Cadence Question

[Trek1500]

Is there a way to determine cadence without a computer? Can you approximate it based on mph?

[dachshund]

Well, you're measuring revolutions per minute. If you have a watch that shows seconds, you can count your revolutions in 15 seconds, then multiply by 4.

[Geonz]

I approximate it by looking at my watch (or computer if it's working) - 60 rpm would be one time around per minute with both legs; 90 would be a 3-count (left-right-left) every second. I thought about figuring out how many seconds it took for me to get a full round ahead, taking that as "(x + 1)/X x 60 " rpm and decided I would crash into a tree trying to do that and would be really embarrassed trying to explain that in the ER. Right now it's only the cadence that works (the other wire broke), and I've learned some of the correlations between, say, the cadence it takes to go 17 mph in Big Gear #4.

[bikerz]

Yes - you can solve for cadence if you know your gear inches, wheel circumference and speed, but the equation is too tricky for me to do in my head while riding! In the old days (a former racing friend of mine told me) they used to have a little chart on their handlebars of rpm, gear and speed so they could count cadence and know their speed. I had a little spreadhseet wher I had it all worked out, but I "lost" it while swapping computers.

It is probably easier just to set your computer to "time", and then count revolutions over 30 seconds and multiply.

The Cateye Astrale 8 has cadence, is only about $35 or $40, and is very easy to install. I love mine - worth every penny!

[DebW]

Distance traveled per revolution of crank = (teeth in chainring)/(teeth in rear sprocket) * 2.* pi * radius of wheel

speed = (cadence in revolutions per hour) * (teeth in chainring)/(teeth in rear sprocket) * 2.* pi * radius of wheel


I guess the catch is that your speed may be off by 10-20% if you don't measure the radius of your wheel accurately with your weight on the bike and proper pressure in your tires.

[bcipam]

As you can tell without a computer telling cadence stroke is difficult - too much work. If you don't want to buy a computer with cadence do you have a friend with one? If so pace behind the friend and ask them to count off their cadence. Match them stroke per stroke and get a feel for what its like to ride with a 80 - 90 rpm cadence. I pretty much know without looking what I'm doing. With lots of practice it becomes natural.

[caligurl]

you can get a nice computer that has cadence... MUCH more easily than trying to figure it out!

and cadence is really important (at least IMO!)

[DrBee]

The Cateye Astrale 8 has cadence, is only about $35 or $40, and is very easy to install. I love mine - worth every penny!

I second that. I love mine! I even moved it from my hybrid to my roadbike and it still works great. It has worked flawlessly since I got it. I highly recommend!

[susanm8048]

Now please don't laugh too hard when I tell you what I do.

Do you remember that song: "I get knocked down, I get up again, nobody's gonna keep me down...."? Tubthumper or something). It has the perfect beat for a 80 rpm cadence.

I hum along to myself and speed up if it sounds too slow.

I can't believe that I have just confessed that!:D

[Trek1500]

Thanks everyone! To simplify things, I got the computer and had it put on yesterday. I had been guessing rpm up until then, and I'm surprised at how accurate I had been. :)

[Lifesgreat]

I second that. I love mine! I even moved it from my hybrid to my roadbike and it still works great. It has worked flawlessly since I got it. I highly recommend!

I third the Cateye Astrale 8. Even I could install it! :eek: