Should I stand or sit when riding uphill?
The question of whether to sit or stand when riding uphill is usually an easy one for novice or recreational bike riders to answer: Standing is better because it makes you go faster. Besides, we look a lot cooler in the standing position, right? But it’s a bit more complicated than that, and there are a few important factors to consider before making the decision to get up off your seat. For starters, let’s consider the relative energy expenditure of sitting versus standing on an uphill climb. Generally speaking, cyclists perform best when they are able to find a rhythm and stick with it. By remaining in a seated position while riding uphill, you may go a little slower, but you should be better able to maintain a consistent cadence over a long period. By standing up, your rhythm is immediately thrown off. That’s because changing posture disrupts your riding momentum and increases your heart rate, making the ascent a lot harder. In addition to your position on the bike, performance whil
