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Slow1972
Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Posts: 226
Location: Manchester
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 Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 10:14 am |
Part of the LA being known for using "high cadence" in the mountains was back when Jan Ullrich was grinding up climbs at 60 rpm (which down to his muscle composition suited him - he tried higher cadence and reverted back) So LA's cadence was higher. But its all relative, he was being measured against someone at the bottom end of the scale.
He wasn't noticeably turning the pedals any quicker against the current crop of climbers in the Giro and TDF
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Slow1972
Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Posts: 226
Location: Manchester
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 10:21 am |
BTW I agree with Rich158, knowing gear inches isn't going to make you more efficient.
Just ride off feel, feels too spinny, drop a sprocket, legs feel like they are having to 'push' a bit too much, go up one. Ride a gear you're comfortable with rather than riding a gear you think you "should" be riding to do "x" speed.
Your legs will be fresher some days than others, this can also make a difference as what gear you turn comfortably.
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DesWeller
Joined: 05 May 2008
Posts: 279
Location: Frocester Hill
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 10:29 am |
Try a spinning class. Holy. Moly.
- - -
FCN 4 - BeOne Storm 1.0 (hairy legged roadie)
FCN 8 - The Winter Beast (panniered hybrid)
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WGWarburton
Joined: 11 Sep 2008
Posts: 536
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 10:35 am |
| will3 wrote: | | Onan wrote: |
That makes no sense to be honest. 39/12 is around 86 inches. Most people who ride fixed spin a significantly smaller gear than that. |
Are you sure that's not because otherwise they'd have to push up hills?  |
As with "best cadence" that depends...
Fixies: Choose your gear to suit your terrain, so you want to spend most of your time at your best cadence. You might go lower if that'll let you climb some specific hill on your normal routes without dismounting; or even go higher, if you find a steep descent too much but TBH I think most people riding fixed would just MTFU and use the uphills to build strength and the downhills to build souplesse... that's why it works as a training aid.
The gear you pick therefore comes down to what speed you can maintain at your natural cadence- If you can hold 22mph and like to spin a little over 90rpm then you go for an 80" gear. Personally, I like to spin around 100 but can't hold even 20mph, so I use a gear around 68" (and may well go down to 65 or so through the winter).
With cadence generally, the muscle mix and balance between strength and endurance (and lung capacity) will vary between individuals, so their natural cadence varies, too. You can train up a bit (and maybe down?) by working at it- I presume this develops the exercised muscles and affects the balance between types(?). Developing smoothness/technique will affect it too- It seems obvious that a smoother technique would be more efficient, though I've no evidence to back that up.
Cheers,
W.
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gtvlusso
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 1905
Location: Brizzle
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 10:51 am |
20 MPH is quite fast when you bin it......been there scuffed that!
I think I can average about 22 MPH over 80 miles or so - hurts allot though!
Fixie
Roadie
Wilma |
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_Brun_
Joined: 09 Jul 2007
Posts: 942
Location: London Town
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 11:34 am |
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Harry B
Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 893
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 11:38 am |
| Slow1972 wrote: |
He wasn't noticeably turning the pedals any quicker against the current crop of climbers in the Giro and TDF |
Isn't that the whole point. Lance led the way (at least to some extent) using a high cadence and this has been continued today with Contedor et al
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gtvlusso
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 1905
Location: Brizzle
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The Beginner
Joined: 30 Apr 2009
Posts: 468
Location: Leamington Spa
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 12:41 pm |
When I started I forced myself to use a higher cadance than my old fashioned 50-60rpm, now its natural and spinning slower feels more tiring....its what you train your legs to expect I guess.
DDD, I thought it was obvious that 20mph wasn't that fast, the slowest I drop to on my commute is (according to the GPS tracker I borrowed) 15mph and that's up relatively steep slopes.
