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. |
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