If you have noticed Jan Ulrich ALWAYS climbed with his hand on the brakes.
and I say always because I have NEVER seen him with his hands on the upper flat handlebar position like all other riders. I wonder why Ulrich did that.
Having your hands on the brakes gives a more aerodinamic position and allows you to get out of the saddle easier (a thing that Ulrich almost never did), however you can apply more power with your body weight when you put your hands on the upper flat handlebar position, expecially when one is climbing slopes of 8% and more (I have tried this myself). I think Ulrich could have been a better climber had he done that.
Photos:
Ulrich with his hands on the brakes:
http://www.osel.cz/soubory/402/2.jpg
http://www.dw-world.de/image/0,,2138829_4,00.jpg
Lance with his hands on the upper flat handlebar position
http://www.poster.net/armstrong-lance/armstrong-lance-tour-de-france-2004-lance-armstrong-at-lalpe-dhuez-9914378.jpg
http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Graham-Watson/Lance-Armstrong-2000-Tour-de-France-Champion-Print-C10087799.jpeg
For me this is incredible and I dont understand why Ulrich did that. Ulrich had an style of riding very very similar to the great Miguel Indurain. However, unlike Ulrich, Indurain did use the upper handlebar with he climbed.
and I say always because I have NEVER seen him with his hands on the upper flat handlebar position like all other riders. I wonder why Ulrich did that.
Having your hands on the brakes gives a more aerodinamic position and allows you to get out of the saddle easier (a thing that Ulrich almost never did), however you can apply more power with your body weight when you put your hands on the upper flat handlebar position, expecially when one is climbing slopes of 8% and more (I have tried this myself). I think Ulrich could have been a better climber had he done that.
Photos:
Ulrich with his hands on the brakes:
http://www.osel.cz/soubory/402/2.jpg
http://www.dw-world.de/image/0,,2138829_4,00.jpg
Lance with his hands on the upper flat handlebar position
http://www.poster.net/armstrong-lance/armstrong-lance-tour-de-france-2004-lance-armstrong-at-lalpe-dhuez-9914378.jpg
http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Graham-Watson/Lance-Armstrong-2000-Tour-de-France-Champion-Print-C10087799.jpeg
For me this is incredible and I dont understand why Ulrich did that. Ulrich had an style of riding very very similar to the great Miguel Indurain. However, unlike Ulrich, Indurain did use the upper handlebar with he climbed.