How To Ride Out Of The Saddle

Good technique and weight distribution is key to riding efficiently out of the saddle.
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Standing up on the pedals can add a whole new dimension to your riding - quick accelerations, sprinting, or even just giving some of your other muscles a rest. As with a lot of cycling technique, the key lies in getting your weight distribution right. Ex pro rider Simon Richardson gives his tips on mastering this important skill.
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Leave us a comment below!

[@taurus20077]

Another reason to get out of a saddle is to give your buns a break from the pressure of your body weight.

[@isaacezekielthecolorblindg7343]

Yep

[@isaacezekielthecolorblindg7343]

@Gurnski Deti that's gay

[@mrhammerheadshark7793]

@@isaacezekielthecolorblindg7343 I mean...you have socks on

[@imjonathan6745]

Its not my problem i have a big dumpster

[@Lxnney]

Riding out of the saddle is a great way of life for our asses for us MTB riders.

[@Scott-J]

I've never thought about riding out of the saddle as a skill. It's one of those things you just do. I always get spinning too fast and have to pop back to the saddle to keep it under control. I'm looking forward to practicing and learning how to do it better. Thanks!

[@ThatsMyCoffee]

I gear up (as you mention) but my heartrate quickly explodes and I'm forced to back off and sit down. Seated I can do 70rpm for hours on end. But out of the saddle, at a lower rpm.... I'm good for maybe a minute.

[@Kleo3392]

You’re the kind of person who doesn’t see riding a bike as a skill while here I am struggling to go in a straight line. I loathe you kinesthetic types.

[@coolhomie1185]

I have always been without a saddle 😅

[@arcas5206]

@@coolhomie1185 if you really dont have a saddle, did you try and take a seat and literally sit in the tube?

[@ZaberAnsaryOfficial]

Actually I find this video quite useful and couldn't find a detailed video on this before.... New Cyclist... Will practice tomorrow...

[@literoadie3502]

The tip about putting pressure on the back pedal is gold, and I've never heard it anywhere else! I've gotten really bad at riding out of the saddle, to the point that I can only do a couple of revolutions before my legs burn like crazy and I start to spin out. Will start to practice that technique from now!

[@ShermanSitter]

This is why it bugs me when people say "it's just like riding a bike" ...you mean incredibly technical and difficult to master? :) Thank you GCN for another great video! i love the details of these techniques!

[@bloom9075]

i learned how to ride a bike in 3 days what

[@sunkenship9552]

bloom not all people are the same

[@MrCash-lm1xz]

I learned in 7 days

[@kigeykigey4955]

Took me 1.5 weeks, it was difficult for me without falling and nearly breaking my bone for those times.

[@rjc.05]

i learned it back then in like 20 minutes with the help of my dad although, it was ez

[@alexmm01]

Very informative. I've always had trouble with this so naturally I rarely even try. Good pointers for me to practice.

[@youraveragebrian8305]

I’ve tried to stand on the bike before but I kept losing my balance When I heard “push on both of the pedals” I did it first try Thanks!

[@JackMulliken]

Thank you for posting this video. I starting picking cycling up last year again (first time since I was a child) and I had forgot how to ride out of the saddle properly. I had gained a lot of weight and my knees just couldn't handle me riding like that. Now, I've lost quite a bit of weight through cycling (70+ lbs) and I want to add power for hill climbs and this video was perfect. In my past 3 rides, I've been hitting the hills out of the saddle and really increasing my power and improving my avg speed for my rides. I know for people who have been riding for a while, this my seem like a basic video but remember, there are those folks out there who are just getting back into cycling and these sorts of tips really help.

[@marshja56]

Nice video. I only recently realized that this skill isn't a given for some cyclists. As a little kid I learned to ride this way because our neighborhood had hills and it was the only way get my heavy, single-speed bike up them. But on a recent hilly ride with a friend from a flat area I noticed he had trouble standing up to ride on the steepest hills even though he has been riding for years. It just was never anything he needed to learn up to that point.

[@mynaamiskaas]

Fantastic VID! That "power on the back pedal" technique is brand new news to me, and I am far from new to this sport! Appreciate you guys sharing your combined experience with us folk! Pay no mind to the negative comments. People forget that everyone was a beginner at some stage :)

[@KoMDraegast]

I've always had a pedalling style much like Contador's (ie riding out of the saddle a lot) because it feels natural to me to switch between riding in and out of the saddle to ease the pain a bit or to keep the speed up on massive inclines or long climbs at that while you're tired. I never really had to think about how I position myself on the bike to do it

[@laurynecollins]

I know this is an old video but I want to thank you for this. I had ORIF and reconstructive surgery on my left leg after a very, very nasty injury (shattered talus, tibia, and fibula, torn achilles and torn patellar tendon). I have no feeling in the bottom of my left foot and am finding riding out of the saddle very difficult because I can't feel that weight transfer. Its very frustrating and this helps in giving me some mental cues on how to get around it - thank you!

