Standing vs sitting and the impact on saddle sore
 

So, a couple of years ago I decided I needed more exercise, and I would stand on the pedals at a higher gear for all my hills (even the little ones), and keep standing as far as I could muster the strength to the top of the hill. Some hills are too much, and I tackle them half standing, half sitting.

But a big change that occurred at that time was I didn't have near as much saddle sore from riding. In fact, I can't recall the last time I finished a ride of any length with any rear pain.

Also, my hands don't get numb'ed out like they used to. I find I have a much lighter grip when I'm standing than when I'm leaned forward pressing my upper body into the bars.

Thoughts? Anyone else attack all hills standing? Any effect on saddle sore?

*Note - I do know excessive standing is frowned upon by the experts, and I do know I'm using more energy.

I don't stand for all hills, but frequently do. It's fun, and good to switch up your position now and then.

While I appreciate the intent behind the advice to sit and spin lower gears while climbing hills, it has unfortunately turned into another online orthodoxy.

I have no "musts" regarding hill climbs. ("You must sit" or "you must stand".) But I stand a lot. Always have. I love the dance. I can ride out of the saddle nearly as efficiently as sitting (as long as wind resistance isn't a factor). I ride a lot of fix gear so I do a lot of hills where sitting isn't an option. Now, on steeper fix gear climbs, my hands and esp forearms feel it, but pulling, not pushing. It hurt to touch my forearms with soap showering after the 2014 Cycle Oregon Day 4 climb hitting 14%. (See my loge. That photo was taken at the steepest point.)

Ben

Yeah, that's one reason I started standing on the hills - I was getting a better upper body workout. I was trying to get an entire workout without having to hit the gym. But you are right, it is more of a pull on the bars than a push. Either way, my hands don't get so numb.

And I don't do it as a "must". When traffic is heavy and I need to see in my mirror, I tend to sit on the hills. Or any time I need tighter steering, or more precise control of the bike. But if I have the option, I do try to stand every time.

I'm all over the place, sitting, climbing out of the saddle, stretching my legs on longer rides. However, it has nothing to do with saddle sores. If your saddle is bothering you, you should try different saddles until it stops bothering you. A bad saddle fit can lead to serious problems.

Could it be that you have less saddle sore because you're just used to the riding position or have just built up some tolerance?

I prefer to sit when climbing. Occasionally I'll shift into a bigger gear just before the crest and then crank out of the saddle to get some momentum into the descent.

As you bike more you grow more cycling/posture specific muscle. Your arms hold better, your core, your legs obviously. It all contributes to make it more comfortable. I don't think its linked to standing on hills alone. It might have helped.

It could be that I've finally simply broken in this saddle, or my rear has gotten used to it. But it's worth noting that the change occurred at the same time that I made the change in riding style.

I think, even if you're standing a lot, you're still seated most of the time and it probably isn't affecting the frequency with which you develop saddle sores.

Skin Hygiene, on the part of you that contacts your Bike shorts, that contact the saddle , may be a problem ..

I wash 'down there' with an antibacterial surgeon's scrub soap, a liquid concentrate.

I brought some on my 9 month Bike tour , with 3 pair of bike shorts to always put a clean pair and had no problems

(only 1 tiny spot, but a topical anti bacterial ointment stopped that. )


Hot and Humid TX you may like a mid day alcohol wipe to suppress bacterial Blooms..

OP:

Are you talking about muscle soreness? Or are you talking about a skin wound caused by chafing and/or infection? Because when most cyclists refer to a "saddle sore," they mean the latter not the former.

I'm wondering what he means by "saddle sore" as well.

I was maybe about 3-4 months into bike commuting when I no longer felt sore in the vicinity of my sit bones. Those are the bones supposed to be supported by the saddle. I recently got a bike with a stock saddle that was narrower than my sit bones, so the pressure was all on the soft parts between the sit bones - not good!

So if your saddle is feeling uncomfortable, make sure the sit bones are being supported first. If they are, then you may have to look into other issues.

