Originally Posted by
Bandera
Is this local coach training riders on how to get dropped or to just plooter along in the hills?
Standing w/o shifting up to a taller gear as previously noted speed will drop, and the rider will be dropped as well.
Developing the technique that makes sense for a rider's fitness and the terrain to sit/stand in the hills as required is part of adaptation to cycling.
The Old School method of riding Base Miles on a ~70GI fixed gear in moderately rolling terrain develops a fluid natural style of alternating standing/sitting and the ability produce both grunt and spin on demand.
Nothing wrong with a nice plooter about at an easy pace, didn't know that a coach was necessary to learn how to slack off.
-Bandera
I have seen climbers who pedal too large a gear to hold while seated. They pedal seated at ~70 cadence, but their legs can't hold it, so gradually they drift down to ~60. Then they stand, without shifting, and scoot it back up to 70, then repeat. I've tried that, but it certainly isn't the fastest method for me. Maybe folks do that when they don't have the gearing to climb in the usual way. Seems to me I've seen a video of Museeuw doing that.
When I rest me legs by going to a big gear standing, I usually accelerate just a little which pops my HR up. But it feels good to stand and when I sit again I feel still better for about 5 seconds.