[@kamolhengkiatisak1527]

Another classic tip. This advice I know after doing it myself without thinking for over 15 years. It seems if a newbie watches this video, he/she can shorten the time to master the skill without having to learn bit by bit through trial and error.

[@Rikitocker]

Respect for the fact that Simon is just having a standard chat as he climbs out of the seat at 3.37 ... that's a decent incline as well! Get yourself out of retirment lad ... you can still do it!

[@alexl6976]

Back to watch the old tutorial videos and found they are much better than the recent two years ones.

[@daffc1]

Great video. I'm going to be recommending this to a number of fellow cyclists that really struggle 'out of the saddle'. The biggest struggle I see is cyclists trying to stand too upright rather than move their weight forward and place some weight on arms / handle bars and get in a more aero position. Nicely explained Simon!

[@DanMcNama]

I think one skill that beginners tend to lack when riding out of the saddle is the ability to shift whilst doing it. The classic method of clicking down two gears is a nice rule of thumb, but on longer climbs where cadence is crucial, beginners fall victim to that method and end up being either over or under-geared and needing to sit back down to find the right cog because they feel unstable lifting fingers to shift while bouncing on the pedals. I find that getting out of the saddle and shifting with my drive foot in the 12-1 o clock position allows me to maintain a comfortable cadence while searching for that comfortable exertion. I used to have those same fears of losing balance, but once I practiced out-of-saddle shifting, riding out the saddle became critical to my pacing on long climbs.

[@Arjuniest]

I've recently moved to drop bars and it is a whole new experience to ride out of the saddle as the handlebar feels a lot more chaotic compared to flat bars

[@Guoenyi]

Beautiful tips Si. I love riding out of saddle. I do it whenever possible. I tend to stay out of saddle for the entire climb if possible, even do it on the flat from time to time, rarely downhills. It just makes me feel more alive than grinding in the saddle. Plus it gives you moderate workout on the arms, abs and hips too.

[@loopie007]

Thanks Si. I have found that the more I practice riding out of the saddle, the better I get at it and the more I like it. It's another tool to put in my tool bag to help solve problems. Now I stand all the time! Any rise in the road that will be climbed in one min or less immediately turns into a invitation to stand. Be careful when standing in group rides. It's easy to take out the person behind you. Mini speed burst, shift up three gears, then stand. Practice relaxing and pacing yourself.

[@HPaulModels]

Thanks for your advice - using it all to good effect on my rides

[@BeaCassidy]

You have been reading my thoughts, GCN! I really needed this video, my hometown is flat but at my university I am battling with mountains. I wanted to get this skill first before attacking Snowden.

[@kajet666]

I don't think the bike moves backwards when you stand up all of a sudden. What it does is slow down rapidly. Enough to collide with the rider behind you, but the movement backwards is in relation to your body, not to the tarmac. (I mean, how would you change your velocity from 35 kph to -5 kph in a split second). Another fantastic video, by the way. I didn't know these things. Last night I had to get up during my cooldown on the trainer because my jewels had gone completely numb. It was easy pedalling while standing up. I unconsciously did what Simon advises - pushed back on the pedal slightly with the rear foot while pedalling. I was surprised that this easy pedalling was even possible (I hadn't had high hopes that it would work, but my manly treasure really demanded some uptime).

[@yooooodennis]

:D

[@SCOOPSLEGEND]

Ive always liked GCN but some things you learn through experience (NOT online). Experimenting with your riding out on the road has always been a great way to learn and improve, especially with basic, normal riding"techniques" like this.

[@jianshimano9760]

It's amazing to me that I learned all of this naturally without anyone teaching me. My friends who are cyclists compliment my form in how I dance or ride out of the saddle.

[@theodore-sings]

I use a mountain bike so I don’t know how different that is, but I’ve never ever struggled with riding out of saddle, it’s been something I’ve always been able to do without struggle, and never going out of control

[@craigpaterson5085]

I have never consciously thought about riding out of the saddle but after thinking about it all the points you said I do do what you said

[@samosa5200]

Lovely video! I love the part where you explain how to stop entangling with the seat. This is the major issue for me(shorts almost coming off after entangling with the saddle nose) well along with shifting weight on shoulders. Thanks for the video. will watch it again and take pointers.

