Help! My rear end is glued to the seat!

[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