How to learn to get out of the saddle

[srao]

I am new to cycling and got on to a cycle for the first time in my life in Jan. I have built fair amount of stamina and can manage 100 km rides easily (genuine- not BF stats:innocent:].

However my bike handling skills are poor.

I need to learn:

1. Making tight u turns
2. Getting out of the saddle for climbs

Any suggestions for the above? Was thinking of a trainer/rollers to help learn to get out of the saddle. Do you guys think it will help?

[Pedal Wench]

One tip for getting out of the saddle is to make sure you have plenty of resistance on the pedals. I click up two or three gears to have enough to push against as I stand up. Another good way to get used to it is to stay standing as you start from a stop.

[velogirl]

+1 on Pedal Wench's suggestion to have resistance.

To learn to get out of the saddle, I recommend starting on a flat road (somewhere quiet and safe).

Add resistance (shift to a harder gear). How many gears you shift will depend on the grade of the road.

Place your hands on the hoods.

Push the bike forward as you continue pedaling.

Stand, and balance your weight on the bike based on the grade of the road.

When you want to sit again, push the bike forward as you continue pedaling and allow the saddle to just move under you.

Hope this helps!

Lorri

[staceysue]

I'm still kind of a newb so I might be doing it wrong, but I've never had a problem. I just slow down and stand up on my bottom pedal and lean the other way to put the other foot on the ground.

[RolliePollie]

I've been riding for three seasons and probably have 10,000-ish miles under my belt and I STILL CAN'T STAND UP! My friends think I'm an idiot. However, I ride very hilly terrain with some hills around 15-20% grades, and I don't have any problems getting to the top. So IMHO, it's not absolutely necessary to be able to stand up. It makes me feel better to imagine that I have extra super strong legs because I can climb hills withouth standing. I have no idea why I can't do it...it just feels un-natural to me and I have poor balance, although I could easily do it as a kid. At this point I've pretty much given up on it.

[Crankin]

It took me a long time to learn to stand. I couldn't even do it on a spin bike at the gym!
Now that I can do it, I rarely do. It hurts my knees and since I have no trouble getting up most grades up to 15% or so, I would rather sit and spin in the granniest of granny. I might have wanted to stand on the two 20+% grades that have defeated me, but at that point, I couldn't move, let alone stand!

[zoom-zoom]

I have no idea why I can't do it...it just feels un-natural to me and I have poor balance, although I could easily do it as a kid. At this point I've pretty much given up on it.

I tried to stand the other day and made it maybe 3-4 pedals before I said screw it. My knees were angry.

I don't get it, though...like you, I could do it as a kid, no prob.

[marni]

I STILL CAN'T STAND UP! My friends think I'm an idiot. However, I ride very hilly terrain with some hills around 15-20% grades, and I don't have any problems getting to the top. So IMHO, it's not absolutely necessary to be able to stand up. It makes me feel better to imagine that I have extra super strong legs because I can climb hills withouth standing.

I am like you, I never stand up hills or flat- I consider it a waste of energy. I do occasionally stand to stretch out my hip flexors but am coasting at the time. About the only time I will stand on a regular basis is in a spin class. As for hills, that is why I have all those granny gears on my bike and why I do spin classes and work on my quuads and do lots of jump squats and jump lunges. I may not go up the hill fast, but I do get up on the bike not next to the bike. The top will be there when I get there and frankly as a beginner I never met a hill I couldn't walk up, but I am so beyond that now that I will herniate myself peddaling before I stand up or get off.

I did find that required standing in a spin class did wonders for my old lady balance on the road bike so I would suggest it as a good way to go for beginners to learn the basics.

marni