Standing vs sitting climbing preference

[maaikeeverts]

Hi Lynda,

 

I prefer to climb seated, always have, on all my bikes, and even on the SS I hardly get out of the saddle, because I feel much more powerful while seated. My legs start to burn quickly while standing, and it takes a lot of effort to stay balanced between the front and rear wheel in order to keep appropriate traction.

I notice in spin classes where they have a power readout (actually calibrated weekly; I don't have a power meter on my bike and go by RPE/hr in training), that as soon as I stand, my power output drops significantly and I feel much worse. I routinely 'win' interval sessions of various lengths based on power (they project all the bikes' power numbers on a big screen to see how you stack up) when they're seated, but when the instructor has us do out of the saddle intervals, my legs burn like crazy and I end up in the middle of the pack.

 

My question is whether 1) I should work on my standing climbing technique on long climbs (to a certain extend I'm OK to stand when it's useful for clearing an obstacle or a super short steeper pitch on a climb, so I'm not a complete dimwit), and if so, do you have any resources for me to look at for technical tips and/or specific workouts to do, or 2), do I just accept my body geometry/preferences and roll with it?

 

I've been doing fine during the Snake time trials with my natural preference of staying seated most of the time and caught plenty of people going uphill (again, with the caveat that I do pop out of the seat now and then for just a few seconds if that is appropriate for the terrain), but so many singlespeeders prefer to climb standing that I'm wondering if there is some untapped magic there that I cannot seem to find…

 

Thanks!
Maaike 

[Lynda]

For sure add in standing to every training ride. Right now it is a gap in your abilities and an area ripe for gains. Once in a race situation default to your fastest and most efficient mode. With training that will change.

Lynda

[maaikeeverts]

OK, will do. Thanks!

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