[@magorbarocz2196]

Great tips guys! I didn't realized that how important is to counter pedal a bit. Yesterday I managed to climb 8 minutes out of the saddle on a small climb, while my previous best time was just 4 minutes. It's also easier in this way to control the heart rate.

[@GOLTEB]

The funny thing is I've learned this without knowing as a kid while riding my bmx.

[@Kennny088]

HAHAH WE ALL LEANED THIS IN CHILDHOOD YOU NOOB 🤪

[@GOLTEB]

@@Kennny088 go play your video games kid

[@serotonin69]

@@GOLTEB chill hes autistic , hes a rare species of homosapien

[@aaron2563]

@@serotonin69 bro chill with the roasts

[@Chi-tn1he]

@MrBeast omg hes here

[@nathansilvaharmston]

Could you do a video on Chinese carbon parts

[@louisgreenleaf235]

They won't because there not sponsored by them

[@jonphinguyen]

And piss off the sponsors?! No way! Who would buy $2000 50mm carbon wheels you can buy some for $500 on velobuild?

[@BanceSun]

I think Si has mentioned it somewhere, basically it can't be said for sure its good or bad. the production line might be the same with the high end brand, but the quality control is definitely no as good. which means theres a higher chance you get a bad one (still it could be 1/100000000). Me personally am riding a 1500EUR bike so I wouldnt spend as the same amount on wheels, instead I would choose a ''fake'' Bora One for around 550EUR.

[@nimeq]

I think the Chinese are also catching onto the problem. And I think the OP means Chinese cabon parts of a set of specific brands. Not a pair of fake parts. I don't think QA is even really the issue, but rather liability. Do you want to be going down a hill at 50+kph and have a catastrophic wheel failure?

[@vojalekic1619]

and bikes as a whole...

[@ThePokemondongos]

One fo the most helpful gcn vids ever made (y)

[@QuixoteX]

Probably good to practice in a flat area if it's hard to get the hang of it. Standing was just something all the kids did from time to time riding around the neighborhood on our stingrays. Standing was a little scary the first time, but I would try and force myself to stand all the way around the block. Maybe it's a road bike thing, but I never pedaled with the mindset that I was just pushing down on the front swing. I alway pedaled as if I'm moving my feet with the pedals for the full circle if that makes any sense. I don't ride a road bike so my seat is relatively lower.

[@ScottZ370]

I’ve only just got back into cycling and can’t stand up on the peddles, something I never thought about back in the day! Need to build up that muscle

[@novanebula8004]

S Miller Same here

[@patriousthefallenknight3185]

I learned how to ride a bike a few weeks ago, so now I wanna try this

[@bloodsord9]

I can do a short 10-15 minute climb out of the saddle. it's actually really interesting because the longer you can last out of the saddle the easier the climb seems. plus more power always helps

[@mrcia2129]

For the whole climb?

[@fvdb]

That camera lens is on fleek

[@jakelara9138]

If your using your muscles to inhibit the rise of the pedal your cycling against yourself and waisting energy. Just allow yourself to accelerate and then freewheel. I have an Elliptigo SUB standup bike and that's what I do. Select the highest gear you can that supports your weight as your weight alone pushes the pedal down and just catch the other pedal as it comes up and ride that. Slowly select a lower gear as you get use to this technique and can do it faster. You will always accelerate and then freewheel.

[@ersikaQT]

Thank you

[@hens333]

4:40 contador begs to differ

[@chrishardee3855]

THANK YOU GCN!!!

[@iankemp8695]

Could you do a vid on how to miss 3 drugs tests please

[@jordywilliams]

use drugs they don't do tests on . call dr ferari for more info

[@nightfly222]

Just go out drinking with Dan Lloyd.

[@HintHunter]

explain?

[@MrCash-lm1xz]

Hint Hunter Lance Armstrong

[@Stellarainn]

😅😅😅

[@ansonvd]

Si, at 1:12 i see that you invited all your friends to join you on the ride!! Perhaps the next episode should include how regularly you should wash your clothes, and what type of deodorant is most effective!! Love the work! Keep it up!!

[@DanilcencoTheodor]

innovative video

[@jamescox5783]

I do this on my boardman hybrid bike and sometimes my gears fall into nothing making me fall off. Do any bike enthusiasts know what’s wrong with my bike and how I can feel comfortable riding out of the saddle without my breaks falling into nothing. My chain has broken once already, really don’t know what’s wrong with it

[@sunkenship9552]

will definitely try this thank you

[@gcn]

No worries, good luck

[@fuddle128260394]

I've come from a mountain bike backround so I never knew this was a problem some people have.

