STANDING UP...Whats the secret??

[BeeLady]

On my Volpe, I have had trouble standing. Part of this is plastic tabs from my frame pump scratching me (need to trim them or take the holder off altogether) and part of it has been being scared to push too hard a gear while standing.

Now with my Big Dummy I love to stand! I was in the biggest gear, with about 40lbs of load and I just cruised up a hill like I was jogging up stairs! So nice. Part of it is the configuration of this bike --- upright handle bars like on my first 26" Schwinn when I was 8 years old. Maybe some old muscle memory kicking in?

Will be riding my Volpe this weekend on some hills and I am going to get out of my saddle for sure. I believe practice will help. And all the tips given on this thread ring true to me.

[mountainchick]

To look at it from another POV: You could use this opportunity (the awkwardness of standing) to improve your seated climbing since it's usually more efficient anyway. Just a thought! Hope you figure it out

[Tokie]

Do you have good core strength? I had a tube coming out of my kidney for 3 months (long story) exiting my right flank, so I couldn't twist or do any core strength activities. Due to internal injuries healing, I wasn't allowed to pedal -AT ALL, on anything. At the end of 3 months I got on the bike - everything was ok, just poky, except standing to climb. My torso was like a wet noodle. There was absolutely no benefit from standing, in fact it was worse - quite bizarre! It took a long time to recover this strength, and to this day if I slack off, my right low back will get "tired", which was never a problem before! So much strength in cycling comes from core strength - I've seen it (not) in action! Tokie

[RoadRaven]

Hiya Deanna

What the others are saying about changing up one or two cogs at the back is right. Because you have more force when you stand, you need more resistance when you stand or the pedals can feel like they are scooting away from you.

The other thing that helped me feel in control when I was learning to stand, was being told to "hold" the nose of the saddle between my thighs. You don't actually apply pressure with your thighs, but you keep your legs positioned so that you know where the saddle is, and by default, the rest of the bike.

Good luck on your trainer, thats a good place to practice.

[Tuckervill]

I'll second the core strength, and one-up on the upper body.

Last season I never stood to climb. It felt goofy and I always felt like I would pitch over the bars. I didn't do it. I was literally afraid.

This year, after spending 9 months in boot camp, and gaining some hard muscles, I stood right up on my bike without even THINKING about it. I got to the top of the hill and was so surprised and proud of myself! I mean, wow.

So gear down, do some biceps curles and get after it!

Karen

[roadie gal]

Another thing is don't lock your knees. Keep at least a small bend in the kneed that you've got your weight on. As you get used to it, and get a little stronger, you'll be able to push down and spin without bobbing your body up and down so much. That will help a lot with the balance and feeling of stability.

[sundial]

I struggled with standing on the pedals on my road bike until I got the mountain bike. I quickly honed this skill on the trail. Then when I got back on the road bike it was so much easier.

My hubby said it also helped him considerably.

Maybe it's time to shop for a mountain bike.

[RoadRaven]

I have been thinking about this thread over the past day or so, and just want to reassure those of you who are trying to master standing that it does come together...

When I first started cycling, I couldn't stand, and when I started it felt scarey and insecure and uncontrollable.

Now (2 years later) I stand with ease to go up slight inclines... and what initially might have been only 1-2 metres of standing is now 30-40 metres.

I can stand at the top of a steep inclines just to keep my speed up for the last 10 metres or so to get over the top.

And when I start in a time trial, I stand immmediatley and the bike gets "thrown" from side to side as I power up to a good speed.

It has become part of what I do, and I know I am going to get better.

Take heart and trust yourself and allow time... it'll happen.