Tell that to Lance.

I really just use whatever works at the time, though.

That 'dancing on the pedals' is not as easy as it looks.

Thats a particular kind of person. Its easier for me to sit while pedaling up a hill. I use less energy and go up it faster than some other guy trying his hardest to go up while standing.

To be honest knobster, I never thought of it as you describe. I always equate standing with max effort. What you say makes good sense. I tend to approach every ride like a time trial. Will have to rethink my riding after reading your thoughts.

It's just a technique; anybody can learn it eventually. Like my uncle relayed what a ski instructor said to him about skiing moguls, "It's just another technique you'd learn, it's not some inherent skill that some people have and some people don't."

Like knobster said (and I kinda missed it until Laurel Lane quoted him), it can be as easy as just standing up and using your body weight for the downstroke.

This is what I was alluding to when I mentioned using a gear tall enough that it feels like climbing stairs (but not so tall that it feels like the stairs are three feet high ). That's something that everybody does every day, unless they live in a ranch-style home and use escalators and elevators everywhere else.

Standing while pedaling uphill helps... some people, some of the time. I do it sometimes, depends on the hill and my particular feeling at the time. If I feel good enough and am in the mood, I stand and 'imitate dancing on the pedals'.

Ullrich never stood and pedaled uphill that I ever saw.

Do what works for you, it's YOUR ride, nobody else's.

I read an article a while back that different muscles are employed when pedalling while seating vs. standing. Alternating b/t both allows each muscle groups to recoup. I've not tried it as my hills are short and doesn't warrant alternating b/t both styles.
Best is to gear down before your legs are tired. Maintaining a comfortable cadence is key to a successful climb. I used to "power-mash" the pedals on a climb, and it was stupid of me. Gears are there for a reason.

I usually sit and then jump up over the top .. even though it's been forever since I climbed a good hill

Then, you think standing is easier?

Well let me tell you that you are absolutly wrong. It all depends on the hills and what type of bike the person is riding. Standing up is very effective and easy way of going up hills and it's the only way to get up hills for people who ride singlespeed/fixed gear. Sitting in your seat and mashing is bad for your knees.
Your comments about weak legs and more training are way off the mark.

It's different for everyone.

On my single speed or with gears. It can help.. but overall , for me at least, sitting will save me energy as I climb. If it kicks up or I need a change or I start feel like I'm lagging I can climb standing for a while as well. I do prefer to stand and 'attack' @the top of the hill though.

There are three reasons to climb out of the saddle:

1. To pick up your cadence or apply power
2. To give your body a stretch
3. To slow down your cadence and heart rate

I see way too many beginners thinking that they always need to maintain too high of a cadence for their fitness and pedal stroke...and wear themselves out trying to 'spin'. Sometimes it's better to slow it down, use a bit higher gear and let your body weight help you achieve a rhythm that doesn't put your HR into the red zone.

Those poor poor singlespeed riders. paying so much money for a bike that cant get them up hills.

FYI I climb 3000 feet in elevation over a 6.5 mile climb on a mountain where I live. I've done it quite a few times. and everytime I never stand while climbing.

When I need to stand it for usually for less than 30 seconds. Just seems to apply a little more force on those 8 % grades. And seems to use different muscles for awhile. ?

That's not really relevant to this thread since the OP is talking about hills, where you're talking about mountains. On a long climb, I'm more inclined to stay seated and stand only for a stretch. On hills during a workout ride, I'm inclined to do some of each to get up it more quickly.

IMO, arguing against learning to pedal effectively while standing is like arguing against learning to spin instead of mash, or sprinting or any of the techniques cyclists might want to learn to make them better cyclists.

OTOH, there is nothing wrong for striving for just mediocre for some people - it's just not for me.

When I started riding about 12 years ago and was overweight I used to sit 90-95% of the time on hills. Now when I am in a much better shape and 50 lbs less I stand about 50-60% of the times on any climbs, short or long.

