Standing to pedal up hills

[Zen]

from http://www.cobr.co.uk/e-cobr_informa...climbing.shtml

"Standing and sitting

The second variable to climbing involves the decision to climb out of the saddle or in it and the positioning of your body for both of these techniques.

A simple rule to start with is that if the hill is long, climb in the saddle. If the hill is short, stand up. Often it becomes a matter of preference as well as what you as an individual feel more efficient at. I once saw Veronque climb a mountain in the Tour de France standing up all the way.

A specific note here is that even if the hill is a long one, standing occasionally is recommended as this stretches your back, increases your momentum and shifts the strain from certain muscle groups allowing them to rest for a short while before continuing the climb in the saddle." ...