Originally Posted by
Duragrouch
You can't get straighter leg than standing climbing, that reduces stress on my knees when needing to mash. However, the hills are long enough, I run out of wheaties, I can't always stay standing, so try to spin some, and if tire there, or start to feel a calf cramp coming on, I'll get off and walk up, it exercises different muscles and stretches out the calf when walking uphill, that really works well, and can get back on bike after a few minutes without cramp.
I used to love standing and grinding away, but I was often concerned that I'd fold the handlebars by pulling so hard on them. I tried it again, just for fun, on a steep hill a couple of weeks ago and I ran out of wheaties, as you put it, in about 10 seconds, which didn't use to be the case. I can spin away in first gear indefinitely. And I don't mind walking at all, I'm always surprised how far and high you can push a loaded bike in just a few minutes.