EYE-TYE-MAD
New Member
I'll tell it to anyone, it's a fact!Try telling that to Bert Grabsch
Gearing
- Thread starter matt joy
- Start date
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lukesdad
Guest
Its not a fact at all.
Mugshot
Cracking a solo.
I think many beginners have a tendancy to use a very low gear, particularly when climbing. Whilst I don't see many other cyclists, if I do and they're going up a hill it's not unusual for their legs to be going round like catherine wheels. I suspect the thought process is that the lowest gear must be the right one for climbing, maybe they just like spinning, I dunno 
Anyway Matt, I'd second and third the comfort recommendation, if you feel you have to bob your head back and forth like a pigeon with every pedal stroke to keep going you may want to consider dropping down a cog or two.
Try to anticipate a little too, when you hit a hill start to change down at a rate which maintains your cadence and comfort, your bike wont thank you if you try to start dropping down the gears when you've already started to strain in your current gear, change it before it gets too hard
Mind, it was back in December you posted this, you've probably got it all sussed by now
Anyway Matt, I'd second and third the comfort recommendation, if you feel you have to bob your head back and forth like a pigeon with every pedal stroke to keep going you may want to consider dropping down a cog or two.
Try to anticipate a little too, when you hit a hill start to change down at a rate which maintains your cadence and comfort, your bike wont thank you if you try to start dropping down the gears when you've already started to strain in your current gear, change it before it gets too hard
Mind, it was back in December you posted this, you've probably got it all sussed by now
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Try to anticipate a little too, when you hit a hill start to change down at a rate which maintains your cadence and comfort, your bike wont thank you if you try to start dropping down the gears when you've already started to strain in your current gear, change it before it gets too hard
The best bit of advice on the thread so far.
EYE-TYE-MAD
New Member
Well, if you think Bert Grabsch rides a low cadence, Vision Express are doing a 2 for 1 offer!
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
I see a lot of people who seem have taken this cadence thing a bit too much to heart. On the road, but using MTBs, they seem to spinning their legs at great speed - and moving little faster at walking pace up the very slightest of inclines. Many more of those than "grinders" anyway.
It's true that for most people an efficient cadence is around 80 - 100 rpm .... but not everyone is the same - nor indeed does any one person have a single perfect cadence to suit all circumstances. I learned the hard way many years ago that I could hang with a quickish group for longer if I dropped a gear and spun against what seemed at the time to be very little resistance... but equally, by experimentation on a stationary bike, I know that my maximum wattage (that I can't sustain for very long) is with a higher gear and somewhere close to 65 rpm.
It's true that for most people an efficient cadence is around 80 - 100 rpm .... but not everyone is the same - nor indeed does any one person have a single perfect cadence to suit all circumstances. I learned the hard way many years ago that I could hang with a quickish group for longer if I dropped a gear and spun against what seemed at the time to be very little resistance... but equally, by experimentation on a stationary bike, I know that my maximum wattage (that I can't sustain for very long) is with a higher gear and somewhere close to 65 rpm.
lukesdad
Guest
Different circumstances, different approach. Reinforces what Pete is saying.Try telling that to Bert Grabsch
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhGz3qOTzNs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=QZxhWzMecps