The question of whether it is better to stand or sit while riding is one of the oldest in cycling. To try and come up with an answer, PezCycling’s resident doctor, Stephen Chung, took a look at a French study in which eight elite-level cyclists were subject to a series of standing and seated riding tests done on a variety of gradients. Saving you a whole lot of details and technical jargon, Chung says the research concluded that standing, while more stressful, is as efficient as sitting when you consider the additional power a rider can generate when standing. Chung points out that a cyclist need to consider two points. First he says, riders should work on their form in an effort to minimize fatigue while standing; and second he says that heavier riders might realize greater efficiency while seated.

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