Originally Posted by
needmoreair
Doesn't have to be very short. Depends on the field and the speed. I've used such a strategy over 1-3 mile climbs before. Guess it also depends on your definition of a "very short" climb.
If a big enough field is strung out then 30-40s isn't that much of a stretch.
There's still a pretty significant difference in doing a climb in something like 10 minutes and doing it in 10:45.
If you're doing a race with multiple long climbs, then employing such a strategy in the earlier parts of a race could pay dividends later on when you want to be in the thick of it.
All depends on context and expectations, I suppose. There's a big difference between being with the front group and being 45 seconds back. It's better to have the 45 seconds in reserve than not to, of course, but it's not realistic to think that a little strategery is going to prevent you from getting dropped on a real climb if you don't have the w/kg.