Standing to pedal up hills

[Zen]

Can you guys define a long climb?

To me, a short hill would be maybe 500 feet What's short to one might be long to another.

[malkin]

It's way past Thanksgiving, but I for one am thankful that:

1. No one videotapes me riding up hill (or anywhere else for that matter)
2. Phil and Paul and Bob Whatsisname have no opportunity for commentary on my riding.

[msincredible]

I usually stay seated on my climbs.

[jobob]

It's way past Thanksgiving, but I for one am thankful that:

1. No one videotapes me riding up hill

I cannot say the same ...

http://callmepokey.blogspot.com/2008...n-youtube.html

[maillotpois]

That video is the BEST!!

(Jo - I had this crazy dream that we couldn't do Hamilton and Sierra on our training ride next year for TNT - so very strange. I was quite disappointed because I have the most fun ride planned for the team. I tend to get fairly invested in my dreams and often wake up tired.)

A long climb is anything that takes 45 minutes or more, so about 4 miles plus. And I generally climb seated for long climbs (as opposed to short power climbs), but I will take frequent breaks where I stand for a while just to work different muscles and give others a break.

I stay on the top of the bars or the hoods, generally, but there are plenty of racers who climb in the drops, by the way. Pantani is the first to come to mind. Standing in the drops.

[Pedal Wench]

I noticed yesterday the other time I'll stand is if I'm starting up a hill, hit a slightly steeper section, but don't want to shift under pressure -- I'll stand through that section rather than trying to jam the shift.

[lunacycles]

A long climb is anything that takes 45 minutes or more, so about 4 miles plus.

45 minutes?? Man, I must be getting old or out of shape..or both!

I consider a "long climb" to be more than a mile or so, or about 10 minutes. Also, long or short, I generally stay seated, and only get out of the saddle to stretch, or, as someone mentioned, to power through those gnarly steep switchbacks. I find I simply exert too much energy when I am riding out of the saddle for longer than a minute or two.

When I get out of the saddle, I also tend to immediately shift up a gear (bigger gear) so as not to lose speed--as your cadence instantly goes down when you get out of the saddle. The invention of brifters has made this effortless (I am again revealing my age!).

I think to define "long climb" is very dependent on your fitness level. If you are wondering "whether to," just do it and notice how you feel, how it feels. If it is a new skill, it is well worth practicing. You will learn over time what works best for your bod and your terrain.

[maillotpois]

I think to define "long climb" is very dependent on your fitness level.

I think it's also very dependent on your terrain.

We don't have many "long" climbs here in No CA under my definition (really just the big 3, Tam, Diablo and Hamilton and a handful of others), but we routinely ride other places where you can climb 8 - 10 miles without much of a break. So that's "long". I don't really consider a mile or so climb (think Marshall wall) as "long" - but when you get to about 3 - 4 miles (Stinson to Pantoll, Ink Grade) you're getting longer. The Geysers, Pine Flat, Tam, Sierra, are LONG.

It is COMPLETELY subjective. I really just base it on time. How long does it take? Can I compose an entire closing argument in my head before I get to the top? Ok, it's long.

[DebTX]

A long climb is anything that takes 45 minutes or more...

I too took a deep breath when i saw 45 minutes

I can't imagine ever having that kind of stamina - then again, maybe for 2009 I need to vow to get rid of the negative thinking that probably isn't helping my riding.

For 2009, my mantra needs to be "If I think I can, I can"

[maillotpois]

For 2009, my mantra needs to be "If I think I can, I can"

You may have no idea how true this is.