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Old 08-03-12 | 09:49 PM
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What is a goode recommendation on reading material for improving climbing technique?


What is the best way to learn how to stand while pedaling?
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Old 08-03-12 | 10:07 PM
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Watch the pros. Just stand up & pedal, not a bg deal.
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Old 08-03-12 | 11:09 PM
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It felt awkward for my in the beginning,I don't stand & pedal often but the more you do it the better you get @ it.
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Old 08-03-12 | 11:45 PM
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Probably less reading and more climbing will help you.
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Old 08-03-12 | 11:48 PM
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Funny thing is, I never stand when I climb.
I only stand up when I start from a dead stop/traffic light.
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Old 08-04-12 | 01:55 AM
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I stand more when riding my mtb uphill than when on my cross bike. The funny thing is that I climb much better on my cross bike even though my mtb has much lower gears.
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Old 08-04-12 | 08:36 AM
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Originally Posted by merganser22
What is a goode recommendation on reading material for improving climbing technique?
What is the best way to learn how to stand while pedaling?
The answer to both questions is just do it.
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Old 08-04-12 | 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Mondo734
I stand more when riding my mtb uphill than when on my cross bike. The funny thing is that I climb much better on my cross bike even though my mtb has much lower gears.
+1.
So true for my too!
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Old 08-04-12 | 09:29 AM
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Take some yoga classes for core strength and flexibility, then ballet classes so you can dance on the pedals.
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Old 08-04-12 | 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by merganser22
What is a good recommendation on reading material for improving climbing technique?
What is the best way to learn how to stand while pedaling?
Start by standing and coasting on a flat road. This will improve your balance.

Then shift into high gears a pedal slowly.
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Old 08-04-12 | 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by colombo357
Take some yoga classes for core strength and flexibility, then ballet classes so you can dance on the pedals.
I just started taking some beginner yoga classes a few weeks ago, it certainly has made a difference (flexibility,core, ITB etc.), I only wish I had started yoga twenty some years ago...
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Old 08-06-12 | 09:01 PM
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Yoga, I tried that for a while a few years ago thinking it would improve my balance for flyfishing. May try it again though. Will certianly try the rest of it. Thanks!
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Old 08-06-12 | 09:13 PM
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Climb more. Climb out of the saddle more. Lose weight. No need to kindle that.
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Old 08-07-12 | 06:48 AM
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As above. Basically more gorilla wrestling. And wrestle bigger gorillas.
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Old 08-07-12 | 07:13 AM
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A blog dedicated to climbing. Hasn't been updated since May, apparently he's out riding up mountains, but there's good stuff in here:

https://le-grimpeur.net/blog/
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Old 08-07-12 | 07:52 AM
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youtube "cyclocore". he has a lot of good tips.
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Old 08-07-12 | 08:10 AM
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Standing on the pedals? Watch little kids ride a single speed bicycle down the sidewalk. Some apparently forgot.
To me riding a roadbike out of the saddle on hills or flats is hugely important to saving my legs for hard and long rides.
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Old 08-07-12 | 08:13 AM
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Focus on pedal stroke. Do not try to push up and down. Try to push out and down. Same pedal stroke as when seated.
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Old 08-07-12 | 08:16 AM
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I'm sort of surprised at how often I see the standing while pedaling problem. Less people must have ridden a bike when they were kids than I though. Also how do you do other things on the bike like hard stops or take offs if you can't get off the saddle?
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Old 08-07-12 | 08:32 AM
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Just do it. People ask me how I became good at climbing out of the saddle (not that I am that good...), and my answer is, I just did it, and then did it some more, and it eventually got easier. Or I got faster and its still just as hard, whatever.
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Old 08-07-12 | 09:05 AM
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I like to use short rollers to practice standing and climbing...so instead of downshifting a couple of cogs or down to my small chainring, I'll just stand and power through it. On longer climbs, I tend to spin, but occasionally I'll upshift and stand to use different muscles and take pressure off my butt.
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Old 08-07-12 | 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by merganser22


What is the best way to learn how to stand while pedaling?
Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F94TCxLYZew
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Old 08-08-12 | 12:00 AM
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Originally Posted by SCochiller
Amazing!
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Old 08-08-12 | 12:23 AM
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Maybe someone can explain to me why some people struggle at standing up and pedaling on a bike? It comes so naturally to me that I don't even think about it, I just do it. But, for example, my wife isn't very good at it and I have no idea how to teach her how do it. Is there some sort of physical or mental block that I'm not aware of? I don't mean to be offensive to anyone who struggles with it but I seriously want to understand why it hard for some people so that I can better teach those that I ride with how do it.
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Old 08-08-12 | 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by sharp
Amazing!
+1!!!
Looks like me on some of the climbs in my area. I'm not as bold as Lance to give the others the "Stink eye" though...
Only difference is I stay seated the majority of my climbs.

Originally Posted by shoota
Maybe someone can explain to me why some people struggle at standing up and pedaling on a bike? It comes so naturally to me that I don't even think about it, I just do it. But, for example, my wife isn't very good at it and I have no idea how to teach her how do it. Is there some sort of physical or mental block that I'm not aware of? I don't mean to be offensive to anyone who struggles with it but I seriously want to understand why it hard for some people so that I can better teach those that I ride with how do it.
I think it has to do with balance. You know that feeling you get when you first jump on a bike? I think being uncomfortable makes people feel like "that kid" again.
I fell once on my fixie when I torqued it too hard on the drive side, & lost balance going up a steep hill. Gored by my own bulhorns to the ribs.
IMO it's all about distributing power evenly.
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