotta riders riding very forward on their seat...with their boys on the nose of the saddle...ouch! Why?

sitting on the nose of the seat is where you get the most leverage on your pedals, it's where they slide to when they are digging deep either due to fatigue or desire to put in an extreme effort.

I move back and forth between sitting and standing on climbs a lot too. I'm about to turn 35 and I think that as you age the back gets a little less forgiving and you need to shake it up more. Lance is getting up their in pro-cycling years, maybe that's part of it?

sitting on the nose of the seat is where you get the most leverage on your pedals, it's where they slide to when they are digging deep either due to fatigue or desire to put in an extreme effort.

I move back and forth between sitting and standing on climbs a lot too. I'm about to turn 35 and I think that as you age the back gets a little less forgiving and you need to shake it up more. Lance is getting up their in pro-cycling years, maybe that's part of it?

yep - moving around on the saddle and/or standing up once in a while uses the leg muscles differently and is a great way to keep them fresh.