Help! My rear end is glued to the seat!

[emily_in_nc]

Just to add to all the great suggestions here...when you do try to stand, make sure you're not in too EASY a gear. If you are, your legs will just spin wildly and out of control. You need to be in a tough enough gear that you get some resistance in the pedals. Most people who do climb standing (part of the way), actually upshift 1-2 gears before standing to avoid this spinning out of control feeling. I learned to stand while coasting by shifting to a "harder" gear. Instant difference!

My favorite time to stand is to get a good burst of speed when leaving a stop sign or stoplight. It seems natural to stand then to get going.

Good luck!

Emily

[RolliePollie]

WOW! What an INCREDIBLE amount of EXCELLENT advice! Thank you all SO MUCH!!!

Not only do I feel better about my own butt-glued-to-seat and sketchy stopping techniques, but I also have some new and great ideas to try out! You guys are all just awesome!!!

It's interesting, when I read all the posts about bike fit, it sounds like folks are thinking my bike is too large or the reach is too long, etc. I actually think it may be just the opposite. I think the bike is a bit too small! I feel like the top tube might be too short, thereby not giving me quite enough room for my body if I do try to stand up. If I stand up while I'm coasting (by the way, I've only been doing that to try and get the feeling of standing...plus it does let you stretch a little bit), I almost feel like I'm going to go forward over the handlebars. Very interesting...I think a fitting is in order! However, I'm not having any specific issues with discomfort or pain, so the fit must not be too bad. I do think the knees would appreciate a little more seat height though. I'll just move it up a smidgen at a time I guess.

I have been able to make it up all the hills I've tried (except that nemesis hill) and I'm really good at gearing down. I think I'm pretty good at spinning and I like to anticipate hills by getting into those granny gears a little early. I've noticed that when I hit the granniest of the grannies and I still want more gears, I just have to relax a bit and go for it. Next thing I know, I'm at the top of a hill. I am doing quite a bit of climbing (I think about 1,400'-2,000' per 15-25 miles on my "normal" routes), so I'm definitely getting practice on gearing, controlling my breathing, etc.

So I think I'll make standing up a goal but maybe a goal for later in the future instead of a goal for tomorrow!!! I guess what it all boils down to for me is that I want to be a really good cyclist RIGHT NOW...I don't want to be a beginner! But how silly is that? I should embrace "beginner-hood" and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when I learn new things and conquer new skills!

[Starfish]

When I stop my bike, i do not first stop the bike and then get off my saddle. Nor do I stop the bike and then put my foot down. <snip> I hope this description is fathomable.

Lisa, this is an almost perfect description of what I do, too.

[RolliePollie]

Lisa and Starfish - I think what you do is exactly what I want to do!!!

Do you want to fly to California and teach me?

[Starfish]

Lisa and Starfish - I think what you do is exactly what I want to do!!! Do you want to fly to California and teach me?

You have NO idea how good a trip to CA sounds right now in my cold northwest world! Alas, you'll have to master it without me, but you can do it!

[Kano]

You know, I just had a thought ---

I don't think I ever made a conscious decision about standing on my bike. One day, I just noticed myself up off the seat for a little bit, as I got going at an intersection, rather than just hopping up onto the seat.

I bet the hills will be that way too -- someday, I'll just find myself taking advantage of that extra little burst of power.

Maybe it's going to work that way for you too!

Karen in Boise

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa, this is an almost perfect description of what I do, too.

Yes, and the braking action helps propel me forward off the saddle anyway while my foot is going down to the ground. It's a lovely system!

Did I hear someone is paying our way to CA for a stopping lesson?.....

[RolliePollie]

Did I hear someone is paying our way to CA for a stopping lesson?.....

Ummmmm....paying? Uhhhhh, ummmmm.....well, uhhhh, no, not paying, but you're more than welcome to stay at my house

[Zen]

I don't think I ever made a conscious decision about standing on my bike. One day, I just noticed myself up off the seat for a little bit, as I got going at an intersection, rather than just hopping up onto the seat.


Karen in Boise

I know that feeling.
I was gong downhill the other day when I realized I WAS REALLY GETTIN' IT!
No brakes, no fear, in fact there was quite a bit of joy and feeling of accomplishment!

I know the "want to do it now" feeling too.

We'll get it...eventually.

[East Hill]

Graceful? We have to be GRACEFUL ?

I guess I will have to get out there and get more practice.



East Hill

[RoadRaven]

I have read through this entire thread and tried to do it justice - though I am tired so forgive me if this has been said, but I didn't see it written...

I too had great difficulty learning how to stand and hated the squirelly feeling when I tried, and my standing efforts would be just seconds.

Then I found if I kept the nose of the bike in contact between my thighs as I stood, I felt much more in control...

Now I don't need constant contact, but I still do use the nose of the bike occasionally to orientate my position on the bike in an uphill burst of speed (my uphill busts being moving from a snail to a tortoise pace )

The only way to be able to do it for longer is to keep practising standing and slowly your body learns to expect and cope with it - you are making a greater effort to climb standing, than when you climb seated.

I find a slight uphill gives you more control when practising standing simply because your centre of gravity changes.

Good luck - and just keep having a go

Would you ladies clarify why someone would want to stand while coasting

I often stand while coasting downhill so I can stretch my legs , arms and back
I don't lose speed and can get a much needed stretch without stopping (I don't like to stop during training rides - and of course to stop in a race is self-defeating)

[onimity]

As far as standing while coasting, I do that sometimes for visibility, I regularly ride a big hill with a hard-to-see intersection, standing a bit lets me have a clear view of any cars.

I had the same exact problem when I first got back on a bike. I found that the standing thing came naturally as I got more comfortable with the bike. At first I was really frustrated that I couldn't do it. I could do it in Jr. High, after all, on my parents old 10 speeds that fit me miserably. So I had my LBS look at the fit on my bike again, all good, I was just a turkey. But then one day I just stood and jammed up a little hill without even thinking about it. Once I was comfortable on the bike it was all good.

As far as clipping out at a stop, I usually ride in bike lanes and one thing that I love to do is to ride up next to a curb/ped x-ing sign etc. and use that as a rest for my right foot. That way I can stay in the saddle and keep my left foot ready to go when the light changes. I found that the thing that helped me get good at stopping and unclipping was learning to maintain my balance while riding very slow.

BTW, I usually ride a mountain bike. I just got a road bike and am a total klutz on it. I figure that sooner or later it I will feel as comfortable on it as I do on my MTB.

Good luck!

Anne