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Climbing in the Aerobars...when can I sit up?

Paul HoughPaul Hough
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When you are climbing a hill in accordance with EN protocol - and the other dudes are crushing you on the way up - how slow can you go before it's OK to sit up instead of staying aero?  I'm thinking there can't be much aero advantage when you are below 15mph and that it might be better to sit up and stretch and breath easier as you climb...then get back in the bars as you crest.  What's the consensus?

Comments

  • Bill McKinneyBill McKinney
    I remember this coming up in Louisville. I think it was 12 or 13...which is what I use as my benchmark for "might as well sit up".
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    I sit up under about 15mph and/or will stand at the same or slightly higher watts. I use the hill as an opportunity to change positions, stretch, drink, etc.

  • Nemo BrauchNemo Brauch
    One other consideration is that 15mph going up a hill with a 5mph tail wind is a very different situation from 15mph up a hill with a 20mph headwind. In addition, I don't display MPH on my computer during an IM (or race rehearsal) so frankly, I don't think having a magic "I can sit up no" number makes much sense. I use watts and my own perception of speed (or the lack there of) to tell me what to do. I stay aero for as long as much as I can and as long as it feels advantageous. Where if feels like up vs down isn't making any difference, then I give myself the OK to take a little break from the position and an opportunity to stretch.
  • Chris GChris G
    If you are climbing there really is no reason not to sit up. I see lots of people climbing in the bars early on in races and very few at the end. Tend to see the same people, or type anyhow, sitting up when not climbing at the end as well. I look at it like this, you are going to get tired and uncomfortable in IM's for sure and likely even in halfs. Might as well sit up and take advantage of the opportunity to stretch, drink whatever while climbing as it will make it easier to stay aero later on. Also, climbing in the bars just kinda sucks. Might as well keep the RPE for the desired watts as low as possible.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    I will do 2 x RR's on the WI course when I'm out there for our camp in July:

    1. Total EN style, very even watts, only go up about 30-40w on the climbs, in the bars above about 15mph, etc
    2. Switch to climbing mode on the hills: sit back, get comfortable, add about 40-50w, stand, etc. My climbing/standing-fu is very strong these days (higher watts, lower RPE) and I want to see if this something I can use on race day.
  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

    Another consideration is comfort. Since the equation on aero advantage is not linear, it really is OK to start sitting up below 15 mph. But, for my fit on my bike at least, I am honetly more comfortable statying aero down to 9-12 mph, and so I use comfort as my guide to when to sit up. Also, another parameter, if you've got it displayed, is % grade. I find that I start to want to sit up @ somewhere between 6 and 9 %, deoending on how tired I am.

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Thx all. I did 5x1mile hill repeats last week (yes, down here in Florida) in the bars at 11-13mph. I will now sit up under 15mph (unless there is a massive headwind) and not feel like I'm wussing out.
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    Gerat point, Nemo. As for climbing in bars vs hoods, do yourself a favor and test it out. Sitting up adds 20-30 watts _instantly_ to your dial so you have to be wicked careful!
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    Adding to these many good thoughts, I tend to sit up in a race when I have to hit FTP or so just to keep going. (Not coincidentally, this is always under 15 mph!) Of course, the sitting-up FTP is notably higher than the in-the-bars one, so my thought is I'm doing a iittle less damage to myself. Can't say for sure if it's true, but it feels that way.
  • Nate ParadyNate Parady

    @ Patrick, I know you mentioned this at the LP camp and the group I was riding with could attest. Seemed like a lot of us tried to stay aero simply to ensure we were going easy enough. I wasn't riding with the fast kids so my group was climbing around 5.5-6.5 MPH up some of those long climbs in LP. I imagine that at my current ability it will be a combination of positions on race day b/c comfort does get a vote.



    Just curious and for some perspective how fast were the fast group kids going up the climbs out of town or that first stretch of hills after making the right turn on 86 in LP?

  • Chris M.Chris M.
    Posted By Patrick McCrann on 23 Jun 2011 12:48 PM

    Gerat point, Nemo. As for climbing in bars vs hoods, do yourself a favor and test it out. Sitting up adds 20-30 watts _instantly_ to your dial so you have to be wicked careful!



    Yes but aren't those extra standing watts somewhat "free?"  What I mean is, when you stand,  you are using the downward momentum of your body, assisted by gravity, to pedal.  isn't that why we stand?  Because we can't make the same wattage/cadence sitting?  If we did it sitting it would require more real effort, as opposed to cheating by letting gravity help.  I don't mean we can go crazy and add 70 watts but the 40 I would typically add feel a lot easier standing than sitting.  

    I also agree with Rich about using a climb as an opportunity to change positions, stretch out, get a drink, etc while not aero.  Climbs are also when I fill my aero bottle from my other bottles.  

  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander

    I'm no physicist, but the energy to produce extra watts have to come from somewhere! And that's energy probably used wiser elsewhere.



    While you're using gravity more out of the saddle, you're also expending more energy to keep your body up.

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