Get unseated during a jousting match, and it\’s not so good. But just a couple of days ago, I discovered that I can climb unseated!

To be sure, I\’m not tackling the cols of La Grande Boucle. I\’m merely going over the mild humps that my regular riding route presents. But to ride over any hump out of the saddle is, to me, a feather in the cap.

This latest achievement stemmed from my unclimbing efforts. In fact, I had an inkling that unclimbing just might lead to it! Climbing unseated involves very much the same use of the arms and core: I pull on the handlebars with my arms, and that lets me get up off the saddle. The core must hold me steady enough that I don\’t waver all over the path. Although I had done a little out-of-saddle pedaling here and there, I didn\’t feel ready to climb out of the saddle. Then, all of a sudden, I was doing it!

Is this analogous to an infant/young child hitting his or her developmental milestones? If so, I\’m one heck of a slow developer! I\’ve been cycling since November 2009; and on two wheels since May 2012. And I\’m only now figuring out how to climb without being firmly planted on that saddle!

During yesterday\’s ride I did very little or no unseated work. I spent much of the time on the small ring; and out-of-the-saddle work goes better when I\’ve got the resistance of the big ring. As with any new skill, it\’s better if I don\’t try to do too much, too soon; and there\’s no hurry about it. After all, I\’m not preparing for a bicycle tour in the Ozarks!

I\’ll just let it come as it will; and be glad that being unseated doesn\’t mean I\’ve lost the contest.