SS kicked my arse!

[mtnbikerdude87]

I took the SS out for its maiden ride today and boy was I in for a surprise. Did a short loop around el moro and I couldnt even feel my legs afterwards. On probably all climbs I was off the saddle. Ive ridden with a friend who rides SS and he is always off the saddle on climbs. Is it better to stand than sit? Any other techniques you guys have?

Great ride though. I didnt have to worry about my gears!

[ShinKen]

Originally Posted by mtnbikerdude87

Great ride though. I didnt have to worry about my gears!

Isnt that just sweet? One of the things I love about the SS thing!!

advice I can give ya is the one I got from many!! pace your self and control your breathing as much as possible. Using your nose more helps a bunch. I stay on the saddle as much as possible just to give them muscles some work but standing up gets me up there faster and its always more fun than staying on the saddle. But to save energy just stay on da saddle as much as possible till u have to get up. u can always hammer hard before u start climbing so u built some speed!! (the fun way he he)

[Burner]

just keep at it, do whatever you can to get to the top of the climbs.... eventually you will feel yourself getting better anaerobically.

I find that a lot of the time, I can go easier on myself by standing and using my weight to spin the pedals... while supporting my upperbody with the handlebars and "resting"

the more you ride SS the more your body will adapt.

[dstepper]

Takes some time to get the gearing right. When I first started SSing I was changing rear cogs all the time. Don't hammer every hill, learn to just keep those pedals turning. Take it easy on the flats to save strengh.

Dean

[Wrecker]

I found that my Hr is elevated faster when I'm standing, but that may be due to pedaling too fast while out of the saddle.

I learned, from watching K2 (Keith 2), that you don't have to pedal fast when out of the saddle. It's more important to remain consistent while going up, and it gets you up to the top faster than if you have to hop off of the bike.

I also learned that on steep hills, you want to use upper and lower body. Pull up on the bar as you pedal down.

But, I'm just a beginner SS'er...so that's really only worth about $.01

[Upchuck]

It's true your heart rate will elevate higher when you stand up and pedal than if you stay seated at the same speed.

That being said, my personal experience is I am better off standing as much as possible in the beginning. Eventually my legs (and lungs) will become too fatigued to stand and I will be forced to grind away while seated.

I've found I can push a decent sized gear while seated on climbs. So I take advantage of my energy early on and pace myself while standing. I relax my upper body, except when I need a surge to get through technical sections, and just keep a nice low-torque pedaling cadence. As soon as you break loose with traction, you have to expend too much energy to regain traction and your rhythm.

As fatigue sets in, I switch back and forth between seated and standing efforts. But I always try to maintain a steady pace and rhythm.

[0gravity]

I'd really like to try one sometime. I'm sure it will kick my ass too.

[Burner]

Upchuck described it very well.

Originally Posted by 0gravity

I'd really like to try one sometime. I'm sure it will kick my ass too.

I'm pretty sure i can arrange that

[ShinKen]

Originally Posted by Burner

Upchuck described it very well.



I'm pretty sure i can arrange that

hey I want to borrow your bike too WTHECK EHHH?

[Upchuck]

So when we riding Reseda again?

[guero]

Originally Posted by 0gravity

I'd really like to try one sometime. I'm sure it will kick my ass too.

buy mine!

on a serious note, my s/s worked me, and it has 29" wheels. i switched out to a 22tooth cog and it relieved some of the ass-kicking to a degree. each ride i find myself getting a bit stronger, and i only ride once a week. it is a lot of fun on the bigger wheels, and the bike really just gets up and goes when you begin to pedal. i still walk some hills, but have been cleaning more and making it further up the steeper ones. puke hill at the STT still owns me, but the last 3 times i've been i've cleaned modjeska on it.

jose mentioned something that i've been working on regarding momentum. im not sure if it pertains to the 26" s/s as much as it does to the 29ers, but giving an extra boost to get going up a steep section has helped me a lot. it is hard to do because often times i am allready zonked before the steep section. i also rotate between standing and sitting. i really concentrate on "spinning" more on my s/s than i did on my heckler. i also will second the sentiment of using your upper body to keep you moving as well. kinda like when running, your arms keep you going.

anyhow, i am on my way out of the darkside, as my s/s is up for sale.

[Wrecker]

I have a 26'er for sale (KHS Solo One), but I LOVE my 29'er Niner. It almost floats over stuff as well as a suspension...almost. Plus, corners well, climbs as well as a bike can climb with me on top...LOVE that bike!

[genusmtbkr5]

I'm a beginner SSer also, we need to get a SS ride setup, nothing too hard, just to share pointers on how to climb, when to attack and when to spin. I usually climb out of the saddle, but with a nice slow stoke and when it's time, I'll power through a steep section. Getting the proper gear ratio for your ability and strength is probably most of the battle. I use 32:18 with a 170mm Raceface crank. It seems to work for now.(until the next hill I haven't climbed yet)

[andy aka rut]

you ss'ers are crazy! Just crazy I tell you!!!

[Evel Knievel]

Try raising the hamdlebar a half inch or more. It will feel foriegn at first. You will looese some DH for a bit but the uphills you can stand up better and not be some huanched forward.

[Abui]

Originally Posted by mtnbikerdude87

On probably all climbs I was off the saddle. Ive ridden with a friend who rides SS and he is always off the saddle on climbs. Is it better to stand than sit? Any other techniques you guys have?

Great ride though. I didnt have to worry about my gears!

Your knees are better off if you stand. If you sit you're more likely to have knee problems due to bad form like sitting too low. Don't try to get the crank "over the top" by extending the leg (as in a kicking motion), get behind the crank and push.

[Burner]

Originally Posted by andy aka rut

you ss'ers are crazy! Just crazy I tell you!!!

not giving up any secrets, eh?

Originally Posted by ShinKen

hey I want to borrow your bike too WTHECK EHHH?

Anytime Joser

actually I was thinking more along the lines of my buddy's large Monocog... so I could ride SS too.

would need a pedal swap b/c i don't think you use 'beaters?

Originally Posted by Upchuck

So when we riding Reseda again?

can you ride midweek now that we have light?

maybe next week, going to Hurkey this weekend.

[andy aka rut]

Originally Posted by Burner

not giving up any secrets, eh?

My "secrets"
-Excessive sitting hurts my knees and lower back over time. I prefer to stand in the beginning of warm-up climbs-it seems to allow my legs to feel better on longer rides.
-When I'm on the flats (and not spinning like a wild animal) I stretch my back out, by bringing my pelvis toward my stem when standing and not pedaling.
-I attempt to do crunchs every night. I actually forget to do them most every night, but I think about it.
-I don't ride a gearie on the dirt.
-Concentrate on your pedal/leg rotation. Pedal all the way through your stroke. Don't just push your pedal down to the 7 o'clock position, push it back to the 5 o'clock position. This sets up your other leg and allows it to start it's stroke at 11 o'clock instead of 1 o'clock. You know what I mean??!

I'm done here! Now come catch me!!

Oh and don't forget the sour apple rings!

[Wrecker]

Sour apple rings? Soooooooooo, when is our SS ride?

[1x1clyde]

Originally Posted by andy aka rut

you ss'ers are crazy! Just crazy I tell you!!!

I could not agree more that is some crazy stuff!

mmmmmmmmmmmmm sour apple rings...........already got my stash ready for the next long ride!