fore or aft on the saddle when climbing?
fred22
Posts: 509
When I was riding a mountain bike books and magazines advised that the steeper the hill the further forwards on the saddle you should sit.
Road cycling advice however seems to be to sit back on the saddle.
Why the apparent discrepancy or is there a difference when climbing on a road bike?
Road cycling advice however seems to be to sit back on the saddle.
Why the apparent discrepancy or is there a difference when climbing on a road bike?
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very different techniques I'm afraid. The MTB needs traction so you shift your weight around fore and aft, whilst the road bike needs constant power on tarmaced (most of the time) road.
On the road bike you really only have 2 techniques, sitting and standing. Sitting is more efficient, but unable to respond to power bursts. Standing is more strenuous, it uses your weight as an extra bit of power for the down stroke of the pedal.
Most road riders rarely shifts on the saddle as it's not helping the aerodynamics moving around too much. Most pro riders are also set up for max efficiency in one position.CAAD9
Kona Jake the Snake
Merlin Malt 40 -
Sit back on the climbs, slide forward a bit when you're hammering big gear (on the rivet as we used to say)0
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Must admit I find the burst of power from standing to be huge. So huge that I'm instantly knackered so I never do it...2010 Trek 1.5 Road - swissstop green, conti GP4000S
2004 Marin Muirwoods Hybrid0 -
On a really steep climb you need your weight forward or the front wheel can lift off the road :shock:0
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Agree with all of the above.
I have 3 positions ( on a bike )
Sitting in my normal position flat and some incline. Hands on the tops of the bars relaxed seems to make a huge difference.
If things are getting tougher I often shift back on the saddle a small amount ( an inch at most ) and feel like I am pushing the pedals forward a bit more. I think this uses your gluteals a bit more.
Finally I get up and stand. Like you I used to get instantly knackered but have now found my way. I put my weight forward and feel like i am well over the bars. I drop down 2-3 gears before standing to provide some resistance. Too low a gear and i just bounce up and down it hurts and i stop very quickly. Doing this I actually feel like i am resting and can get up most things now. I inevitably end up changing down gears if it get steeper but try to retain a similar resistance level.
The key I have discovered is that in each position I am using slightly different muscle groups. One important thing is I try to keep my heart rate manageable and out of the red by changing position. This conserves energy and mentally helps too!
Hope this helps
Colin0 -
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That guidance for MTB's relates to relatively steep hills and situations where there's a possibility of losing traction.
On a road bike on a very steep hill you'd be standing.0 -
mountain bikers to sit forward is for traction, it is to keep some weight on your front wheel.
On steep climbs your front wheel wont do much steering unless weighted, i say some weight as you have to find the right balance, too far forward will cause the rear wheel to loose traction, too far back the front wheel feels like its floating.
Climbing steep inclines on loose and slippery surfaces often littered with roots and rocks is a different ballgame to climbing a steep hill on a road bike.0 -
Believe me, when climbing some of the steeper stuff in the Lakes and Dales, there are times when you need to sit forward to keep the front wheel on the road. Admittedly on most of the really steep sections you are likely to be standing, that's not always the cae, particularly on longer climbs. More normal gradients tend to see me sitting back in the saddle for more power.0
