Cadence

[HLaB]

Sorry to bring up the old subject of cadence. Its been suggested I up my cadence.
A bit of background on sections of a fast/ flat road ride mine currently is up to 80-85rpm on average but if I'm going the speed I feel comfortable with in a pack etc., I free wheel quite a bit so my overall average is circa 70rpm. I accelerate to 100+rpm when needed or on a uninterupted ride on the rollers or TT's I'm 89 rpm or above.
I tried upping my cadence for a while on all rides rather than sections but felt like I was spinning out at a certain distance and I'm more comfortable adjusting my cadence to suit the conditions (fast/slow). The response to that was initially my that would be the case but a higher cadence would be more advantagous to me in the longer term. What do folk think ?

 

[Rob3rt]

I think, taking zero's into account when working out average cadence is a silly thing to do!

I also think, people think to much about cadence, I blame magazines and internet forums!

 

[ScotiaLass]

I can't comment on that as I don't know much about it.
I ride to suit the conditions and my body and I enjoy it. I guess if you're a pro it's something you need to know about but for me the fun is just being out and riding.

 

[Blue]

High cadence was a trend that became most fashionable when L Armstrong started using the technique. It's supposed to be easier on the knees, but I think saddle/cleat adjustment have more impact there.

I just do what feels right for me. However, if you want to try you should expect a settling in period as the technique is harder on the cardiovascular system at first.

 

[Hacienda71]

Just ride at whatever cadence you feel comfortable with. I think you automatically adjust your cadence to suit the situation you are in.

 

[Fubar]

On a recent club run I noticed a young guy in front of me riding for SWC spinning a really high cadence - when we stopped to regroup I asked him why, he just said his coach had told him to keep his cadence around 100rpm throughout the winter rides. Apparently it's the "fashionable" coaching method at the moment, though there are as many that will tell you it doesn't work. Looks weird and seems counter-intuitive to me, but hey I'm useless!

 

[ColinJ]

If you have a low enough bottom gear that you do not have to grind uncomfortably on steep climbs, and a high enough top gear that you don't have to use a ridiculously high cadence when riding quickly, then you should be able to find a cadence that suits you.

I wouldn't take a lot of notice of what other people say is right for you. I'd suggest that everybody should experiment with their cadence to find out what suits them.

Fixed gear riders clearly don't worry about such things. As a non-fixed rider, I find that odd, but the people I know who enjoy riding fixed are not stupid so there must be something to it!

 

[Albert]

On a Turbo I average 90+ pushing quite a tough gear for a non-stop hour. On the road, on the flat I can hold 80 fairly easily for several miles. On a steep hill I often have to grind up at below 50. I think that most regular enthusiast cyclists can do the same, so HLab you seem to be in the same ball park as most folk.
Good competitive riders, on the other hand, seem to have altogether faster cadences and the Pros seem able to tootle along all day at 95+ up hill and down dale.

 

[Rob3rt]

On a Turbo I average 90+ pushing quite a tough gear for a non-stop hour. On the road, on the flat I can hold 80 fairly easily for several miles. On a steep hill I often have to grind up at below 50. I think that most regular enthusiast cyclists can do the same, so HLab you seem to be in the same ball park as most folk.
Good competitive riders, on the other hand, seem to have altogether faster cadences and the Pros seem able to tootle along all day at 95+ up hill and down dale.

I wouldn't generalise around that too much.

 

[Koga]

My cadence is similar to yours. I take note of cadence, but I don't do much with it as I cycle on how I feel. So the cadence fluctuates during the ride. For me it is all about small recoveries during the ride, so lower cadence when cycling is easy (whilst behind somebody, going downhill etc) and higher cadence on other sections.
Looks like you are doing the same.
Good luck.

 

[IanG1]

I looked into all this and am still non the wiser. I now measure my cadence and for instance during a 24 mile fairly flat ride on Saturday I averaged 105rpm over a 90 minute ride with maximum of 126rpm. What does this all mean? well I ain't got a clue it just feels right for me and I don't feel comfortable if I drop below around 85rpm. Just listen to your legs and do what comes naturally. I tend to turbo at around 90rpm but with more resistance than I would normally feel comfortable with on the road, again ain't got a clue if it's right but feels OK to me.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

24 mile fairly flat ride on Saturday I averaged 105rpm over a 90 minute ride with maximum of 126rpm.

What does this all mean?

Absolutely fook all

well I ain't got a clue it just feels right for me and I don't feel comfortable if I drop below around 85rpm. Just listen to your legs and do what comes naturally. I tend to turbo at around 90rpm but with more resistance than I would normally feel comfortable with on the road, again ain't got a clue if it's right but feels OK to me.