Which gear?

[Bruno28]

Thanks for all the help folks. I'm just back from my first ride in mainly 2nd gear and it certainly got my speed up a bit (probably would have done better if my tyres had been properly pumped up...but that story's on another thread).


I'd say I was still more 'I get knocked down...' than 'Lust for life' but I'm getting there. I've noticed now that my thighs hurt more than my calfs which is probably right?

Finally- if I could try your patience for just a bit longer....should I be pedalling with the ball of my foot or more with the kind of middle bit (which is what I'm doing).

Don't worry I'm sure I'll get the hang of all this eventually

[Geonz]

You should feel more power from the balls of your feet. It's also a bit easier to work on that "round and round, not up and down" idea of getting the most power out of all-the-way-around the pedal stroke.

I also prefer to use a 3/4 or 6/8 tune, which makes for better balance and is more like my "alternate breathing" rhythms in swimming. ("Anyhow, I Love You" [Guy Clark] is one I *try* to do but it's kind of wrapped around itself so sometimes I almost fall off...)

[KSH]

Thanks Veronica. You are right - I am spinning slow, with a fair amout of resistance due to the gears, on the basis that I thought I needed to build up strength in my legs. I'll ease up on this now, as I feel my legs have gotten stronger in quite a short time, and hopefully I'll go a bit faster and a bit easier.

SO much to learn....but such great fun.

I too thought this when I first started riding.

After 2-3 months of doing this... muscling through pedaling... aka: mashing the pedals... I got ACCUTE knee pain. That knee pain took about 3 months to heal.

Honestly, I didn't understand WHEN to shift gears... until I got a computer with CADENCE.

I only look at my cadence and I shift according to what it says. I try to keep in the 90-100 range. When I get to 103, I shift into a harder gear. If my cadence is around 80, I shift into a easier gear.

This saved my knees... AND made me a better cyclist.

Keep getting out there and doing it... learn how to use cadence... and someday you will be FLYING down the road too.

Finally- if I could try your patience for just a bit longer....should I be pedalling with the ball of my foot or more with the kind of middle bit (which is what I'm doing).

Most of the pressure will be on the ball of your foot, but you should not tippy-toe pedal. WAIT! Are you clipless? My advice on how you pedal refers to clipless.

[Bruno28]

Typically, before I read all this advice about cadence I bought a bike computer. I thought, "I'll go for something relatively sophisticated so I'll gradually use more of the functions, but I don't want some ridiculous overcomplicated thing showing this cadence nonsense" How quickly we learn. It does however tell me how much fat and calories I'm burning...which really isn't all that useful as I've got a pair of bathroom scales and an inchtape.

I've just got normal pedals - not sure if there's a special term for them - just put my feet on top of them and go...no clipping, no straps. I'm riding a hybrid, if that helps.

PS Can you girls start giving musical references that a 50 year old will recognise ????