I have been using this method for years and many climbs. Other riders. seem to be talking about holding on to your seat for more power. Sounds good, but this technique that I call "4 posting" is used when you are all out of power and all you have is your JELLY LEGS. It is used to maintain a steady climb while trying to reoxygenate your body. It is hard to get your energy back while continuing up hill. 4 posting works great.
I've done a number of Mountain climb bike races, but I've never gotten much success from the hands-pressing-down-on-thighs technique. Using the handle for leverage works well, but standing up (for me) is exhausting, especially if the uphill is continuous and sustained.
The races I've entered are on pavement, but take well over an hour to almost two hours of pure uphill riding.
The stand up thing is forbiddingly tiring for such a time-frame. The only time I stand is to cross to the high side of a banked turn or when climbing steep (but FAR shorter) muni hills.
