Standing for Hill Climbs

[Micki Rider]

What's the proper technique for getting out of my seat to try powering up a hill? I'm able to lift myself all right, but my front bike wheel always wavers left and right while I'm standing up and riding. I know to put my hands on the top bars when I'm doing this, but I'm still feeling pretty uneasy and unstable the way I'm doing it. I see other people doing it perfectly and it looks so easy!

[AuntieK]

I used to wonder the same thing! The only thing that helped was to practice. The more you do it, the more stable you'll be. Pretty soon, you'll be impressed with how well you do.
Good luck!

[mimitabby]

try standing on flat ground first. then try little hills.

[teigyr]

Try doing it on a trainer or exercise bike. We stand a lot in spin class and while it's slightly different than a "real bike", it gives me the basic idea.

You do have to make sure you have enough gear to stand, you need quite a bit of resistance.

I practice sometimes on bike trails. You know those parts that go under streets with the short little uphill? Those are ideal short stretches to practice standing.

Good luck

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

When you stand up the hills, put your hands on the tops of the bars but spaced far apart and gripping the bars. (on the hoods if you have drop bars).
Now here's a little trick that helped me-
instead of pulling UP on the bars with your hands as you do each down stroke, try pushing DOWN on the bars as each pedal goes down. It's not hard to reverse your pressure direction after a few tries.
You can get the same power this way, but your steering stays steadier than when you're pulling up on the bars. And while you are doing it, keep a mental image in your mind of walking or ice skating up the hill in an easy smooth way. This worked for me.

[Kimmyt]

also, shift your weight forward off your seat so that your butt will not be hovering above the saddle, but an inch or two in front of it (actually i don't know if that is 'proper' technique but it makes me feel much more solid)

K.

[btchance]

make sure you are using a hard enough gear. If I'm going to stand on a climb, I usually go up a few clicks in the back before I stand. If I'm going to spin, I go down a number of clicks. Also, I tend to pull back on the handle bars when I'm standing and make sure to look ahead at where you are going. It took me a while to learn how to stand, but it is definately worth it when you figure it out. Good luck!

[Zen]

What's the proper technique for getting out of my seat to try powering up a hill? I'm able to lift myself all right, but my front bike wheel always wavers left and right while I'm standing up and riding. I know to put my hands on the top bars when I'm doing this, but I'm still feeling pretty uneasy and unstable the way I'm doing it. I see other people doing it perfectly and it looks so easy!

I have yet to stand to pull a hill.

I tend to take my weight off the seat (without standing up), shift my weight FORWARD a bit,stay in the drops and kind of "pull" on the handlebars.

here's what Sheldon Brown has to say about it.