Who is tougher, the person who sits climbing all hills or the person who stands?

[rareposter]

My throat still hurts now from that. Is it shameful to have given up?

Not at all. Maybe you're coming down with a cold, maybe you're tired from work or something? The hill will still be there next week. There's no shame in deciding you're not feeling like it, cutting a ride short etc.
The stupid thing is when you continue on in spite of not enjoying it.
Also, no-one else needs to validate your ride.

Am I weak as I read here an older gentleman than me saying he glided up hard knot pass, which is in the high 30s compared to this 'piddling' 25% I was mauled by today, with ease on 20 something gearing inches. Even my 14 granny could not save me in this case!

Don't compare yourself to others. Maybe the other person is fitter, more experienced, has a "better" bike, was on a good day...
If you're weak, you'll get stronger from more riding. It won't be instant but it'll be a steady progression.

My first ever proper club road ride, I got dropped, I suffered big time on the final hill. Any cyclist who says they've never suffered on hills has either never ridden any hills or is lying! I can guarantee that everyone on this forum will have had a time where they suffered on a hill, had to walk, had to turn around. I certainly have!

[roubaixtuesday]

ou don't get any prizes for the amount of pain you go through. Felt like I was suffocating trying to get breath at the steepest points. Am I weak as I read here an older gentleman than me saying he glided up hard knot pass, which is in the high 30s compared to this 'piddling' 25%

I think you're referreing to me

viewtopic.php?p=1873886#p1873886

For avoidance of doubt, I was in no way trying to imply that I "glided" up. Merely that I prefer not to use gears as low as yours.

I would describe my ascent as being like an asthmatic hippo being pursued by a disabled sloth.

[biker38109]

ou don't get any prizes for the amount of pain you go through. Felt like I was suffocating trying to get breath at the steepest points. Am I weak as I read here an older gentleman than me saying he glided up hard knot pass, which is in the high 30s compared to this 'piddling' 25%

I think you're referreing to me

viewtopic.php?p=1873886#p1873886

For avoidance of doubt, I was in no way trying to imply that I "glided" up. Merely that I prefer not to use gears as low as yours.

I would describe my ascent as being like an asthmatic hippo being pursued by a disabled sloth.

[ElaineB]

I think the conclusion seems to be not who is the ‘tougher’ but who is the ‘smarter’. Basically the cyclist who rides up hills or mountains at their own pace and not at others.
Sadly, I was at the scene of a solo cyclist who literally dropped dead at the top of a steep climb.
Be smart and climb within your limits.
As a fireman once told me…’a dead hero is no good to anyone’.

[Blondie]

Is riding in a low gear the same as that? Where you could ride for longer at a gentler pace compared to 'mashing' up hills as quickly as possible and running out of energy sooner.

Riding in a lower gear doesn’t mean you are necessarily riding slower. Some ride uphill in bigger gears and low isn cadence. Others will choose a lower gear and spin faster.

[toontra]

On climbs it's easier to generate power on a larger proportion of the crank rotation if seated - i.e. "360 degree pedalling".

When standing the power is more concentrated on the downstroke - i.e. "stomping".

I suspect it's stomping for show but 360 for dough.

[peetee]

On climbs it's easier to generate power on a larger proportion of the crank rotation if seated - i.e. "360 degree pedalling".

When standing the power is more concentrated on the downstroke - i.e. "stomping".

I suspect it's stomping for show but 360 for dough.

Not quite true. This may be the case for some people but I pull upwards with the opposite foot. I grant you that the power stroke is of a shorter rotation though, as it’s much harder to power all the way round when standing.

[Audax67]

It's a toolbox, you use whatever suits the moment. Tougher than thou is for idiots.

[CyberKnight]

Depends a lot too on the climb and preference , watch the pro peleton and you will see a variety of techniques and they are all going up the hill a lot faster than mere mortals , even the "slow " sprinters would leave the vast majority in their wake .
Me ? personally i prefer to stand and power but i have big legs and i can go faster standing pushing a larger gears than trying to twiddle .

[biker38109]

Depends a lot too on the climb and preference , watch the pro peleton and you will see a variety of techniques and they are all going up the hill a lot faster than mere mortals , even the "slow " sprinters would leave the vast majority in their wake .
Me ? personally i prefer to stand and power but i have big legs and i can go faster standing pushing a larger gears than trying to twiddle .

I'm confused by the term 'peloton'. Why is it that it seems to be a term both for cyclists who like to ride in a pack and a type of stationary cycling machine? Is it just the latter stole the name and trademarked it for their product?

Haha I just read the name comes from the french term 'platoon'. That is just funny to me, a platoon of cyclists incoming.

[hamster]

I’ve always thought it daft to stand on the pedals, to my mind it just puts unnecessary - and potentially damaging - loads on muscles on joints. YMMV applies.

Yes, that's an interesting one. I had a go at singlespeeding 17 years ago. I tend to knee pain especially if I get lazy and crunch big gears, typically after around 70 miles. I was expecting my knees to pack up and so to ditch the whole singlespeed thing after a couple of months.

In fact I NEVER get knee pain riding my singlespeed off road hand it's still my go-to bike all these years later. It's down (I think) to me never pushing hard on a bent knee, instead I am out of the saddle and the knee is straighter.

As Carlton says, YMMV and a lot may depend on your individual knees!

[Audax67]

If it hasn't already been said, it's pretty dumb to worry about being a toughie or a wimp. Standing and sitting are two different tools in your toolbox, and you use them as appropriate.

Standing does make a bad saddle more comfortable, though, and sitting for 200 km will wear your crotch to the bone.