I am a recreational rider and have always been told that you are better sitting back on your seat when climbing rather than standing.
Now I am not talking about steep mountain roads but gradual inclines that go for maybe 1/4 miles or so.

I tend to sit and get in a low gear and pedal very slowly.... If I stand I find that my quads really get fatigued.

Is there any correct technique for a recreational rider

There is no "correct" way to climb. Generally sit/spin is most efficient. You can get a bit more power standing up but that's for short term usually.

There are plenty of YouTube videos that can give you more specific advice. I would go to the GCN channel.

YMMV.

Pedaling very slowly is where you might be going wrong.

Generally, when climbing I try to be positioned on an incline.

If you sit and spin, you are loading up your heart and working your quads ... but if you sit and pedal slowly, you are asking your quads to do what they are least good at----slow power strokes. If you want to pedal slowly, try to push through your heel (but not With the heel) to bring the hamstrings into play. Hamstrings tend to be slow-twitch power muscles while the quads are smaller, faster muscles.

For a long hill, hit it quick in a medium gear, downshift early (don't wait until you can't pedal in a gear before shifting, you will lose too much momentum) and try to keep the pedals turning at a good clip. When your heart or lungs or legs can't take a quick cadence, stand up and push hard for a couple strokes, then sit and push with the hamstrings and try to catch your breath a little.

You don't want to start in a low gear ... use your momentum at the bottom, keep the pedals spinning, and work your way down the gears as needed.

It is more efficient to pedal a little faster because you lose less between power strokes, but when you simply cannot push the pedals quickly, alternate between pushing with your hamstrings, standing, and then spinning a little. By alternating load you can (sort of) rest a little and last longer.

Another point: if your quads hurt a lot when you stand, then ... they will grow a lot. Don't hurt yourself or push yourself unnaturally, but ...well, for myself, I learn where I need to improve with every ride. So you might need to build strength in your quads ... Maybe because you use a low cadence, you rely more on your hamstrings in regular riding.

I find that I need to consciously force myself to spin faster or I will cruise around in a high gear at 40 rpm all day, which isn't bad, but I want to be able to do more than that. I am training myself to be comfortable at twice that cadence, which hurts my quads, but only because they are being asked to do more. It doesn't mean anything is wrong, but rather that that is where I could use more improvement.

I still tend to cruise in a bigger gear and a lower cadence at the end of my rides, or when I am just relaxing. Nothing wrong with that. But I know a higher cadence in a lower gear is more efficient, and I know what I develop using that (aerobics, circulation, cardio, quads) will help me a lot when I hit the hills, where I absolutely suck and suffer.

Can't say what might work for you.

Thank you... Very thorough answer

It also depends on the type of body you have. Many cyclists who have the climbers' body have no problem climbing out of the saddle. Some, like me, have more "substantial" bodies and, for the most part, do better seated. But, in both cases a combination of standing and seated is used depending on the situation.

Wait, you're really talking about "gradual 1/4 mile climbs" as in quarter mile, right? What do you consider gradual, 3-5%? A quarter mile at that pitch is so short (a minute or two at most) that you really don't need to do anything different than your normal riding, which should always involve a relatively high cadence (90+ for me, but YMMV).

For steeper and longer climbs, like 15+ % for 7 or 8 miles, I prefer to get into the "imaginary aero bar" position (IAB) where your forearms balance on the tops, you clasp your hands between your brifters, and I put it in my 53/11 and spin away until I'm at the top. I tend to be ON THE RIVET on my saddle throughout the climb.

Are you sure you spin up a 15 degree incline in 53/11.... That's the highest gear possible and the most difficult to peddle. Where is the RIVET on the saddle

We going up or down that 15% hill?

Up, thanks for asking.

[MENTION=259065]Dan333SP[/MENTION], 15% for 7-8 miles? Really? 15% for 8 miles is almost 6500 ft. That's really steep and really sustained.

Where are you talking about? Somewhere in Virginia?

It's a JOKE!

Thats what makes the BF community so great- newby asks legit question, experienced people can't give a straight answer.

hunched over in pain

Personally I stand a lot, I like getting high and really (as they say) 'mashing' the pedals. A lil burn and pain is a good thing, IME. And I agree that you might want to speed up your cadence a bit if you're pedaling very slowly, that might improve the overall feel of the climb.

Do what's more comfortable or gets you up the hill the fastest. I'm on the saddle most of the time and only get up for more power on the steep section or to get a breather (stretch and relax the muscles a bit). If I'm standing for prolonged period, I'm cooked and just trying to get it over with.

For a moderate climb, I prefer to sit up, hands on tops, lift toes to keep heels level, and mash in my low gear (39-25).

If it gets steep, 15% or so, I'll stand and continue mashing up.

You can condition your quads by riding extended time standing in your highest gear on flat, BTW.

I don't learn something new every day (not at BF, for sure) but I do pick up useful tips like this. Thanks.

I think climbing position has not only to do with duration and steepness, but also how the bike is setup to fit in the first place. Some geometries favor certain approaches.

Regardless of which position one climbs in, I think it's important to be relaxed and to maintain a sufficiently fast pedaling speed which allows you to finish the climb without having to reduce power. It's better to kick the power up as you near the top rather than having it trail off. So pick a sustainable pace and settle into it, keeping a little in reserve for a finishing kick.

I actually do climb "on the rivet," i.e. on the nose of the saddle, when it's steep enough that keeping the front wheel planted is an issue. When it's in the 15% range, I'm yanking on the bars pretty good with each pedal stroke (probably because I'm undergeared for my strength and weight), so scootching forward helps me stay on top of the pedals, get more power down, and keep traction on the rear while avoiding lifting the front.

^ is that RyanF?

How much time is "extended"? Are you talking a few minutes or something like an entire ride?

1. Ignore the 53/11 advice, it's a joke.

2. Most REPUTABLE sources will tell you that a combination of standing and sitting is the best way to climb. When your sitting you want easy gears and a fast spinning cadence...when you stand for a short spurt, drop a gear or two for more resistance, but still aim for a medium cadence...if you are ever climbing at a low pedal speed, it should only be when you don't have any easier gears left.

And then there's Alberto Contador.......

This is generally correct, though I would use the word "mash" to describe what I do in my lowest gear...unless it's really steep...

...but it is reported that Alberto Contador will train by riding out of the saddle for 20 minute stretches at a time, of course he has built up to that....I recently rode with a fellow that would stand for a full 10 minute 7-8% climb...All the while I was spinning seated in my 30-28 combination....but it made me think that should train for more standing so I have it when I need it.