[@sophocles8761]

This is where electronic gears come into their own just a gentle nudge up through the gears to keep the sprint stable

[@cccarl]

i learned to ride out of the saddle watching Marco Pantani and how he used to climb... grande Pirata

[@KeljuKkojootti]

Do a video on how to get on a bicycle i would love to cycle but

[@_francisco_]

I rather be out of the seat than on the seat. I always ride with my seat slammed, it’s what is most comfortable for me

[@autovation7735]

I'm only a new a leaner on how to ride a bike in the age of 18 and i don't know how to ride out of the saddle but this video talks about it and its useful to my friends but for me when i do the pedaling out of the saddle i lose balance so i hope that you can help me fix this problem😊( sorry if my grammar is bad)

[@intrinsicallyme8404]

Thanks

[@kwacker45]

great tips thanks

[@WhoDeyDad]

Particularly good video. Thanks boys

[@tahirmohammed9410]

I think it’s fun riding off the saddle it’s like walking but on a vehicle

[@anirudhgovil5938]

Could you do a video on proper gear shifting technique? My gears make a lot of noise whenever I shift them, and I've been told it's down to improper shifting technique (putting too much load on the pedals while shifting gear, but I don't see how to avoid this when on a climb)

[@NaqibStat]

Thank you!

[@nickv.7181]

One good way to practice riding out of the saddle is to do entire climbs standing. For example, my normal daily ride includes a climb that's a little more than 4 miles and about 1300ft elevation gain. About once per week I'll do the entire thing out of the saddle just to strengthen my "out of the saddle muscles". After doing those, any shorter, normal span of time out of the saddle (20 secs to 2 mins) seems like nothing.

[@ikilledosama88]

Simon, the new Alberto Contador

[@lengcastaneda306]

How to choose the right drop bars? what kind of dropbars will maximize out of saddle efficiency for climbing or sprinting?

[@lanceo1690]

This is a skill I did not even realize was a skill. It's automatic. Problem is I have a friend who struggles with can't teach her a skill that I don't even think about. I will be sharing this with her.

[@NewbArchitect]

would be interesting to have gcn science on contadors climbing out of saddle vs in. wonder how much energy he could save to win more stages? I think in an interview he said he prefers out of saddle but it's preference I guess

[@sevenrats]

If I'm simply trying to pop over a little rise, when i get up and i start to over spin i just pause pedaling for a moment. I keep standing but just pause to let the bike slow a bit then get back pedaling.

[@kenkeating299]

great vid! very useful info. thx

[@whitneypang]

When you get off the saddle to sprint, how do you change the gear in the follow situations? 1. Flat land 2. Small hill 3. Very steep hill

[@DanMcNama]

I commented above on my method for riding out the saddle on longer efforts, but it's actually much simpler for sprinting. People tend to underestimate the importance of cadence when sprinting and believe that bigger gear always means bigger speed: not true, especially on small hills (30sec-1.5min). The key to SHIFTING out of the saddle is very simply having the balance, and therefore the confidence, to lift a finger and shift while in the drops, so it takes a little practice just prove to yourself you can do it. When your cadence is really high in a sprint (100-120 rpm) you won't notice those big drops on the cassette like you would at a low cadence under pressure on a steep climb. Make sense? So just sprint and... shift lol. Pretty straight forward. To prove to yourself you have the balance, I'd recommend riding slowly in the drops out of the saddle and just gaining confidence shifting while in that position. Hope that instills a bit more confidence and gives you a place to start. Makes a world of a difference once you have this skill.

[@user-tk5ir1hg7l]

if you feel like you're a little too far over the front wheel when paddling out of the saddle - does that mean the bike is too small for you?

[@faithinmotion7667]

Does the same apply when using an indoor cycling trainer? -Except for moving your bike from side to side of course.

[@systemorox9296]

Trying that in the city is courting death since I have 0 balance, each time I try to stand up, the weels go crazy

[@yunyunyunyunyunyun]

thank you for making a dedicated video on dancing, GCN '3'b

[@Fastfitnesstips]

What power are people developing whilst standing vs sitting on hills (both with good effort)??

[@Kleo3392]

It’s harder sitting, but both use the same muscles.

[@nigeljohnson8022]

Nice one Si Cheers

[@matthewries4794]

Simon said, "do do." lol

[@maniac0303]

A lot of riders stop for a short period with pedaling when they get back on the saddle. This is dangerous because they slow down a bit and sometimes the following one rides into the backwheel...

