How many of you use cadence for training ?

[Doyleyburger]

Iv never been a numbers geek when it comes to cycling and never cycled with a cadence sensor or anything as I have always been the type to just get on my bike and ride, simply for the enjoyment of riding for my own pleasure....... never been one for worrying about average speed or getting that KOM on strava. ....Although I must admit iv always been delighted when I manage to get one if I'm feeling particularly strong that day.
I am now however thinking about taking cycling/training a bit more seriously and will be partaking in lots of sportives next year.
So I'm interested to see how many of you use cadence monitoring for your training and does it work for you ? Have you seen improvements etc ?
I currently use a garmin edge 200 which doesn't a support cadence sensor.
Thanks

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

I don't specifically focus on it but I do know I perform most consistently over a good distance riding between 92-100.

 

[Big Dave laaa]

I find it helps to monitor it, as the previous poster said if you can keep a reasonably high cadence on long distances you suffer less from muscle fatigue. I used to try and do it by feel but find a cadence sensor does prompt me to change down a gear if I'm flagging.

 

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

Interesting anecdote. I had cadence on-screen for years then rode for a year or so without it. I've been using cad again most of this year and hardly surprisingly, my averages have barely changed across any ride type.

Extrapolate whatever you desire from that, but the main point should be that any given rider will naturally select their own cadence for a given scenario and will ride to it regardless of numbers on a screen.

 

[Citius]

^^ As above. Train the effort, not the cadence. Cadence is not a training goal - sustainable power is.

 

[Cuchilo]

I have cadence on show but never use it . Ive just started using heart rate mainly to see what efforts I give for TT's and to see if I can give more when training .

 

[ayceejay]

That a rider will naturally select their own cadence for a given scenario is the reason to train with cadence as pedaling faster than your own natural cadence has to be learned. If you think that a higher cadence will improve your performance in any way you will have to train yourself to do it.

 

[Citius]

That a rider will naturally select their own cadence for a given scenario is the reason to train with cadence as pedaling faster than your own natural cadence has to be learned.

Why will it be beneficial to learn to pedal faster than your naturally-selected cadence?

 

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

That a rider will naturally select their own cadence for a given scenario is the reason to train with cadence as pedaling faster than your own natural cadence has to be learned. If you think that a higher cadence will improve your performance in any way you will have to train yourself to do it.

As per Citius post above.

 

[midlife]

People at work use heart rate and power, not heard much talk of cadence....

Shaun

 

[fossyant]

It's a useful tool to use especially for the average. If you are fiding your average low then you may need to think about increasing it. Average should be roughly between 80 and 100 rpm

 

[Citius]

It's a useful tool to use especially for the average. If you are fiding your average low then you may need to think about increasing it. Average should be roughly between 80 and 100 rpm

Er, why should it?

 

[ayceejay]

The other part of my post went something like this:
If you think that a higher cadence will improve your performance in any way
meaning : If you think that a higher cadence will improve your performance in any way you will have to train yourself to do it.
I think that puts the onus on the OP rather than me but there has been lot of research and information on the value of a higher cadence
and if the OP thinks that a higher cadence will improve his performance in any way he will have to train himself to do it and using a gadget to measure
cadence would be essential.

 

[windyrider]

Cadence or the speed at which the work is being done ie spinning the pedals x the force ie how hard you press on the pedals = power or watts generated.
Thus spin faster and keep the same force = go faster
press harder on pedals spin same speed = go faster
spin faster and press harder = go fasterer ,

Pedalling in a high gear, with low cadence is a poor way to produce power and is inefficient. Cadences in the 85 to 95 RPM seems to generate the best effective/efficient gains, easier said than done though in my experience. Especially when you try to maintain high cadence whilst going up a steep climb, hard on the cardiovascular system

 

[Citius]

Pedalling in a high gear, with low cadence is a poor way to produce power and is inefficient

Extremes at both ends of the scale are inefficient. There is evidence to suggest that for a given power output, lower cadences are actually more efficient than higher cadences though.