Climbing hills...

[smokedtitan]

When your climbing a short steep hill, is it eaisier to stand up while doing it or stay seated?

[CPATCRASH]

Originally Posted by smokedtitan

When your climbing a short steep hill, is it eaisier to stand up while doing it or stay seated?

That depends on your fitness level. Staying seated with your weight forward will keep the front end planted.

[tkblazer]

i'd say on a hardtail its easier to stand up and hammer... FS bike, stay in the saddle

[newpos]

if you're in the right gear it'll probably get you up faster if you stand

[herzalot]

Depends on your available traction, your bike's geometry, the gear you choose, hardtail or F/S, your fitness level, your tire pressure and your...oh hell, just try them both and see what works! I stand on most short climbs that have "trail features" like rocks, small ledges, roots and small dead animals. My bike likes that stuff.

[Danimal]

Originally Posted by herzalot

Depends on your available traction, your bike's geometry, the gear you choose, hardtail or F/S, your fitness level, your tire pressure and your...oh hell, just try them both and see what works! I stand on most short climbs that have "trail features" like rocks, small ledges, roots and small dead animals. My bike likes that stuff.

Just check his avatar for proof of statement

[hoovermd]

Originally Posted by smokedtitan

When your climbing a short steep hill, is it eaisier to stand up while doing it or stay seated?

I'm a fan of seated climbs but with a SS I can't always manage to do it.
I can say that standing while climbing is a delicate balance of weight distribution. Too much on the back and up comes the front. Too much on the front and the back slips. also, my experience is that is costs an extra 10-15 BPM on your heart rate to stand.

I've even managed to lift my rear tire off the ground by pulling up on the pedals too hard so that means that sometimes I've got my whole body forward of the pedals.

If I had gears, I would always prefer a seated climb. Just lean forward, get into a gear you can push and grind it out.

[abuck55]

For me it's out of the saddle. But in the right gear. One that you can manage up the hill. if on an fs.. i lock out the suspention and use some of the upper body to take presure off of the legs. if i come to a flat spot on the hill i sit down and knock it to the small chain ring for a little break. Then it's back to the middle ring and out of the saddle. If it's too steap or too loose i sit and slowly trek up the hill.

[Draheim18]

I tend to stay in the saddle, and when I come across a technical section, I'll shift to the middle gear, stand and tackle it.

[JOx2]

...and the grade........ this one works like a charm, stand up and start pushing, before you know it, you're at the top of the hill.

[Abui]

Originally Posted by smokedtitan

When your climbing a short steep hill, is it eaisier to stand up while doing it or stay seated?

It's easier to get speed first and use your momentum to get over the hill without shifting. For the last few feet standing may be necessary.

[kanji]

I have a hardtail, it seems easier for me to get up a small steep hill by sitting down, if I need to get more torque, I will stand up..

[Lefty Kev]

Like others have mentioned, climbing in or out of the saddle depends largely on a number of variables.

If traction is at a premium, staying seated will likely keep the rear wheel planted on the dirt, afford you superior control, and conserve energy.

Getting out of the saddle when traction is good and the trail is steep will provide a lot more power to get you over a hump but will also expend a good deal more energy. Only the fittest riders can stand for an extended period of time while on a long climb.

I think the best answer to your question is to mix it up a little. Stay seated when you can but get out of the saddle to attack steeper sections when laying down more power is necessary

Also, seated pedaling will bring different muscles into play than standing does, so alternating between the two positions will work certain muscles while giving others a rest

Disclaimer: Since I ride a 26" full suspension bike, I can't speak for hardtails, 29ers, single speeds, fully rigids, unicycles or variations thereof

[dirtvert]

i like to do both (i ride a f/s), depending on the situation- but it's a lot easier to stand up if you have bigger/more aggressive tires.

[BigRedHit]

for me and my big if, I sit on the chair lift and my back rested. I dont have a problem getting up.

[Drop D]

Originally Posted by smokedtitan

When your climbing a short steep hill, is it eaisier to stand up while doing it or stay seated?

Too many advice had been given and each one differs from one. MY ADVICE: get out there and ride it... if you fail... go back and try a different approach or attack... as for me... STEEP, TECHNICAL but SHORT, I'm off the saddle and just hammering while looking ahead to which line is best to take without popping a wheelie! if I dont make it? I'll walk it, so what? there is no trophy waiting for me at the parking lot...
my 0.2

[Rockinthecasbah]

figure it out, i tend to be a spinner unless im on a cx, so I sit and spin up, if im on a cx bike/SS,h/t I will stand and pound it out in a higher gear

[Chewyeti]

charge it!!! roll half way up the hill..... keep your momentum, stand up until you cant anymore.... then sit down and grind it out.

But i ride a 29er... it climbs by itself LOL

[hbpedals]

On very short, steep climbs I get out of the saddle. Otherwise, I stay seated.

[NA1NSXR]

It depends on your muscles and how you have ridden all of your life. On climbs I have a habit of always staying in the saddle or being just slightly off of it, never what anyone would consider full standing position.

I reconsidered this way of riding after thinking about the situation you brought up up smokedtitan. but, in the beginning, I got more tired trying to climb in a standing position than sitting down, while producing less power overall by a longshot. Now I try to incorproate standing climbs and some out of the saddle sprinting bursts into my rides.

It really is two different sets of muscles. I think the answer lies in this moreso than what kind of bike you ride (aside from the SS scenario mention above).