Biking out of the saddle...question

BikeSwimLaugh

BikeSwimLaugh

0
When I mountain bike (long fire-road trails, not obstacle stuff) I generally ride in the saddle. About the only time I come out of the saddle is to stretch or maybe finish-off a climb.

In the past I wasn't aware that you had to go to higher gears...so I'd just get up and fall into the pedal....eventually I realized a higher load was required, and today I generally get into my largest front ring and nearly my highest gear while out of the saddle.....so I've got it figured out.

Once I got into spinning at the gym, I found myself out of the saddle more often in class and I started applying it to my mountain biking. I'm not sure I really understand where, why and when to apply being out of the saddle.

Here are my observations:

When riding out of the saddle, my heart-rate goes up quite a bit...maybe 165-175, approaching about as high as I like to go. Despite the higher HR-rate, I don't really feel it. If I was in the saddle, I'd feel very exhausted in a matter of one minute....but out of the saddle the perception of exertion isn't as dramatic.

At the same time, my road-riding buddies all tell me that we're less efficeint when we're out of the saddle (so you'd think we'd want to stay in the saddle?)....YET, I'm told that most "attacks", pushes or moves are done out of the saddle...so what gives with that?

Another observation is perhaps that it gives certain muscles a rest while others come in...so it's like changing-out a few muscles and making the most of an assortment of muscles to do the work.

And lastly, it seems being out of the saddle lets us stretch our backs and break the tension that builds in the saddle....but at the same time we must, by nature, be working other muscles that now have to carry our bodies weight. Being in the saddle means the bike seat is holding our torso, arms, head, etc....being out of the saddle means our legs must now carry all our body weight, thus lending to the concept of being less efficeint.

So, all things considered...when do we want to be out of the saddle? For how long? What are the advantages, disadvantages and proper application of the technique.

Last note, for me I tend to get out of the saddle when I'm on steep climbs and grinding away...generally I anticipate the end of the climb and jump out for the last 150-600 feet.
 
BikeSwimLaugh said:
When I mountain bike (long fire-road trails, not obstacle stuff) I generally ride in the saddle. About the only time I come out of the saddle is to stretch or maybe finish-off a climb.

In the past I wasn't aware that you had to go to higher gears...so I'd just get up and fall into the pedal....eventually I realized a higher load was required, and today I generally get into my largest front ring and nearly my highest gear while out of the saddle.....so I've got it figured out.

Once I got into spinning at the gym, I found myself out of the saddle more often in class and I started applying it to my mountain biking. I'm not sure I really understand where, why and when to apply being out of the saddle.

Here are my observations:

When riding out of the saddle, my heart-rate goes up quite a bit...maybe 165-175, approaching about as high as I like to go. Despite the higher HR-rate, I don't really feel it. If I was in the saddle, I'd feel very exhausted in a matter of one minute....but out of the saddle the perception of exertion isn't as dramatic.

At the same time, my road-riding buddies all tell me that we're less efficeint when we're out of the saddle (so you'd think we'd want to stay in the saddle?)....YET, I'm told that most "attacks", pushes or moves are done out of the saddle...so what gives with that?

Another observation is perhaps that it gives certain muscles a rest while others come in...so it's like changing-out a few muscles and making the most of an assortment of muscles to do the work.

And lastly, it seems being out of the saddle lets us stretch our backs and break the tension that builds in the saddle....but at the same time we must, by nature, be working other muscles that now have to carry our bodies weight. Being in the saddle means the bike seat is holding our torso, arms, head, etc....being out of the saddle means our legs must now carry all our body weight, thus lending to the concept of being less efficeint.

So, all things considered...when do we want to be out of the saddle? For how long? What are the advantages, disadvantages and proper application of the technique.

Last note, for me I tend to get out of the saddle when I'm on steep climbs and grinding away...generally I anticipate the end of the climb and jump out for the last 150-600 feet.
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Those are all astute observations! Now to answer your questions and lend my own observations:

1. It is less efficient to get out of the saddle, but you generate more power out of the saddle! So, in a big road race finish, you'll see all the riders out of the saddle for the last km. But, they can't ride very long out of the saddle because they would wear out prematurely. Needless to say, aerodynamics out of the saddle suck, so you'll never see a time trialer or triathlete out of the saddle except to crest a nasty hill.

2. Yes, out of the saddle does give your back, neck and other muscles a breather. But, while out of the saddle, muscles have to support you so you don't want to be out of the saddle for too long.

3. There is a certain machismo of standing on the pedals out of the saddle - very macho! So, get out of the saddle to stretch, attack steep hills, to sprint, and whenever anyone is watching. All other times stay in the saddle. The rumor is that Lance was always out of the saddle when the camera was on him, but once it was off, his butt was back in the saddle.
 
g8r80 said:
Those are all astute observations! Now to answer your questions and lend my own observations:

1. It is less efficient to get out of the saddle, but you generate more power out of the saddle! So, in a big road race finish, you'll see all the riders out of the saddle for the last km. But, they can't ride very long out of the saddle because they would wear out prematurely. Needless to say, aerodynamics out of the saddle suck, so you'll never see a time trialer or triathlete out of the saddle except to crest a nasty hill.

2. Yes, out of the saddle does give your back, neck and other muscles a breather. But, while out of the saddle, muscles have to support you so you don't want to be out of the saddle for too long.

3. There is a certain machismo of standing on the pedals out of the saddle - very macho! So, get out of the saddle to stretch, attack steep hills, to sprint, and whenever anyone is watching. All other times stay in the saddle. The rumor is that Lance was always out of the saddle when the camera was on him, but once it was off, his butt was back in the saddle.
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hahahahh I you are sooo awesome G8r!

I was gunna add that it is wise to make sure you are peddling forward when you are out of the saddle. LOL!! hhahahhaha

I can climb stronger when in aero. I like to stand up when trying top look cool, or trying to catch back up to G8r80 on a ride.
 
Okay....that does it. I'm adding to the list of "Things to do before I die"....go for a ride with FF & G8r :D Unfortunately just above this is "Have sex with a supermodel"...so I may have to break the line-up in order to facilitate this. :D

I like getting out of the saddle on portions of the hill. I'm not big with having a fast cadence....but my friends say I'm a Torque-Master; my years of being heavy, build and what-not lend towards my having big quads and big calves...that's what I do best: crank n' grind. I can't move these things fast, but I can sure churn a beat. That said, who cares! ;)

Good point about looking better out of the saddle. Just about everyone has a belly roll or two when they're croched-over...but stand it up, suck it in and you feel mighty lean.

So...less efficient, but more powerful...interesting! Am I wrong, but is that sorta like exercising at a higher HR....you get more power but you're calorie-mileage drops (as you burn more calories and are less efficient). It stands to reason: on any of my 14.5 mile rides, I cover the same distance but riding faster/harder always burns more overall calories! Sounds to me like when I'm about to crest a hill or I see myself about to get a break (downhill), it'd be an opportunity to polish things off with an out-of-saddle run. Cool.
 
SkiBikeSwim said:
As an aside - I've had to do about 10miles of a mountain bike race without a saddle before because the seatpost broke! :11doh:
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Rumor had it that your a hard-ass, but wow....talk about your buns of steel. Next time the Fire Department is at an accident scene and the Jaws-of-Life can't pry open the car, we'll just use your buns of steel technique....for as the prophecy is foretold: he who can bust the seatpost shall be the Chosen One!! ;) :D j/k
 
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