Do you sit or stand going up hills?

[Lucky, Fabulous]

I have heard it both ways - "stand and climb" or sit, downshift, and try to maintain the same cadence. Can you go between the two? I am tackling some big hills today, and could use some advice. Thanks!

[F8th637]

I have found that everyone has their own philosophy. Some people think that standing wastes energy. If I do stand on a hill it's briefly as my legs can't take the burn for too long. I also have bad knees so I try to take full advantage of those granny gears especially for long climbs. I definitely think you can go both ways on a climb. It's all a matter of personal preference.

[GLC1968]

If it's a short climb and I think I can get up it without losing speed if I stand, then I do. If it's a long climb - I sit and spin to the best of my ability. Sometimes, I mix it up - spin where I can, stand if it gets too steep, go back to spinning, etc.

Basically, the first year I started riding, I stood all the time. Then I found that my muscles got used to it and I couldn't effectively spin. My second year riding, I tried to stay seated more and just spun. Then I found that by the end of the season, standing would wear me out because my muscles had gotten used to spinning. Now I try to mix it up - partly to keep my body capable of doing both with some efficiency, and partly because I've gained a bunch of weight and I need all the tricks of the trade to get up hills!

[wackyjacky1]

For me it depends on how long the climb is. I prefer to sit, scooching back on the saddle to get those big ol' butt muscles more involved, but during a long climb I may stand on the pedals and do a few yards that way, just to change things up a bit.

[Geonz]

I'm a total sitter. I'll stand a few times a year, on a very steep long hill when I just feel like I need to change something or fall off the bike.

It depends on the bike, too, though. I think if I had a different bike I *might* be more inclined to stand.

However, my weight distribution is such taht the one time I went skiing, if I fell down I could not get up. My backside has little pockets of extremely dense tissue in it or something

Any slight differences in efficiency really aren't that important to me and would be counteracted by the necessary change in focus... and besides, I live in the flatlands so I only do hills on special occasions.

[mimitabby]

It really depends on where you are at that moment. Sometimes I just don't want to slow down that much so i stand and go up the hill. Other times, I just don't feel like working that hard!

[indysteel]

I have heard it both ways - "stand and climb" or sit, downshift, and try to maintain the same cadence. Can you go between the two? I am tackling some big hills today, and could use some advice. Thanks!

I mostly sit, unless I feel like standing. How's that for a rule of thumb? I usually won't stand unless it's a pretty short hill or a short steep section of a longer hill. It wears me out.

I wouldn't say that I maintain the same cadence even when I remain seated though. That would likely send my heartrate sky high. I've seen a rule of thumb that suggests spinning at about 75% your normal cadence (on flats), but even that doesn't necessarily work for me on all climbs. I found myself spinning at a slower cadence in a bigger gear this weekend. On long climbs, I'm more apt to spin at a faster cadence in a smaller gear. We don't many of those in Indiana though.

[sundial]

If it's a short climb and I think I can get up it without losing speed if I stand, then I do. If it's a long climb - I sit and spin to the best of my ability. Sometimes, I mix it up - spin where I can, stand if it gets too steep, go back to spinning, etc.

Yep, me too!

[F8th637]

LOL So the long and short of it answer is: "Whatever gets you up that hill!"

[indysteel]

LOL So the long and short of it answer is: "Whatever gets you up that hill!"

Amen. I will (proudly) say that after a couple of years of riding, hills are getting easier. When I first started, I had a huge phobia about them. Now I feel a lot calmer and that certainly helps with breathing, form and technique. I'm determined to make one with my inner goat this year. It's a good thing, since I'm doing a weeklong tour in northeastern Tennessee in September!

I do think it pays to play around with various climbing techniques and to recognize, too, that as you get stronger and fitter, your preferred way of tackling a given hill may change a bit. I went on a hilly ride this weekend with a number of strong climbers and it was interesting to see that we each attacked the hills a little differently. Some spun, some mashed, some stood, some stayed seated. We all seemed more or less in our comfort zone so there's no one way to get to the top.

[GLC1968]

Oh, and on the note of getting up hills - one thing a very experienced hill climber told me once... He said to smile when climbing. Smiling relaxes the muscles in your face and if your face isn't tense, your upper body will follow suit. This makes climbing (particularly the multi-mile climbs) a lot more bearable. I swear it helps!

(Plus, people see you and think you are nuts - and that's always good for an internal giggle or two )

[KSH]

I have heard it both ways - "stand and climb" or sit, downshift, and try to maintain the same cadence. Can you go between the two? I am tackling some big hills today, and could use some advice. Thanks!

My goal on hills is to always keep as high of a cadence as I can... well, between 90-100 that is.

If I have hit my lowest gear... and I can't keep cadence above 90, then so be it.

Generally I won't stand up until my cadence hits below 60. My friend who is a really strong rider and triathlete told me that until you get to 60 and below, you are better off sititng down and pedaling as it's more efficient.

[salsabike]

http://sheldonbrown.com/standing.html

[applegum]

We have some really great short, steep hills on one road here and on short rides I'll stand the whole time because I like doing that better, but long hills are definitely spin-all-the-way. Sometimes to finish it off standing is nice, but usually I'm just too tired. Climbing is definitely one of those "do what feels best" things. I think I just like passing my friends on hills when I stand .

Word of advice though- even though it uses up a little more oxygen- if your lungs are in good enough shape singing always gets me up hills faster. Helps if you're in the country and no one is around so you can't be self-conscious, but find a couple songs you know all the way through and see if you can sing them on the hills. It's a great feeling when you get to the top of a really huge climb and get to belt it out on the descent (please tell me I'm not alone on this).

[shootingstar]

I rarely stand and spin on my bike. And if only for a second or so, for relief or whatever.

Sitting and spinning away. Part of it is due to the type of bike but also I'm not that powerful, so sitting and slogging away in the saddle is best up the hills.