Hills -- is it true?

**mimitabby** · 10-06-2006, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by Eden

The comment was accompanied by a photo of Pantani doing exactly that. But seriously, climbing on the tops is recommended because most people find that it expands their chest a bit and makes it easier to breathe and you need as much oxygen as you can get when you are climbing. Then again the best rule is to know when to break the rules and everyone develops their own climbing style. I'm a mostly seated climber myself.

where's the photo you are talking about? I'd like to see someone climbing standing with the hands in the drops!

**Veronica** · 10-06-2006, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by mimitabby

where's the photo you are talking about? I'd like to see someone climbing standing with the hands in the drops!

The second photo is by Graham Watson.

V.

**SadieKate** · 10-06-2006, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by Eden

The comment was accompanied by a photo of Pantani doing exactly that. But seriously, climbing on the tops is recommended because most people find that it expands their chest a bit and makes it easier to breathe and you need as much oxygen as you can get when you are climbing.

Ah, yes, but notice Pantani's saddle to bar drop compared to Veronica's. The drops on her bars are about where the tops of his are.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 10-06-2006, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by SadieKate

Ah, yes, but notice Pantani's saddle to bar drop compared to Veronica's. The drops on her bars are about where the tops of his are.

True, and also he's in a race where every millisecond counts, so switching hands back and forth too many times may lose precious time.
Veronica is on her lovely Rivendell Rambouillet if I'm not mistaken- a bike geometry/philosophy that is known for building the bars at about the same level as the seat. (just like MY blue sister-bike!)

I have a sentimental fondness for standing up for hills when I can- it takes me right back to my chilhood biking days.

**Cassandra_Cain** · 10-06-2006, 09:24 AM

Karen....

There are a number of factors contributing to positive hill climbing.

Like a number of folks have already said, you want to be in a comfortable position. Also it can be useful to slide back ever so slightly in the seat and lean forward a bit - this just gives you a bit more leverage and ability to apply force to the pedals.

Standing while climbing is easy to do, but not easy to do efficiently or right. You will make more power while standing but it will also jack up your heart rate and fatigue you very fast. Many recreational riders waste huge amounts of energy swaying the bike wildly side to side, etc. I do 90% of my climbing while seated.

Pacing is an aspect you want to consider too. Many, many people will start going up hills as fast as they were going on the flats....so of course, shortly thereafter they rapidly tire. Pace yourself sensibly, start out at a pace that feels a little slow, so that near the end you can build up rather than struggle and gasp to the top.

Another thing that is important is gearing. Most people will pedal at some rate > 70, let's say, in the flats. You want to have a low enough gear, on a hill, where you can keep your cadence higher. Higher cadence/low force is easier to maintain for a longer period, than a low cadence/high force combo.

Finally, for all the mystifying or theories about climbing, once you have your basic technique/position/gearing right - going faster up hills is as simple as power to weight ratio. More power and/or less weight = better hill climbing.

**li10up** · 10-06-2006, 10:23 AM

Pacing is an aspect you want to consider too. Many, many people will start going up hills as fast as they were going on the flats....so of course, shortly thereafter they rapidly tire. Pace yourself sensibly, start out at a pace that feels a little slow, so that near the end you can build up rather than struggle and gasp to the top.

Finally, for all the mystifying or theories about climbing, once you have your basic technique/position/gearing right - going faster up hills is as simple as power to weight ratio. More power and/or less weight = better hill climbing.

I think you nailed it - for me at least. They guy that blows past me 2/3 of the way up seems to do this. I keep telling myself that if I could drop the extra 30 pounds I'm carrying around I'd be one h311 of a cyclist!

**Veronica** · 10-06-2006, 07:34 AM

I just feel like I get more power from standing in the drops and better control.

Off to work. Don't talk about me while I'm gone.

V.

**SouthernBelle** · 10-06-2006, 08:00 AM

Veronica,

Is that a mudflap right behind your front wheel?

**SadieKate** · 10-06-2006, 08:04 AM

Since she's off to school and she didn't say we couldn't talk about her bike, I'll answer. Yes, it is. Made from half a water bottle.

**SouthernBelle** · 10-06-2006, 08:17 AM

How nifty! It took me a sec to figure out her 'dangly bits'

My little brain is working now and I know exactly how I would build one. Trouble is I don't have a bottle to sacrifice!

**RoadRaven** · 10-06-2006, 10:48 AM

*pipes up again*

For what its worth, my partner and sons often climb on the drops in races.

I am learning to climb on the drops, it lowers your centre of gravity and therefore alters the way you climb...

Just like learning to stand while climbing, climbing on the drops takes determination and practice - but I def can see/feel the advantage

**SouthernBelle** · 10-06-2006, 01:18 PM

As I relatively new rider, I read a lot and, after a rough time earlier, taught myself to spin up hills. My issue now is I can't seem to get myself out of the saddle. This is partly a head thing, and partly getting accustomed to my newer bike. There are times when I should hoist myself up and 'finish off' a hill but just can't seem to do it.

I'm so weird.

**DDH** · 10-06-2006, 01:52 PM

Susan, I think I am like you. I have gotten so accustumed to sitting while riding and spinning that it seems all wrong to stand up. I have read so many differing opinions on climbing while standing and climbing while sitting that I don't know what is correct so you get to where you do what your use to and comfortable with. I almost never stand while riding.

Talking to the LBS guy today, he is telling me to build my endourance up, to do intervals of standing pumping hard and then sitting and letting the heart rate slow, then stand, then sit.

What is a girl to do?

I tell ya though, eventually I will have enough knowledge in my head and enough riding time under my belt that, next thing you know I will have my own training way down and know enough just to be dangerous.
Main thing is, I enjoy riding, and want to continue until I eventually get better.

**CR400** · 10-07-2006, 09:39 AM

Personally I climb in my drops when standing, sprint in my drops, and power up (starting in a big gear and spinning it up to the speed I want to be at) in them. Helps me to feel that I have more control of the bike especailly when using the big watts it takes to get this fat body up a hill. I use hoods for relaxed riding and the tops for even more relaxed riding.

**Trek420** · 10-07-2006, 09:51 AM

I climb seated, hardley ever stand, hands on the hoods, and badly

I think I could stand to relaxe my arms a bit.

there's a photo here

www.breastcancerfund.org/siteapps/tools/PhotoDetail.aspx?c=kwKXLdPaE&b=2068549&p={FA89DBB9-08EA-4972-9E91-9799E7E6D7AF}&st=ASC

same gallery photo # 37 is our own cindysue and her crew.

It's taken by Mark Fong, Marc Fong, Jr. and Carol Melanie Galan who provided photographs for the Breast Cancer Fund. Photographs may not be reproduced, copied, televised, digitized or used in any way without permission of the Breast Cancer Fund and/or the photographer so not gonna import it

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