Poor man's cadence meter

[rij73]

So, I'd been wanting to work on keeping a steady cadence, but didn't necessarily feel like buying a cyclometer with the cadence function. Plus it seemed like keeping an eye on the meter would be a bit of a hassle.

So, I just popped my metronome in my pocket, set it at 80bpm, and had it clicking away during my ride! It was very helpful. It was a nice auditory signal that I could really latch onto. Once I was feeling the rhythm it was easy to keep the steady cadence. I'd go out of sync for a few beats now and then when the slope changed, and that would be my signal to switch gears so I could get back in sync with the metronome. I feel like it increased my awareness of the terrain and kept me from slowing down for every little uphill...

So, my tip for whatever it's worth is to buy a cheap metronome and throw it in your pocket if you are wondering whether you are keeping a steady cadence and what that cadence is!

[Kimmyt]

Wow, great idea! I don't ride with a computer so sometimes wonder about things like cadence.

Thanks!

[rij73]

Yeah, this was really helpful. You can get a cheap metronome for about $10. There are clip-on ones by Seiko for about $25 that I bet would be great for this.

[meridian]

Awesome idea! I've got a computer that doesn't track cadence and have been itching to upgrade. Now to dig out the metronome from the old band days and give that a whirl until I can fork over the dough!

[7rider]

:confused: :confused:
My brother had (has?) a metronome that was big - about the size of a waterbottle - with a weighted arm. You slid the weight up the arm to correspond to the time/beat you wanted and the arm rocked back and forth like ... well, like the dangly things on a grandfather clock (don't know the name of them), only pointed up and not down.
So, I had this image in my head when reading this thread. Hmmmm, I thought, that's not exactly something you could carry in a jersey pocket!
When all else fails, I did what any reasonable modern person would do....
I googled "metronome."
Ahhhhhh, I see, sez the blind man.
Nifty.

[Thorn]

Thanks, Regina...that's exactly what I imagined. The big ol' wooden metronome up on the handle bars next to the cycling computer...oooh, if you bent too far forward :eek:

[JLZimrmn]

I just did a google search and found a metronome to use while on my trainer. I just turn on my computer (since it is in the same room as my trainer) and set the metronome to the pace I want. It works perfect for anyone who has a laptop or their computer and trainer are in the same room. And it is free!:D

[withm]

I just did a google search and found a metronome to use while on my trainer. I just turn on my computer (since it is in the same room as my trainer) and set the metronome to the pace I want. It works perfect for anyone who has a laptop or their computer and trainer are in the same room. And it is free!:D

Have you got a link for us?

[JLZimrmn]

I guess that would help!

www.metronomeonline.com

[Over50Newbie]

If anyone is interested, I have separate metronome bpms (beats per minute) saved as mp3s. I don't want to start a controversy over whether you should listen to your iPod while riding, but every once in a while, I will put on one of my metronome mp3s and listen to it while I bike to help me keep my cadence.

I have 65 bpm, 70 bpm, 75, bpm, 80 bpm, and so on in increments of 5, all the way up to 180 bpm.

If anyone wants any of them for their iPod, please PM me and I'll email them to you.

Just tell me what speeds you are interested in. My email program only allows me to send five at a time.

Lynette

[rij73]

I thought about doing that with mp3's too... Do you just make it a small mp3 file and repeat it? Does it stay steady when it repeats?

[madisongrrl]

Cateye Astrale 8 is a decent computer that has cadence. It has a rear wheel sensor so you can use it on the trainer.

This is one of many places when you can find it on the cheap.

http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesomewhere.cfm/product/36/183/53?bestbikebuys=1

[Geonz]

I want to figure out how to hook up an MP3 player to speakers and then put interesting sounds on it ... especially the squealing of brakes. When my brakes were noisy, *everybody* knew where I was!

[Over50Newbie]

rij73,

I have a separate mp3 for each one. I set my iPod to repeat the "song" forever, and it just keeps beating on and on at the cadence that was recorded. It sounds just like a metronome!:)

Lynette