General Cycling Discussion - Climbing

I went riding last night, 22 miles. It was a light ride with three climbs. The second near the end of the ride. All three climbs are about 1 mile with a fairly steady grade. I kept in mind all the advice given to me on this forum. I rotated my knees in and that did transfer energy to unworked muscles...a huge insight.

Although, I was still pushing the peddles and I was in my lowest gear. I felt good, but kept thinking is this doing damage to my knees?

I didn't try and stand during the climbs...I just don't see how that makes much sense, unless, I'm really trying to kick it up a hill. With the angle of the climb and considering the energy that would be needed to stand...I just think it seems like a waste of energy to get out of the saddle on a hard climb. I roll back in the seat and just maintain my pace and keep my breathing calm.

After moving to the mountains from the flat lands of Chicago...I've gained a whole new respect for cyclists in high altitudes. I now understand why cyclist here tell me I'll be bored out of my mind if I ever go back to the Midwest

:D I grew up in California, and my boss grew up in the midwest; I think I'd go insane if all I had to think about was mile after mile of...corn.

Standing is useful for speed, and it's a great way to build quads without being unduly harsh on the knees. I'll stand on short- to medium-size hills if there isn't a headwind, just because I like keeping a fast pace. If there's a headwind, standing is like deploying a drag chute.

If you don't want to deal with that, or feel like saving energy, just use the gears; also, I've noticed that it's a *lot* easier to stand on my hybid than it is to do so on my roadbike, so I tend to just pull more down on the bars on my roadie...

you know as a resident of the flat state of texas
I take offense to this thread. I have to drive at least an hour
to get a look at a good hill. :lol:
Imagine, from South Africa (all hills) to here.
sometimes life just ain't fair.
Matadon if you think Corn is bad try scrub brush that we seem
to have here.

Marty

I grew up in Salt Lake City. As a teenager, I rode 250 miles a week. Rode the canyons every day, loving the up as much or more than the down (I've got a climber's build).

Eventually, I ended up in the midwest (Madison, WI) for grad school. In 8 years there, I rode a maximum of 500 miles total.

Since I've been in Bonn (where there are things that almost qualify as mountains and are certainly very respectible hills), I am back to logging significant kilometers.

Nothing against the flatlands in principle. I liked Madison for many reasons. But the flats just don't get me on the bike.

Cheers.

If you are in lowest gear and your cadence is starting to flag, then standing is a good way to spin up. I find it easier to maintian a high cadence than a slower one, but on steep hills I cant accelerate in the saddle.
Mixing the two styles is a useful technique, esp on switchbacks.