Originally Posted by
Kimmo
I've never even come close to having a problem shifting to larger cogs while standing, but I've always used close ratio cassettes. I'd also assert there's nothing wrong with dropping to smaller cogs while giving it the beans no matter what your cassette.
On a hill climb, I'm way more likely to be dropping from the big to the little chain ring as I cruise on the big chain ring at all other times, but if I shift to a bigger cog going uphill, it makes a bit of noise, but I've never busted a chain or broke a derailleur while shifting in about 45 years of riding with them, and I'm the king of bad habits. I shift while standing a lot.