The Climbing Quiver

How many climbing arrows do you have in your quiver?  Snaking up the San Juan Trail switchbacks, my butt was planted in the saddle.  Though a DG (decomposed granite) trail that can handle the rain, it was not a day to stand up and unweight the back end.  Today was a day to sit and spin.

Hunting down my less-tardy friends while slipping through the mist, got me thinking about the climbing styles I use and when I use them.

Sitting and spinning – good for long climbs, and loose terrain climbs.

Low cadence – can work better in rocky sections, especially if you’re out of the saddle.

Knees over top tube – you see this among the pros, their knees appear to come over the top tube.  This allows you to use different muscles while staying seated.  When you try it, think ice or roller skating where your foot contact point is the inside of the arch.

Standing up, hands on top of bar – for some it’s just a chance to stretch the legs and back for others it’s the preferred way to climb.

Standing up, hands on the drops (road) – this is my preferred road climbing position.

It’s good it to be comfortable in all these positions just to change things up.

It’s better to figure out which works best for you.

It’s best to figure out which is best and train that way.

Hint: certain body geometries are better for certain styles, so don’t copy the fastest climber you know.