Cadence on touring bikes

[GmanUK65]

Does anyone use cadence on their cycling computer on their touring bike. I'm finding it quite useful as it tells me when to change gear when it is too high or low. On a road bike it should be aimed at keeping it between 80 and 90 rpm, but what about tour bikes, what are peoples views?

 

[mcshroom]

If it helps you then fine. I've never really found a need for it.

Touring is about comfort and looking around for me, not worrying about stats or efficiency (80-90 rpm is a prety arbitrary measure anyway), so I just go with how I feel as I'm riding along.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Does anyone use cadence on their cycling computer on their touring bike. I'm finding it quite useful as it tells me when to change gear when it is too high or low. On a road bike it should be aimed at keeping it between 80 and 90 rpm, but what about tour bikes, what are peoples views?

Yep. It’s a nice thing to be able to monitor Cadence accurately, as ( I find ) efficiency is, if anything, more important on my touring rides, as I’m generally spending more time ‘orbiting’ a group.

 

[Racing roadkill]

80-90 rpm is the pretty arbitrary measure scientifically proven cadence at which your leg muscles are working most efficiently, regarding ‘switching’ and duration of ‘switch’ anyway

IFTFY.

 

[mcshroom]

No it is arbitrary. The science shows that cyclists have a range of optimal cadences, indeed a number of different studies have found wide variations in the determined optimum cadence - Coast & Welch, 1985 , 90–105 rpm; Eckermann & Millahn, 1967, 30–60 rpm; Hagberg, Mullin, Giese, & Spitznagel, 1981, 80–90 rpm; Wildrick, Freedson, & Hamill, 1992, 35–57 rpm for example.

The optimal cadence for any particular rider varies depending on a number of biomechanical differences, and also on what optimisation you are looking for. Foss & Halen found in 2004 that the optimum cadence for the same person increases the greater the amount of work required by the cyclist, therefore a touring cyclist on that measure could well expect to have a lower optimum cadence than a pro racer, simply because cycle touring is normally a lower power pursuit.

I do find it rather annoying to see people blindly quote values like this without understanding the mechanisms behind the calculations, and what the experiments they were derived from were trying to test.

 

[rich p]

If I was you I'd spend more time worrying about whether the bar is still going to be open when you finish the day.
Cadence on tour!!!!

 

[GmanUK65]

No it is arbitrary. The science shows that cyclists have a range of optimal cadences, indeed a number of different studies have found wide variations in the determined optimum cadence - Coast & Welch, 1985 , 90–105 rpm; Eckermann & Millahn, 1967, 30–60 rpm; Hagberg, Mullin, Giese, & Spitznagel, 1981, 80–90 rpm; Wildrick, Freedson, & Hamill, 1992, 35–57 rpm for example.

The optimal cadence for any particular rider varies depending on a number of biomechanical differences, and also on what optimisation you are looking for. Foss & Halen found in 2004 that the optimum cadence for the same person increases the greater the amount of work required by the cyclist, therefore a touring cyclist on that measure could well expect to have a lower optimum cadence than a pro racer, simply because cycle touring is normally a lower power pursuit.

I do find it rather annoying to see people blindly quote values like this without understanding the mechanisms behind the calculations, and what the experiments they were derived from were trying to test.

This was the amount of rpm I based my efficiency at when riding my road bike but as what sort of mentioned before, efficient cadence would differ on a touring bike because tour bikes are not used for speed so a higher cadence would not be needed. I suppose another thing to consider is that road bike tyres do not grip the road as touring bike tyres so doing a cadence for road cycling on touring bikes would be less efficient (just a thought, no scientific evidence in this). Obviously for efficiency there has got to be a basis to work on for touring bikes otherwise monitoring cadence would be pointless. So, what cadence do people try to keep to when riding touring bikes?

 

[raleighnut]

I just ride.

 

[roadrash]

The ideal cadence when touring is whatever is comfortable

 

[Cycleops]

If it helps you then fine. I've never really found a need for it.

Touring is about comfort and looking around for me, not worrying about stats or efficiency.

This tourist would seem to concur:


View: https://youtu.be/Grad9m2K5g0

 

[GmanUK65]

This tourist would seem to concur:


View: https://youtu.be/Grad9m2K5g0

I suppose you are all correct. It's just coming from road cycling to touring (haven't started touring yet just riding a touring bike. Hopefully having my first one nighter next weekend). I suppose I will have to get out of the road cycling mindset when riding the tourer.

 

[DaveReading]

I bought the cadence add-on for my Sigma computer a couple of years ago, but ended up taking it off as my legs could tell me just as well whether I was pedalling too fast/slow.

 

[raleighnut]

I suppose you are all correct. It's just coming from road cycling to touring (haven't started touring yet just riding a touring bike. Hopefully having my first one nighter next weekend). I suppose I will have to get out of the road cycling mindset when riding the tourer.

Have fun,

I treat my 'touring' much the same as I treated backpacking.........The minute I leave the house I'm on holiday.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Personally I think that when we are touring we adjust our cadance to suit the need, I have never given it much of a thought.

 

[ianrauk]

Personally I think that when we are touring we adjust our cadance to suit the need, I have never given it much of a thought.

...and that is how to enjoy touring. By not giving such things as cadence, hr, speed etc much thought. Touring is enjoying a ride, not worrying about such matters.