Gearing - Confused

[themosquitoking]

Hi,

A cadence sensor will just tell you stuff you should already know based on your
gears and road speed. Its not hard to be aware of pedalling fast and slow.
Mashing and spinning related to cadence are things you just do, and I work
on improving both because what you really want is to be able to when you want
to is to put a lot of torque through the pedals at high rpm = maximum power.

If your geeky its useful information, as is a power meter too. But really all
you need to do is change your mindset about being in the right gear.
At any one time you have a mashing and spinning option by changing
up or down from the gear you generally feel most comfortable in.

Generally the mistake people make is mashing too much, and they
need to work on spinning until it becomes a de facto mindset part.

Generally work on spinning more than mashing starting off, but when
you can and do generally pedal fast, you aren't going to going to get
anywhere trying to pedal really fast, unless your a sprinter.

In the longer run spinning and mashing combine, in that you work
on being able to spin higher and higher gears with more pedal torque.
In other words long term its all about averege power output.

For a 50+ person like me its more about just doing the hills easier,
not going as fast as possible all the time, peak rather than average.

rgds, sreten.

This is an awesome post.

 

[themosquitoking]

[QUOTE 2758249, member: 259"]Then hit the like button! [/quote]
Make me.

 

[bpsmith]

This away in your mind, good places?

Miles away thinking of random things, mostly good, sometimes not so good. Deep in thought and then realise not going as fast as I could be. Don't tell me I am alone in this thinking time whilst cycling?

 

[bpsmith]

Not really.

 

[bpsmith]

I don't think I could do that. The measuring is really helping me to improve every time I ride. Its great enjoying the riding, but even better when you get home and you find that you really are progressing, despite being poorer weather and there being more leaves on the track.

Sorry for the thread hijack guys.

 

[Crackle]

Miles away thinking of random things, mostly good, sometimes not so good. Deep in thought and then realise not going as fast as I could be. Don't tell me I am alone in this thinking time whilst cycling?

You're not, no. Just be careful when clearing your head. I can tell you that no breakfast, no money in your pocket and a rough day can be a bad combination, especially when 40 miles in you look up to realize where you are, that you haven't eaten, have no money and need to ride 40 miles back. Still, everything was in the right perspective when I did finally grovel home.

 

[Crackle]

Character building opportunities eh?

More of a lesson.

 

[bpsmith]

You're not, no. Just be careful when clearing your head. I can tell you that no breakfast, no money in your pocket and a rough day can be a bad combination, especially when 40 miles in you look up to realize where you are, that you haven't eaten, have no money and need to ride 40 miles back. Still, everything was in the right perspective when I did finally grovel home.

Interesting that. Bet you had a lot of grovelling that day!

I have looked up to find myself 10 miles further than I thought once. I always tuck my garage key and a tenner in the iPod slot of my Nike long sleeve top just in case, but that wouldn't help if I did 30 miles more I must admit.

 

[theloafer]

I stash a couple of £20 notes, one in my tool pouch.

I used to stash cash in the end of the handlebars in case of an emergency... then found a tenner in an old pair I was cleaning up to give to a mate .