[joshman108]

Just a general question. I realized for the first time that I ride almost all of my trails standing up. Granted, my trails have almost no long, flat straights, but there are some flat sections. But I noticed pretty much everyone else on my trails sits down while pedaling. I hate sitting down.

Am i the only one?

I suppose just like Im more free this way/go faster/have better control (even if i dont technically need it).

 

[@dam]

I seldom stand. Standing is useful for absorbing bumps (particularly on a hard tail), or if you're pushing too tall of a gear (sprinting or SS). I'll often transfer more weight to the pedals, but don't come all the way off the seat very often.

 

[Leopold Porkstacker]

I find that I stand up when going up steeper sections.

 

[John Kuhl]

I sit most of the time.

Best, John

 

[insanitylevel9]

i only ride hard tails and rigid bikes so no sitting for me. i also ride a pretty tecky place so its had to sit anyway

 

[Sid Nitzerglobin]

I seldom stand. Standing is useful for absorbing bumps (particularly on a hard tail), or if you're pushing too tall of a gear (sprinting or SS). I'll often transfer more wait to the pedals, but don't come all the way off the seat very often.

This ^.

I do find that I've been weighting my pedals more and more when not on a smooth, straight, all out pedaling section. Probably have between 20-30% of my weight supported by my legs and the rest on the saddle most of the time when seated and lean slightly more into the bars or the back wheel for moderate uphill/downhills and clearing obstacles.

I pretty much only get completely out of the saddle when I'm mashing, going up or down really steep stuff, or am trying to severely load/unload the suspension to help clear a large obstacles or launch the bike.

I do spend a lot more time standing when riding my hardtail in rough stuff though.

 

[dundundata]

i ride a hardtail and sit most of the time, but rocky downhills force me to stand

 

[joshman108]

maybe i should have added that i ride a hardtail. Maybe it would be different if i had a full squish... but somehow i doubt it. I just dont like my seat. weird.

 

[Glide the Clyde]

Since attaining an SS, I stand more on whatever type of bike I'm riding. I obviously have to stand more more the SS and find I now ride the geared bikes in a higher gear for a given section, even climbs, and stand. With SS and multi, I'll sit on flats unless techy. Downhill, mostly standing.

I now have mashing legs that I didn't have before.

 

[mimi1885]

I stand a lot on my SS but I normally sit and spin on a trail ride. There are times that I have no time and feel like I want to get the most work out in a short period of time. I'd drop my saddle and just stand most of the ride.

 

[Harold]

I ride a relatively short travel FS (90mm) and I go back and forth. if the terrain is techy, I'm up. just a little bumpy from roots or a little rock and I'll sit in order to pedal. On the flats, I sit unless I really want to accelerate.

If I'm going downhill of any sort, I stand, though.

 

[shiggy]

Just a general question. I realized for the first time that I ride almost all of my trails standing up. Granted, my trails have almost no long, flat straights, but there are some flat sections. But I noticed pretty much everyone else on my trails sits down while pedaling. I hate sitting down.

Am i the only one?

I suppose just like Im more free this way/go faster/have better control (even if i dont technically need it).

Yes, I am standing or sitting while riding. Whatever it takes.

If I am not riding I am standing while walking and sitting after a crash.

 

[perttime]

Standing uses more energy, but it also allows better control and even comfort when the ground is bumpy or otherwise interesting.

 

[Guy.Ford]

on a 35# 6" travel bike running 1x9 gearing (38t x 11/34). So cal rider

flat sections - sit
short climbs - stand
extended climbing - sit and stand; 50/50

 

[Snagged7]

I stand a good amount of time when riding. Like you, I feel most comfortable this way. Although, I'm starting to come to the realization that I'm a wannabe SS rider. I spend 100% of my time in 2nd and 3rd gear of the front cog and don't even mess with the other gears. So needless to say, I spend a lot of my time pushing pretty hard.

 

[AndrwSwitch]

One of the things I try for in fitting my bikes is a good transition between sitting and standing. I'm on a hardtail, and like long rides. I find that standing takes more energy in general, but if I'm putting out a ton of power for several seconds, it doesn't really matter, and if I don't want to get beat up or crash my bike on technical stuff, I have to at least hover. So I'm in and out of the saddle a lot. Probably more in than out, over the course of a day.

 

[zgjp82]

I hover like a a chick going to the bathroom when going down hill and through technical sections and sit the rest.

 

[Berkeley Mike]

As needed.

 

[Gasp4Air]

Mostly I ride sitting. When I need to lower my center of gravity on gnarly stuff, I ride standing. When I'm sleepy, I ride laying down.

 

[Mountain Cycle Shawn]

I try to do about 50/50. Especially on long steep climbs. Standing uses your legs muscles a little differently then sitting. So, on long climbs, I switch between the two. And, I try to never hit medium to small bumps while sitting.