Can Riding Up Hills Be Considered Strength Training?

[RoadRaven]

This is a great thread and I feel I really have nothing to add... Velo, Oak, Eden are women who really know their coaching/training stuff.

But, I do have a question. Yesterday I tried something new. I was doing reps of a false flat outside our house and instead of pushing a big gear "up" the false flat, I put it in my 50-11 and stood all the way "up", and then "spun" to come back"down.

So standing on 1km incline in a big gear - that would be weight bearing to some extent, wouldn't it?

(Yes, after doing 4km standing like that, my legs are tired this morning)

[OakLeaf]

Riding out of the saddle is weight-bearing to some extent, as you said, but I doubt it's enough to build bone density.