[@calvinjonesyoutube]

Also looking for top 10 top 10 videos... you must have hundreds!

[@perwiratempur]

Thanks for this vid! Is there any different strategy if I am holding the drop / the hood?

[@b.griffin317]

Does this require a low-riding road bike or can it still be done on a bike with higher handlebars relative to the seat?

[@gautam9]

Am.i correct in understanding that on a flat bar bike the body will be too close to the bars and arms to ride out of the saddle and its easier on the hoods if one is on a drop bar road bike?

[@ivanwicaksana]

How about Contador's style of riding out of the saddle? He is rocking more to his body than his bike, yet he can stay out of saddle for longer time than other pros can do. Is this technique more efficient or what?

[@aczephyr]

Is it more difficult to ride out of saddle if I am NOT using lock-shoes when riding a flat-bar cruiser bike?

[@alecmileman5267]

First ride with clipless pedals today. Fell over at a junction, as the bike tipped the other way to my unclipped foot :')

[@insertusernamehere6155]

Don't worry, you get used to them. I haven't had pedals with lips ever

[@UltimateRT]

RIP lips

[@NathanTeskey]

Happened to me about 20 times when I started back in April. My knees were covered in blood and cut for about a month! Try putting your inclined leg our further from the frame of the bike to make yourself more steady :-)

[@NathanTeskey]

+Hoof Hearted inside leg*

[@NathanTeskey]

+Hoof Hearted when you are stopped

[@ghosts_bike8217]

I have a BMX bike and I barely sit down on it I mainly standing up I only sit down when I’m coasting

[@kisameh420]

Is that kit available for purchase?

[@irvingabbott6]

How do you like your new Orbea?

[@Machoman510]

What about shifting while out of the saddle? Feels a little clunky and I'm not sure my rear derailleur likes it.

[@kabirsharma6485]

hi. I wanted to know how do I get the grease to get inside my tyre bearings.. should I just use a liquid lube and spin the tyre or is there a way to get the grease inside because there r no greasing nipples. Will it be better to use grease or lube for my chain and cassettes

[@krishnasahaunofficial478]

I am very new to cycling. I use paddles without clips. I haven't tried sprinting. I mostly ride on flat/zero slope roads. Is it good/needed to sprint in my condition, and bike configuration?

[@HelloHello-hk4sx]

I'm getting a folding bike to use as a pedal scooter/bike where I only stand up & ride it. Should I do it like this or is it since it's a totally different bike I should ride it totally different too?

[@kylebrown4293]

whenever i ride out of the saddle i always hook my hands around between the brakes and the handle bars and pull up with my hands as well as push down with my legs. Im not sure if this helps or if it just waste energy though\

[@HelloHello-hk4sx]

Huh interesting. 🤔 That's exactly how I do it only I didn't know it was the correct way, I just did it cause it's more comfortable & better exercise. I also ride the bike just about the same way how you show it (posture, position, etc). I know how to ride a cycling bike & I didn't even know it! 😄 The only reason I don't ride one anymore is cause my back is already too messed up to ride one & always have been. I tried practicing keeping the correct posture the whole ride for years but I just couldn't. I can do it for a few minutes but that's it.

[@jerzh9366]

I was actually just thinking how I could ride out of the saddle better :D

[@devinm.6149]

How do I make my knees hurt less when doing this?

[@thebestever333]

Just got a vintage road bike and every time I stand up off the saddle the handlebars start moving left to right unless I really concentrate on holding them and the bike still moves side to side

[@trilogypyrenees6420]

Push and Pull on full pedal stroke

[@thatwolffe3802]

I am more comfortable out of the saddle than in it, I feel like it is a bad habbit, but I am more often out of the saddle than in the saddle on my commute.

[@smfr123]

How about talking about gear shifting when you're riding out of the saddle?

[@eastman000]

Thank u, what happen if u are not using a clip shoe? Will the technics be any different?

[@cifer7457]

Kinda not different tbh

[@christopherjackson4745]

Can you do a video on riding over railway tracks

[@willieraus2919]

Bunny hop!

[@clairegriffiths9284]

I wish it was this simple. I have dyspraxia and riding a bike is really hard for me BUT I have started going out weekly on my local cycle paths (definitely no roads!) I can just about manage to ride in a straight line but have never mastered this, hills are impossible! I can't seem to get the peddles to go round properly when I am out the saddle and can't rock the bike unless I want to end up in the hedge. Cycling is not easy for everyone

[@UenoLocker54]

Zero issues on a single speed with riser bars and constantly bashing my ass when doing it on my same sized road bike. Guess I just don't like the hoods lol.