Sounds like you need either a different saddle, different shorts, or a different saddle position.

I do stand some when climbing hills, particularly on a mountain bike on trail, road bike with higher gearing, or on a bike with limited gear range. I don't stand much when touring or riding around town with heavier loads, trailers, or kids due to side to side motion when standing. I gear down and spin. Also, proper saddle height and position fore/aft keep me less likely to stand while climbing. How well the saddle fits you, it's height, and the overall fit of the bike also contribute to comfort and efficiency or lack thereof. I set my saddle so that my knees are nearly fully extended at the downstroke of the pedal. I ride as light as possible in the saddle with a a balance of my weight on the pedals, saddle, handlebars. I tell my kids to not sit on the seat but to ride in the saddle of their bikes. They tend to want to sit with their weight on the seat of their bikes with the saddle position too low when still inexperienced. Once they get it, they are better riders and more comfortable as well. When touring, we can cover 40-60 miles per day if needed with all 4 of our kiddos, now ages 5-15.
I prefer a hard leather saddle, properly adjusted, and regular shorts or pants. Don't really have a problem with saddle sores even when covering up to 75 miles a day in town, long days in the saddle when touring, or even longer days in the saddle riding pedicabs. I had more saddle sores, ingrown hairs, pimples, etc., caused by bacteria as described by fietsbob, many years ago when I rode in synthetic bike shorts with padding, padded saddle, etc. I much prefer cotton or non-cycling specific pants, shorts, swimsuit, whatever, on my old Brooks saddles. Lets things breathe.

In order to accomplish what exactly? If you read the original post, you'd see that I haven't had any rump pain for many-many-many moons.

And a happy rump means a happy life. :thumb:

I did find that spending more time out of the saddle (eg. standing up a bit while coasting over bumps, standing while climbing, etc) did reduce time under pressure on my sit bones. But I eventually got to the point where I just didn't get sore around the sit bones any more.

OTOH, if I didn't change the saddle on my other bike, no amount of standing would compensate for the saddle being too narrow for my sit bones - and no amount of padding would have helped either.

The climb up to my house is long enough that standing the whole way is simply impractical for my level of conditioning. Articles on climbing technique tend to advise alternating sitting and standing, or not standing unless absolutely necessary. In that famous climbing battle between Il Pirata and Lance Armstrong, they both alternated between sitting and standing that 20 km climb.

Lance was one of the greatest climbers, both standing and sitting (I'm sure all the blood doping helped). Many of his most famous ascents are available to watch on Youtube. Here is the one you are talking about I think - Mount Ventoux, 2000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO-1_Rtub94. All of his attacks on that ascent were standing (of course).

What experts are these ??....All my hill climbing is done out of the saddle, I have no choice but to stand up because I am using FG/SS bikes. Let the experts frown.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by andyprough (Post 18818253)

and I do know I'm using more energy.

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If I use more energy I just end up enjoying more food.

I'm with you!! I would try single speed, but I like the bike I've been riding for years now, no need to change.

You only have one bike? I think that's against one of the BF rules...

Do you stand at other times? The only time I stand is when climbing.

Yeah, that's the famous race. You can see them sitting every now and then. For example, around the 6 min. mark Pantani is sitting. Armtrong takes a seat around 8:50 even while he's chasing Pantani.

Even for cyclists of that caliber, standing for all 20km is simply not possible.

I think there's a possibility that by attacking hills standing, you're strengthening core muscles a bit, over time giving you enough core strength to keep some weight off your hands, some weight off your saddle, so it helps.

Yes, but clearly when they want to make an aggressive push, they are standing. Looks like they are sitting when they just have to catch their breath for a moment.

I might stand for the first 5-10 strokes right after clipping just to get rolling quickly. I often don't remember to gear down before I come to a stop. I don't know how many of you actually do gear down prior to coming to a complete stop. Ideally that what we should all do. Kind of like starting in first gear when driving a stick.