Right after training doing intervals or running (improving anaerobic capacity) I find it is easier to stand and pedal using more lungs then legs. In the beginning of the season when my anaerobic ability decreased I find myself sitting more on hills and grinding, standing up only for short durations to change the body position, use different muscles and cadence (my lungs could not cope with longer duration standing and I get tired fast).

The better my lungs are trained the longer I stay standing climbing.

A person can climb a hill out of the saddle without attacking it. It's all about the gearing. I could stand nearly continuously and climb if I wanted to.

I can't run because of a hip replacement so climbing out of the saddle is as close as I get running and I love to do it. Soneone said sitting was harder on the knees. Not sure I agree on that one. The knees are why I don't stand as much as I'd like.

DougMC, you say its feels weird and uncomfortable. Perhaps its the bike setup. When the handlebars are high, then when you stand, you do not get that proper arm extension. Go back to your bike fitter for another session. Make sure you're on the rollers or trainer to see how you fit while standing.

Just a slight adjustment makes a big difference. While you're at it, on the rollers or trainer, keep on the standing position and let the fitter see how you're doing. Many fitters (the good ones) are also coaches. You might get some pointers.

I almost always stand when I climb.. There are some hills that I feel like I couldn't climb without standing, but I also rarely leave the four highest gears... I don't know if that's bad or not, but I guess I'm used to riding a fixed gear.

At somewhere around 20-22% grades I have to stand or the front wheel starts coming of the ground. On my folding bike with small wheels and short chainstays, I reach that point on lesser slopes. Other than those steep slopes, I will stand on short steep hills to just power over them without slowing down. But on longer hills I mostly sit. On a cold ride home the other night, when my feet were pretty cold, I discovered that I get better blood flow to my calves and feet when I stand. I guess it makes sense, that having my knees and hips straightened out would make it easier for the blood to flow. I think I also use the calf muscles more when I'm standing, which would make them pump more blood. Standing also stretches out the front of my thighs, which can feel pretty good at times.

This.

Personally I'll get out of the saddle on short climbs, but I generally won't bother on longer climbs (unless it's a short section that just gets steeper for a minute or two). It also depends how I'm feeling at the time. I'll be more inclined to "attack" a climb early in the ride than I will after 200km.

The "old wisdom" regarding standing or not involves the rider's size.

If you watch Le Tour or other pro races, you'll notice that most of the guys who are "dancing on the pedals" on ascents are smaller. Think Marco Pantani. The guys who sit in the saddle and slog it out are bigger. Think Indurain, Ullrich...Guys like that. Most anyone can power over a short, steep hill by notching up a couple of gears and standing, but to keep it up for a longer climb definitely increases the demands on the body.
At around 200 pounds, I find that even brief periods of standing would send my heartrate monitor up towards the red zone, whereas I could sit and spin in lower gears without problems.
Selecting a proper gear is critical; it's going to be higher than the gear you would use to remain sitting.

You sound like my doctor that told me I was overweigh at 147lbs and 5'6" tall. I just asked her if she would like to join me on one of my 20 mile training rides in the week- or the 60 miler at the weekend- or one of the sessions of Cardio- Vascuar I do twice a week at the gym. Before making a statement that only unfit people have weak legs and need to train more- Find out more about why people do get out of the saddle when riding.

I will not say that you have to get out of the saddle to climb slopes efficiently- Or tell you to watch the Pro's climb mountains- but for me- Out of the saddle on steep slopes will get me through the steep bits that are not too long- will give a different rhythm after too long in the saddle and give my butt a rest after too long in the saddle.

Attachment is of me a couple of years ago- Only 210 more metres to climb before I get the 13mile descent in.

I was out riding this morning on a 100k charity ride, and got behind these two younger fitter-looking guys. We came to a little hill after a while, and both proceced to pedal out of the saddle going up the hill, and I managed to downshift and pass them. "That pedaling-out-of-the-saddle isn't as effective as they thought", I thought to myself. After a while they passed me again, and then at the next little hill, the episode was repeated. I guess it was the third time they passed me, it finally dawned on me they were both riding fixed gear bikes. Doh!

Likely, the only advantage you are getting by using the big/big is not losing the momentum that you otherwise would if you shifted into the little ring.