Hills -- is it true?

[Cassandra_Cain]

When I try to stand, however, when I'm in a low enough gear that can keep me at 75 cadence or so, its like there's no resistence when I stand and no significant forward movement. Should I be shifting into a higher gear before I stand? I have toyed with that but because I have dislocated my right kneecap several times in my past life, I worry about stressing the knee by standing and pushing a bigger gear. I don't know if the standing or the bigger gear is what seems to stress it. Standing while in a small gear doesnt seem right or am I just not doing it right?

Hi Bee - when I am going to stand while climbing, I generally shift up 1 or 2 gears. As you've discovered, standing and trying to pedal in an easy gear is not very productive. When you stand you produce a bit more power than when sitting because more of your body weight is over the cranks and your arms help a bit too.

I am doing small arc knee extensions to strenghten my knee but the question I have is once I can push a bigger gear standing is that what the object is? Move along with my smooth cadence, shift up and then stand?

Or just enjoy the fact that I've improved as much as I have on hills (no longer will I go a mile out of my way to avoid one!) and leave the standing til Im stronger in general??? (Like I really have a choice )

Hmmm, I'd say the object is getting up the hill as fast and comfortably as possible right?

Standing while climbing uses up a disproportionate amount of energy. If you ever watch a professional cycling race, you'll notice that the riders that spend the most time standing while on a climb, are those with very light 'climber' builds. I'm talking 5'7", 130 pounds here. The rest of us conserve much more energy by sitting most of the time.