Poll: Should I push for a higher cadence?

a_n_t

Shadowduck wrote:

I know the Blackstone Edge climb very well and ride up it frequently from all three possible directions.

hhmmmmm, I hardly ever head northwards out of manchester, sounds like I should give it a whirl!!

markos1963

Just got a cadence computer and discovered my average is around 85. Very happy and comfortable with this and able to get up into the high nineties when needed. I run a 50/34 with a 12/25 set up and spend most of the time on the main ring and the 15/16 sprockets.

Mettan

It's interesting - on the recent Cheshire Cat I'd estimate the typical cadence I saw from other riders was around 65-85 - virtually nobody (that I saw) was doing a 90rpm or above - typical "Team" riders that passed me seemed to be pushing "big" gears in a slowish measured fashion - and they typically pulled away in "slow" inexorable manner - again, big gears/lowish cadence - admitedly there were one or two whippets lashing away but by and large it was largely the opposite.

Of course, none of the above is a comment on what the optimum cadence is for many - (85-95 rpm is often mentioned in that context) - the above is just an observation

oldwelshman

I still do not understand the point of cadence monitoring and IMO is a waste of money
There is no prven difference between high or low cadence whether on flat or climbs so what is the point?
It is a personal thing and as I said befor comes natural.
Using a sportive as an example of riders cadence is probaly not a good idea as it is too narrow a vie. In a road race you often see higher cadences.
I have absolutely no idea what mine is and do not really care
On a sportive I just ride naturally, if I come to a hill if its long I will probably sit and twiddle, if its steep get out of saddle and grind.
In track races I have no choice, one gear so if I want to go faster I have to pedal faster.
In road race if I feel as if I cannot pedal any faster, I change to a bigger gear, simple.
So at the end of the day I guess my cadence "probably" varies from 50 to 180
So the moral is you probably have to be able to vary cadence rather than select !an optimum" and monitor it on a computer and try to keep it constant.

oldwelshman

Anyway, in reply to the OP, I would say stick with the cadence your comfortable with and change gear and pedal same cadence if you want to go faster.

Toks

Shavedlegs wrote:

I used to push a big gear at low cadence, . I don't think it has made a jot of difference one way or the other. .

No?? Ok Mr 2nd cat why not experiment and push that big gear in your next crit race and let us know how you get on

redddraggon

I've just got a cadence meter on my bike - I don't seem to have an ideal cadence I seem to be anywhere between 60 and 100 over flattish terrain.

Is there a "optimum cadence"? Obviously it's probably different for different people, could it be that I've got roughly the same efficiency over the range?

celbianchi

I have been experimenting in my racing this season. I have made a conscious effort to ride one sprocket lower than I would on instinct, and turn my legs marginally more quickly.
I think in racing the key is to turn as low a gear as you can get away with and stayi int he break or bunch.
By doing this the theory is that you have more oomph in the legs for when the hammer goes down or to have some zip for the fiinish.
It may be my mind playing tricks on me but I have certainly been feeling fresher at key points in races.

ColinJ

a_n_t wrote:

Shadowduck wrote:

I know the Blackstone Edge climb very well and ride up it frequently from all three possible directions.

hhmmmmm, I hardly ever head northwards out of manchester, sounds like I should give it a whirl!!

There are loads of good climbs over here well worth coming over for. I've seen Manchester Wheelers going up through Cragg Vale to Blackstone Edge lots of times.

Here's a suggested route taking in Blackstone Edge from two directions:

From Littleborough, climb to Blackstone Edge, turn left at the reservoir (shown in the photo above) descend to Mytholmroyd, left onto the A646 and pass through Hebden Bridge to Todmorden. Right at the roundabout and then it's a long drag up Cliviger gorge to the junction with the A671 on the fringes of Burnley. Left and climb to Deerplay Moor, descend into Bacup (just make sure you aren't dressed as a Goth ), bear left and climb to Sharneyford, descend to the A6033. Turn left to Todmorden, right for Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, right there onto the B6138 and go uphill for about 8.5 km, right at the top and enjoy the fast descent back to Littleborough. That's about 77 km with approximately 1,000 m of climbing.

Alex_Simmons/RST

redddraggon wrote:

Is there a "optimum cadence"?

not really, indeed it's a fairly pointless exercise attempting to find such a thing.

It is exactly the same as asking the question "is there an optimum torque?"

People only focus on cadence because it is quite simple to measure, whereas torque is not. If one is going to focus on cadence while training then it must be done with reference to a particular torque or power output.

But I need not go on, have a read here:

http://anonymous.coward.free.fr/wattage ... nents.html

now this is not to say that cadence should be ignored, simply that it should be considered along with torque and/or power output.

dennisn

I once aked a triathlete(and a pretty fast one at that) why he didn't use a higher cadence.
He must have been using around 60 rpm's. A real "pounder" as we say over here.
His reply was " push bigger gear, go faster". So what does this mean?? Hell if I know,
I'm just relating the story. Well, maybe it means to each his own.

Dennis Noward