Simon
FCN9 using a home built hybrid (believed to be a Carrera touring frame) also building an MTB from a Kraken frame. |
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fnegroni
Joined: 27 Jan 2009
Posts: 307
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 12:45 pm |
| WGWarburton wrote: |
The gear you pick therefore comes down to what speed you can maintain at your natural cadence- If you can hold 22mph and like to spin a little over 90rpm then you go for an 80" gear. Personally, I like to spin around 100 but can't hold even 20mph, so I use a gear around 68" (and may well go down to 65 or so through the winter).
With cadence generally, the muscle mix and balance between strength and endurance (and lung capacity) will vary between individuals, so their natural cadence varies, too. You can train up a bit (and maybe down?) by working at it- I presume this develops the exercised muscles and affects the balance between types(?). Developing smoothness/technique will affect it too- It seems obvious that a smoother technique would be more efficient, though I've no evidence to back that up.
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+1
Training for LeJOG in 2010.
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rake
Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 188
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 5:04 pm |
it depends a lot on the angle of the road,wind and speed you want to go and distance and person. ive learned a lot since i got a cadence computer. people naturally go to a higher cadence when attacking the pace. higher cadence does seem to give less fatigue in my legs and no doubt less agro to my skeleton. i still crank a big gear sometimes to help with leg strength which is usefull for hills.
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Aguila
Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 253
Location: Nottingham
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 2:10 pm |
| DonDaddyD wrote: | 20mph ain't all that fast.
What does this mean? 2 different gears, one has a smaller gear inch where I'm able to achieve the same speed on the bike. The smaller gear comes with comfort and sustainability?
Do I prefer to spin as my cadence was higher in the 39 than it would be in the 50. Have I been riding my bike wrong? |
That you dont know how to use your gears.
www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=6277 |
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prawny
Joined: 26 Nov 2008
Posts: 1668
Location: Cannock Chase
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The Beginner
Joined: 30 Apr 2009
Posts: 468
Location: Leamington Spa
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 10:33 pm |
LOL, maybe your slope is steeper than mine......
Simon
FCN9 using a home built hybrid (believed to be a Carrera touring frame) also building an MTB from a Kraken frame. |
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El Diego
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 103
Location: Manchester
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 10:33 pm |
When I go over 20mph on the drops I think I'm in Tron.
Let's have a minute's silence for all those who are currently sitting in traffic on the way to the gym to ride a stationary bicycle |
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prawny
Joined: 26 Nov 2008
Posts: 1668
Location: Cannock Chase
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prawny
Joined: 26 Nov 2008
Posts: 1668
Location: Cannock Chase
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jejv
Joined: 26 Feb 2008
Posts: 18
Location: Cambridge
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Posted Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:51 pm |
| Wrath Rob wrote: | | Your partner or your drive chain? |
White Lightening ?
Fortunately I have a stock of spare keyboards.
| Rich158 wrote: | | It's a balance, too slow taxes your muscles too much and leads to tired legs, too fast and you tax your aerobic system too much. (...) |
Why are you telling him this ? He has enought scalps already.
Get out of traffic and experiment with different gears. Repeat periodically. Last time I tried, I found that dropping a gear felt slower & less effort, but computer said I was going faster. Cadence computer can help, once you think you know what your efficient rpm is - reminds me not to stomp up hills or into a headwind, when I could go faster/further by staying spinny.
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DonDaddyD
Joined: 19 Jun 2007
Posts: 4128
Location: The middle distance
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Posted Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:01 pm |
Yesterday I thought I overcame it but I haven't as I found this morning and the problem is centralised in two gears on my bike (8 speed).
The big ring and third cog on my cassette is around 73 inches (53 x 19, I believe) which is a little too 'light' for my muscles meaning I hae to spin uncomfortably to get 20mph. Extended use in this gear leaves me out of breath (lack of stamina)
The fourth cog is about 81inches (53 x 17, I believe) and feels stiff on my muscles and gives me anything from 20 - 24/26mph. Extended use in this gear makes my muscles feel tired and drains my power.
It is the most infuriating thing as I can't find a truly comfortable gear - a combination between my strength and cadence ability). Reading this back makes me sound like a girls blouse...
Help shed some light on this.
Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights as you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game |
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MonkeyMonster
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 879
Location: Olympia--> SCR Racetrack <-- Angel
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