Gearing -

[doog]

I'm 61 - looking forward to finding out if there is a cadence limit to what I can max out at, and if once at the maximum will there be any specific training that will improve on this figure.

Getting enough bike time might be one factor. Would spinning classes be of any value?

Have you considered a Turbo trainer rather than spinning classes? add a few cycling vid's on a laptop(some excellent training vids out there) and you will get into the routine with cadence issues as they usually come with a cadence programme. Trying to stick with 90 rpm on the flat and throw in a few 100 for sprints is like learning to walk again but its effective.

 

[Chris Norton]

Got asked the other night on club ride why I wasn't using my big chain ring. My answear was that I was spinning my gears rather than grinding it out. I think a lot of people equate high gears with speed but just end up grinding away making it hard.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I try and do both, though I do find it easier grinding than spinning up the steeper hills, more due to an old injury I think.

 

[eevvee]

Despite the ever present wind on the North East Coast did get out this morning and tried varying cadence - mostly with a 50 : 16 gearing. My max speed in this gearing was 26.2 mph, which from the speed cadence tables requires a cadence of about 105. I will continue varying the cadence on future rides and hopefully be able to increase both the cadence and the time I can hold it forum.

Question I have is would the tail wind assist mean that my max cadence was in fact less than 105 ?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I span a 48x19 at 92 rpm this morning 18.1mph 66.1"
I guess I am just c***

 

[eevvee]

I span a 48x19 at 92 rpm this morning 18.1mph 66.1"
I guess I am just c***

The wind here was hard going when it was a head wind, my thinking is with it behind me it must have an impact and my max speed would have been achieved with a cadence lower than listed on the tables - without a cadence monitor however I am not sure by how much.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

The wind here was hard going when it was a head wind, my thinking is with it behind me it must have an impact and my max speed would have been achieved with a cadence lower than listed on the tables - without a cadence monitor however I am not sure by how much.

I think basically, spin at what is comfortable, and it's light pressure on the pedals, thats what I find, I was doing mid 80's avgerages last Aug, but I started climbing, and it slows you down, and I find I climb better these days out of the saddle than in, again I think due to the injury I may have mentioned, I can get up to a 100, but I can't currently maintain it very long.