I like to stand and pedal at times (that is "sprinting", right?) and I often find it necessary
to upshift after a bit. My instinct is to shift while standing but I envision a pretty bad outcome if the shift went bad..am I cultivating a bad habit or does everyone do it?

Mike

If you are racing then shifting while standing is pretty much standard practice as the speed increases. I think it is something that some practice is in store before done in close knit groups.

I generally try to avoid shifting while standing, but if I am standing and need to shift I do. I have experimented a little with easing up on the pedals as I shift and just shifting with pedalling hard with no bad results either way. I don't think it hurts anything but if your chain jumped off or broke while standing it might hurt a couple of things .

Not an issue when your shifters are on the down tube.

+1, I think it probably wear chains out a lot faster as well.

Depends. If you shift the front dérailleur while standing on a climb, when at or near cross chaining, you risk a dropped chain. I run a compact setup, and after having had that happen on several event rides while in a fast group on a climb and getting dropped , I installed a K-Edge chain keeper on the Guru...no more issues.

Getting out of the saddle isn't necessarily related to sprinting.

Now I know why I have never had this issue LOL

Bud

I do it naturally but when changing gear- You should always take some pressure off the pedals to enable the chain to change gear cleanly. That chain under pressure is taught along the top of the chain between the cassette and chain rings. Lots of pressure- as on the tandem- and if it does change it will not be smoothly or quietly. Up hill on the MTB and whether it is up or down and there will be some graunching.- if I time it wrong

And that is when sitting down. I still get the occasional jump on the pedals if I don't time it right but to do it standing up with more pressure than normal is asking for chain or ring damage.

The pro's might do it but they ride bikes a lot more than I do- and they don't pay for the broken bits. They also have a spare bike not too far behind them if they do break things 80 miles into a 150 mile ride.

You might back off a little on the pedal pressure when shifting while standing. Should not be a problem.

Being a mechanic first in just about everything I do back off the pressure prior to shifting and, so far, I have never had to shift the FD while standing..that would freak me out..I'd worry about the boys.

Mike

Being strictly old school, I would never consider shifting under load. Brifters and ramped-and-pinned rings and cogs teach bad habits, and then folks wonder why their chains snap or their drivelines wear out prematurely.

What are you riding, how many rear cogs? I find it's smoother with my nine speed than with my seven speed. The ramps and pins also make shifting the front smother under load. Of course if you where riding a bike with DI2 it wouldn't be a question.