S-Express
Guest
So someone pushing 200 watts at 70 rpm is going to tire quicker than someone pushing 200 watts at 90rpm. I don't think so.
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- Thread starter Slick
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So someone pushing 200 watts at 70 rpm is going to tire quicker than someone pushing 200 watts at 90rpm. I don't think so.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Spin what feels comfortable don't get hung up about it 
That said, I find that with a lower cadence of about 80-85rpm I'm more powerful/faster but too low becomes a grind and I go slower. Currently I think I'm more comfortable with a higher cadence as I can go longer. In a group I'm turning a low cadence in the pack and a high cadence on the front same in traffic, I like having that variability.
That said, I find that with a lower cadence of about 80-85rpm I'm more powerful/faster but too low becomes a grind and I go slower. Currently I think I'm more comfortable with a higher cadence as I can go longer. In a group I'm turning a low cadence in the pack and a high cadence on the front same in traffic, I like having that variability.
The heart is a muscle; you overwork it and it will eventually fail. A good friend of mine was a keen jogger for years, long distance especially. I say was because a couple of years ago, his heart went into palpitaion and irregular rhythm. He was hospitalised and now has a pacemaker. Years of running was diagnosed as the cause because the human heart isn't designed for that type of long term punishment.
S-Express
Guest
The heart is a muscle; you overwork it and it will eventually fail. A good friend of mine was a keen jogger for years, long distance especially. I say was because a couple of years ago, his heart went into palpitaion and irregular rhythm. He was hospitalised and now has a pacemaker. Years of running was diagnosed as the cause because the human heart isn't designed for that type of long term punishment.
Leaving aside whether any of that is utter nonsense or not, what has any of this got to do with pushing big gears? Earlier you were attributing Beryl's early death to her gear choice.
Exactly, when Bradley Wiggins did his hour record he needed to find the most efficient cadence to maintain the wattage required to beat the record which was over 100, 70 rpm just wouldn't have worked.
When was the last time you saw the top pro's pedalling slowly up a climb?
Doesn't happen does it?
Hacienda71
Mancunian in self imposed exile in leafy Cheshire
- Location
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
Multiple world ttchamp Tony Martin has quote a slow cadence.....just saying like. 
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
There does actually seem to be increasing evidence that it is true! For example see this paper and the other similar PubMed papers mentioned.
Not likely to be a problem for many of us, but something that could well apply to many pro athletes.
S-Express
Guest
Track is a bit different to climbing, which is the topic of this thread. 100rpm on the track would be a significantly higher average than most would typically use on the road. In fact, most of the hour records have been broken with an average of around 100rpm. Besides, taking one example (Wiggo) and using it to extrapolate that high cadence is generally more efficient does not take into account the metabolic inefficiency of a high cadence, compared to a lower one. For a given power output, less muscle contraction/extension is going to have a lower metabolic demand than a cadence which demands higher contraction/extension. For an hour, this is not going to cause anyone too many problems, but over the course of several hours, it all adds up. Which is why most sensible riders will vary their cadence when necessary.
It happens quite a lot actually. One example below. Maybe they need different gears..
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbKdUzXZEuQ
adamangler
Veteran
- Location
- Wakefield
Problem with cadence is no one really knows what is more efficent. There's arguments and studys for and against.
The only thing I know is mist pros ride with a high cadence. Even a low cadence for a pro would be 80 which would be higher than a lot of casual riders use.
I think your body adapts to your cadence. I know when I try and push a higher cadence in a lower gear my heart rate goes up and I tire quicker. It's just not what I'm used to. Equally I would tire quicker if I used a 60 cadence. I reckon I could train myself to ride at 100 rpm and be efficent there.
I tend to mix it up on long rides just to keep comfy. High cadence and lighter on the pedals puts more pressure on the old posterior so I find myself having to switch it up to get comfy.
The only thing I know is mist pros ride with a high cadence. Even a low cadence for a pro would be 80 which would be higher than a lot of casual riders use.
I think your body adapts to your cadence. I know when I try and push a higher cadence in a lower gear my heart rate goes up and I tire quicker. It's just not what I'm used to. Equally I would tire quicker if I used a 60 cadence. I reckon I could train myself to ride at 100 rpm and be efficent there.
I tend to mix it up on long rides just to keep comfy. High cadence and lighter on the pedals puts more pressure on the old posterior so I find myself having to switch it up to get comfy.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
They were grovelling and falling off, so maybe lower gears would have helped?
Stig Broeckx finished 109th, so perhaps the riders he was with were not exactly excelling!
I have seen races won by riders with low cadences, but I have also seen pro riders have to get off and walk because they were overgeared for the steep stuff.
When the Milk Race went up a local climb named Mytholm Steeps, many riders fell, still attached to their pedals by toestraps!
This thing ...
S-Express
Guest
They were grovelling and falling off, so maybe lower gears would have helped?
Perhaps they might. However, the contention was that 'we do not see the pros pedal slowly up climbs' - when the evidence clearly suggest different.
Feel free to enter next year's edition of RVV and show them how it's done, maybe?
