Pedalling Style

[ayceejay]

If the answer to every question regarding training or improving performance is "just turn the cranks" or "ride your bike" we could slimline cycle chat and do our bit for global warming.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

small stuff. my preference and body style may not be yours, I'm a grinder more than a spinner, high (80+) cadence feels odd to me. I know I could train myself to adapt but I get where I want to go and in a time that I'm comfy with, doing what feels right for my body.

There is no one size fits all solution, do what feels right and tweak it to improve, but unless you're really dedicated to a particular doctrine or system maybe don't worry too much about making dramatic changes if they are going to take you a long way out of what feels natural to you.

 

[Rob3rt]

Optimum for what, though...

Anything...

 

[totallyfixed]

There are grinders and spinners, it was always thus. One or the other, or indeed something in between is more efficient for some than others. The longer you ride a bike, the more efficient you should become which in turn will determine your optimum cadence for the conditions. It is not rocket science, just listen to your own body. This question pops up more often than an epileptic toaster, as do the googled answers.

 

[cyberknight]

Im just awkward, i spin when on the flat but i like to climb out of the saddle in a (relatively ) big gear .
For commuting on the flat with panniers in doing 21-22 mph in a 50 x 17 or 50 x 15 so 80 - 90 rpm then most hills i will climb in 50 x 21/ 23 so 60 rpm ish .

 

[jack smith]

Given that information, I would suggest that the people suggesting you do something about your cadence are indeed correct and you ought to lift it a bit. Very few people would find their optimum cadence in that sort of ballpark you are riding at.

Its what i find works best for me i can maintain a cracking pace and dont tire ive tried religiously spinning and its not for me.

 

[Rob3rt]

Its what i find works best for me i can maintain a cracking pace and dont tire ive tried religiously spinning and its not for me.

As you can probably gather from my other posts, I don't think there is a right or wrong way to go about it (as opposed to many who buying into the 90 rpm or death mantra), however this comes with a caveat, the caveat that whilst there is no one ideal cadence, there are certainly "far from ideal" cadences (under normal operating conditions, this excepts such circumstances as encountering very steep hills etc) and if you tend to operate in these ranges you should at least evaluate other options thoroughly. I'd say you fall solidly into that category.

I am not suggesting that you try "spinning", but gradually increase your cadence by probably at least 20 rpm.

You can take or leave this advice, it is no skin off of my nose.

There are grinders and spinners, it was always thus. One or the other, or indeed something in between is more efficient for some than others. The longer you ride a bike, the more efficient you should become which in turn will determine your optimum cadence for the conditions. It is not rocket science, just listen to your own body. This question pops up more often than an epileptic toaster, as do the googled answers.

You know as well as I do that riding at 50-60 rpm under normal riding conditions is not likely to be the most efficient cadence, nor anywhere near for the vast majority of cyclists though.

 

[Venod]

Its what i find works best for me i can maintain a cracking pace and dont tire ive tried religiously spinning and its not for me

If that's your cadence and it works for you that's all that matters, but what happens when the group you are with who are spinning suddenly up the pace and are now spinning in a higher gear, do you keep up with the acceleration ? are you able to spin at faster speeds if need be ?

 

[huwsparky]

Froome 110 - 115, Contador 85 - 90. Who wins between the two is a toss of a coin. That tells me that you should ride at what you feel comfortable as everyone is different.

Personally, for what it's worth, I try to sit down as much as possible and concentrate on keeping cadence as high as I can. I do stand but mainly only for short and sharp climbs or for a change to stretch the legs. It seems to suit me better as I'm petty sure I'm faster over a distance sat down even though sometimes it doesn't feel that way.

 

[moo]

I recently installed a cadence sensor and was a little surprised that my comfort zone is around 100rpm. It doesn't feel like I'm pedalling fast and I always thought it was far lower.

 

[jack smith]

If that's your cadence and it works for you that's all that matters, but what happens when the group you are with who are spinning suddenly up the pace and are now spinning in a higher gear, do you keep up with the acceleration ? are you able to spin at faster speeds if need be ?

Ill just up the cadence, abit like a single speed to be honest, i grind the big ring on the flats and spin away up hills i use both extremes of the cassette but not often the middle ratios its never failed me yet so im sticking with it i do sometimes go out specifically to up the cadence and train my legs abit though seems to be good for aerobic endurance

 

[bpsmith]

@Rob3rt i believe that there is one ideal cadence for any person at any given level. It's the cadence where you increase slightly until feel that you get faster but find it actually easier to pedal for longer. Then stick at that cadence as any higher and it's extra effort and fatigue sets in quicker. Kind of like a natural rhythm. I find mine at about 83. You can most definitely train to increase this obviously.

 

[Rob3rt]

Each person will have a range (not an absolute, singular value) in which they perform optimally, this will vary with intensity amongst other things. By way of an example, the ideal cadence for maximal speed over a set distance (high intensity) will in most cases be different than that for maximal endurance (low intensity) for any given individual.

 

[bpsmith]

Kind of agree with that. Obviously, I can go faster than my natural 83, but has a negative effect on my energy levels. A shorter faster ride results in me either pushing a higher cadence or a bigger gear, but this isn't my ideal cadence then.

 

[Rob3rt]

Kind of agree with that. Obviously, I can go faster than my natural 83, but has a negative effect on my energy levels. A shorter faster ride results in me either pushing a higher cadence or a bigger gear, but this isn't my ideal cadence then.

I don't see how you can kind of agree with me when you appear to have misunderstood my comment and posted contrary to it (including a rather fundamental confusion regarding power).

Ultimately it is unimportant to the OP and most other cyclists, so long as they aren't doing something that is off to one extreme or the other.