How do you bike those really steep hills?

I typically do a combo of mash and saddle action depending on the length of the hill. When I'm out riding the best riders I see stay in the saddle longer and mainly use standing as a final alternative. I've also found that even though I think getting more vertical is more efficient if I bend over and just pop my butt up I can get more leverage and stay in good position too.

I'm thinking about starting some weekly hill repeat sessions with a local bike group here. After all the best way to get good at riding hills is to well ride hills again and again and agian . . . 

Gassho,

Gentoku

We had a hill this past weekend that was a 20% grade over only a 1/4 of a mile.  Needless to say, it was fierce.  I ended up getting out of the saddle, it was just easier for me at that short of a climb.  I saw a lot of people actually having to get off their bikes and walk up it as I was coming back down.  

I usually get out of the saddle for those types of climbs, so I would suggest do what you normally do.  

This past weekend I decided to try to stay in the saddle in a lower gear and take it more slowly. Hard to say, but I think I did a better job saving my legs for the rest of the ride.

oh really... :P

I do a lot of riding in hills. If you want to get better at them, I'd suggest going up as hard as you can

I normally stay in the saddle and keep a pretty high cadence going up the hill.  Although I like getting out of the saddle right before I go over the top to power over and build some speed up for the descent.

IMHO, you need to practice hill intervals.

That said, I try to maintain a minimum 75 rpm cadence on any hill climb - no matter what speed, just like those who use power meters and maintain certain wattages whether its 2 mph or 25 mph.

I get out of the saddle for two reasons, to stretch or to maintain the 75+ rpm cadence. Just lean back and spin. Just my 2 cents worth (which isn't a whole lot these days).

Well, you went 8mph instead of 12mph.  That's a huge difference.  So yeah, you saved your legs, probably by staying closer to threshold instead of burning matches.

Training:  most of the time, go hard up the hills.  It's good for your soul.

Tri Racing:  Try to even out the power.

Bike Racing:  Depends. Probably hammer.

I don't know whether it is widely shared, but it is widely true.  If you kill yourself for 5 minutes, you will pay for it sooner or later.  That's why you should try to even out the power in a race.

In training, kill yourself.  It's OK.

Bike racing is a different story... it depends on the distance, where you are in relation to the other riders, are there people helping you on a break, etc...

I was waiting for a response like this...(P.S. fixed the pink for you) 

My technique, generally very slowly!

If the grade is truely over 15% for any extended period of time, you're probably better off standing up unless you have some ridiculous gearing.

   It depends on your gearing.  Personally, I live in PA and there are many many hills here that I have no option but to get out of the saddle and mash my lowest gear.  I am actually looking into changing the gearing on my bike.  Right now I run 12-23 in the rear and I want to get something more broad range like 11-28 or 11-26. 

   Also, if at all possible, the more speed you have going into a hill, the further up you can get with less effort.

No no - I know HOW to put that in pink. But I can't, because I seriously can't bike up something like that yet.

There's a Cat 2 not far from my house I'd like to climb before the end of the season. I know I can get off and walk. It's the descent with switchbacks that scares me more.

http://connect.garmin.com/player/192494577

I rode this hill yesterday.  I was standing up mashing the entire time going up.

Here's a ride with some climbs that will force you out of the saddle:

Here is another brutal set of climbs:

http://www.altaalpina.org/challenge/links/3PassProfile.jpg

Nearly 110 miles & 11,000 ft of climbing + altitude.

Sometimes you have to just get up and mash.

Intervals really help as well as carrying momentum from the decent to the climb.