How to learn to get out of the saddle

[marni]

I STILL CAN'T STAND UP! My friends think I'm an idiot. However, I ride very hilly terrain with some hills around 15-20% grades, and I don't have any problems getting to the top. So IMHO, it's not absolutely necessary to be able to stand up. It makes me feel better to imagine that I have extra super strong legs because I can climb hills withouth standing.

I am like you, I never stand up hills or flat- I consider it a waste of energy. I do occasionally stand to stretch out my hip flexors but am coasting at the time. About the only time I will stand on a regular basis is in a spin class. As for hills, that is why I have all those granny gears on my bike and why I do spin classes and work on my quuads and do lots of jump squats and jump lunges. I may not go up the hill fast, but I do get up on the bike not next to the bike. The top will be there when I get there and frankly as a beginner I never met a hill I couldn't walk up, but I am so beyond that now that I will herniate myself peddaling before I stand up or get off.

I did find that required standing in a spin class did wonders for my old lady balance on the road bike so I would suggest it as a good way to go for beginners to learn the basics.

marni

[OakLeaf]

That's a great thought, Muirenn. Just thinking about it - and not having been on an elliptical in a while - the posture is pretty similar to standing on the pedals.

[nscrbug]

I do the elliptical the same exact way...hands-free. Sometimes, if I'm feeling really enthusiastic, I'll grab a couple of 3lb weights and hold them in my hands while I'm pumping my arms to intensify the workout. I also do the StairMaster hands-free...but that took a LOT more time to master than going hands-free on the elliptical.