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What’s the % you spend out of the saddle when biking?

post #1 of 28
1/25/08 at 1:13pm
Thread Starter 
I've been trying to stay out of the saddle more and more, but it gets tiring after a while. How often are you riding off the saddle and what are some good ways of positioning myself so I stay "˜afloat' longer?

Jon.
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post #2 of 28
1/25/08 at 1:21pm
If you are riding in Boca, then I don't see any need to get out of the saddle unless you are sprinting up the bridge or passing the beach cruisers to avoid the lexus that is about to run you down. I might pop out for a few moments to give my ass a rest on the flats, but aside from that it is only to go uphill or sprint.
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post #3 of 28
1/25/08 at 1:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by velobran View Post
If you are riding in Boca, then I don't see any need to get out of the saddle unless you are sprinting up the bridge or passing the beach cruisers to avoid the lexus that is about to run you down.

I might pop out for a few moments to give my ass a rest on the flats, but aside from that it is only to go uphill or sprint.

Well, I start off in Boca but I always end up a city or two (or 5) north or south, but yeah most of it is flat riding, but I would like to be able to sprint more often.

Jon.
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post #4 of 28
1/25/08 at 1:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by velobran View Post
If you are riding in Boca, then I don't see any need to get out of the saddle unless you are sprinting up the bridge or passing the beach cruisers to avoid the lexus that is about to run you down.

I might pop out for a few moments to give my ass a rest on the flats, but aside from that it is only to go uphill or sprint.

rarely. Only when I am going full out, or need some extra control (bad habit I picked up while mountain biking, but it allows me to steer and maneuver more precisely at low speeds.

In other news, my new saddle sucks. The 10$ cheapo noname I had on my old bike was much, much comfier.
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post #5 of 28
1/25/08 at 1:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 65535 View Post
In other news, my new saddle sucks. The 10$ cheapo noname I had on my old bike was much, much comfier.

What saddle do you have?

Jon.
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post #6 of 28
1/25/08 at 1:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by velobran View Post
If you are riding in Boca, then I don't see any need to get out of the saddle unless you are sprinting up the bridge or passing the beach cruisers to avoid the lexus that is about to run you down.

I might pop out for a few moments to give my ass a rest on the flats, but aside from that it is only to go uphill or sprint.

Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
What saddle do you have?

Jon.

the selle san marco Arami.

I really like the adjustability but it just feels wrong. It's normal for it to be uncomfortable for the first few rides of the season, but i just can't get used to it.

One reviewer said:

"After the first ride this saddle formed so well I figured my wife would be mad. If ya know what I'm sayin'? It holds you comfortably on serious singletrack. It's so light I dropped a full pound off my ride. I can ride all day and all night with this leather"

I just don;t see how.
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post #7 of 28
1/25/08 at 1:42pm
Riding outdoors I stand when sprinting or climbing. When riding indoors, with the bike on the trainer, I have to stand for a minute every 20 minutes or so. Try to keep your center of gravity over the pedal you're pushing down with.
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post #8 of 28
1/25/08 at 5:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 65535 View Post
the selle san marco Arami.

I really like the adjustability but it just feels wrong. It's normal for it to be uncomfortable for the first few rides of the season, but i just can't get used to it.

One reviewer said:

"After the first ride this saddle formed so well I figured my wife would be mad. If ya know what I'm sayin'? It holds you comfortably on serious singletrack. It's so light I dropped a full pound off my ride. I can ride all day and all night with this leather"

I just don;t see how.

Well to each his own I guess. Most saddle reviews seem to be very polarizing; it all depends who is sitting on the saddle. What shorts are you using?

Jon.
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post #9 of 28
1/25/08 at 5:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
Well to each his own I guess. Most saddle reviews seem to be very polarizing; it all depends who is sitting on the saddle. What shorts are you using?

Jon.

Yeah, and also, do you shave your ____?
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post #10 of 28
1/25/08 at 6:14pm
I'm probably out of the saddle 10 percent of the time. Austin has the Hill Country to the west of the city so I do a lot of climbing. Sometimes I like to spin up a hill seated at a high cadence, other times I like to stand and grind a big gear. I try to incorporate different muscle groups. Also, when I ride on flatter terrain I'll come out of the saddle every now and then to do the same, work different muscle groups and to give the can a rest.

I have fizik saddles on two of my bikes. These are very comfortable. But like imageWIS said, what might be comfortable for one rider, might not be the same for another.
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post #11 of 28
1/25/08 at 7:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Merckx View Post
I'm probably out of the saddle 10 percent of the time. Austin has the Hill Country to the west of the city so I do a lot of climbing. Sometimes I like to spin up a hill seated at a high cadence, other times I like to stand and grind a big gear. I try to incorporate different muscle groups. Also, when I ride on flatter terrain I'll come out of the saddle every now and then to do the same, work different muscle groups and to give the can a rest.

This is pretty much what I do too. There aren't too many hills up here north of Dallas, so I almost never NEED to get out of the saddle. But I'll stand up every so often just to change position, work different muscles for a while, or if I feel like adding some speed and power on a hill or sprint.
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post #12 of 28
1/26/08 at 11:57am
I don't get other than if you are on a tough climb or sprinting why you would be out of the saddle.

Then again, I spent most of my time in my aerobars.
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post #13 of 28
1/26/08 at 9:06pm
When I race, I always try to maximize power while seated. Unless you're climbing seriously steep hills, try to go as hard as you can while seated. You're going to lose power from swaying to the side, which happens more often out of the saddle, than seated. Also, for each upward stroke out of saddle, you're wasting energy pushing up your whole weight up as opposed to just your legs. You're also is less control while standing. In most conditions, seated with your hand pulled against the top of the handlebar is the optimal position to let out serious wattage. See here: Lance is doing it right--the guy knows how to use every watt to his advantage. Ulrich is a powerhouse but not a smart racer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC View Post
I don't get other than if you are on a tough climb or sprinting why you would be out of the saddle. Then again, I spent most of my time in my aerobars.
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post #14 of 28
1/26/08 at 11:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coho View Post
When I race, I always try to maximize power while seated. Unless you're climbing seriously steep hills, try to go as hard as you can while seated. You're going to lose power from swaying to the side, which happens more often out of the saddle, than seated. Also, for each upward stroke out of saddle, you're wasting energy pushing up your whole weight up as opposed to just your legs. You're also is less control while standing. In most conditions, seated with your hand pulled against the top of the handlebar is the optimal position to let out serious wattage. See here: Lance is doing it right--the guy knows how to use every watt to his advantage. Ulrich is a powerhouse but not a smart racer.


I love Dave Lawrance's work, great photography.
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post #15 of 28
1/26/08 at 11:56pm
Coho's post sums up what I always understood. I once read Hinault saying you should hold the bars while you climb as if you were playing the piano. All the muscular effort should be directed to the pedals. Upright posture to maximise oxygen intake. I see lots of road warriors getting out of the saddle to go up hills; I rarely do - I prefer to learn from the pros. One time I will get out of the saddle is taking off from the lights. If I stopped in a high gear, I really want to get going before the car behind me flattens me.
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