I have been doing a fair bit of road riding for the last 3 years and this year invested in a good bike with clipless pedals. Everything is great and I love the bike. I am curious what other riders are noticing when going uphill or really pulling hard on the up stroke. When I do this my back tire has a tendancy to come off the ground. I am wondering if this in normal or if I am using just poor technique? What do I need to do to keep the rear wheel on the ground so that I don't lose any power transfer to the road?
Thanks for the help.

Are you standing when this happens? If so, you're probably leaning much too far forward. That's the only situation in which I can picture the rear or the bike becoming so unweighted as to make this possible.

Proper technique when pedaling out of the saddle is to keep your weight centered over the pedals. Typically, if you're doing it right, your backside is only an inch or less from touching the nose of the saddle--some people say you should be lightly brushing the saddle nose with your backside/thighs.

Are you standing when this happens? If so, you're probably leaning much too far forward. That's the only situation in which I can picture the rear or the bike becoming so unweighted as to make this possible.

Proper technique when pedaling out of the saddle is to keep your weight centered over the pedals. Typically, if you're doing it right, your backside is only an inch or less from touching the nose of the saddle--some people say you should be lightly brushing the saddle nose with your backside/thighs.
I am in the standing position when this happens and I will have to check my position but it is very possible that I am leaning forward to much. I have a tendancy to put alot of pressure on the handle bars with my upper body weight when I am pulling hard.

Thanks and I will check it out later today on my next ride.

donkey kicks are never fun when you dont expect them. plus, if done with too much gusto and too often, they can throw your wheel out of tru.

you are probably too far forward and also swaying your bike a lot. dont rock the handlebars as much as you thik you should. try to keep it tight. the more you sway, the more enegery you waste throwing those bars left and right. also, when you crank on the upstroke you are probably yanking up more than you should be. think nice efficient circles. if you still donkey, dont yank so much. i did the same thing for a while when i went clipless. after a while you get that soul connection with your bike and all is good. that donkey rarely shows up, unless invited.

if ya really wanna feel squishy, take a tight corner then stand and power out of the turn. really crank away and sway your bike leaning forward. your rear wheel will be all over the pavement. sometimes i do this just for fun. the wheel never gets too high off the ground but i always feel like im about to hit the deck. makes me feel like a sprinter.

overinflated tires have the propensity to skip as well. Keep the PSI in the 95-110 range and that will be more than sufficient unless you are riding tubies. You will have greater handling, and less hopping, and greater stick, especially when climbing and things are a little wet.