Transitioning From Sitting to Standing When Climbing Hills

[gnat23]

When standing, I'll only do it for 10-15 seconds, rarely more than 30s. I find it's best for super short steep pitches that you might need a little extra OOMPH to get over, of just to stretch the legs a little bit in a longer climb (in which case I'll shift one or two gears to give it more resistance just for that little bit).

The tips for how to get there are good above. I'd only add that I have to consciously think to keep my butt back a little bit, almost touching the nose of the saddle. Also, to help save my quads, I just use my legs to get my feet into position, straighten the knee, and then just use my bodyweight to push down on the pedal rather than muscles. Then focus to the other side and stand again. It takes some practice to get the timing right.

Good luck!

-- gnat!

[nuliajuk]

Make sure you're not too far forward over the handlebars. You want your hips to be about 10-12" in front of the seat post for balance. Pull up on the handlebar on the side that you're pushing your leg down on. (The other arm is just relaxed.)
You can find out why pulling up on the handlebar works by putting a bathroom scale in front of a dresser. First, lean forward and press one leg down hard on the scale. Make a note of how many pounds register. Then, slightly pull out one of the drawers just above knee height and pull up on it from the bottom while pressing the same-side leg down on the scale. You'll notice a huge increase in how much pressure you can apply.
And, of course, don't forget to use your hamstring muscles to pull the pedal around and over the back side of the pedal stroke. Think of your leg circling around the hip joint like the Road Runner in those old cartoons.

[Skippyak]

Don't stand up. Or at the very most, only if you are on a really long one and you need to stretch. Standing is less efficient. I just have standard double with 11-28 in the back and I live in the burbs of SLC. I sit and grind. I am never sure of the point of standing when the climbs are all so long. Long steep climbs just need endurance and practise, not gymnastics. I don't think though, that I am getting much bigger grades than 16% (fleeting). I would stand rather than fall, but that would be it. Because I don't have a granny or a compact, I probably mash a bit more than is desirable but I really like to climb, which is a requirement in the Wasatch. I am old and not racing though.

[lph]

Yup, Oak had it. Commit, and get up, all the way. Once you're up, straighten your knees and stand. Well, don't straighten them all the time :-), but do aim for straightening your knee completely from time to time, if not on every pedal stroke.

I stand a lot, sometimes because my legs start screaming on a hill if I don't, sometimes just to catch a better glimpse of the next intersection, sometimes to get a bit of extra oomph to get out of an intersection fast and not have to discuss right-of-way with a driver who looks clueless. It doesn't have anything to do with racing or better or worse, it's just a handy but not absolutely necessary skill which some people like to use more than others.

[Crankin]

If I had to think about all of those things (stand straight, 10 inches this way, pull up, opposite arm and leg), it would kill my enjoyment. Maybe I'm weird, but I can't think like that and ride at the same time.
Do what feels best.

[lph]

Well if I still had to think about all the things I thought about when learning to ride a bike - or drive a car - I wouldn't be doing either of them either!

[Sky King]

99 percent of the time I am the granny gear hill climber but upon occasion I do stand, especially on long rides. What I don't see mentioned here is to realize when you stand you are probably going to want to gear down first. Trying playing with different (slightly harder gears) as you stand and see if that helps. If I stand in to easy of a gear I totally fell it in my quads.