Cadence

[Jenn]

So basically, you want your legs moving faster instead of a slow burning pace, which I know you have to do that also, but for the most part you want your cadence up. I know when I spin it's WAY up there but when I ride outside I'm still trying to figure it out.

[han-grrl]

You don't need to get yourself a computer...

here are some quick ways to measure:

ok so real quick - count number of revolutions on one side in 6 seconds, add a 0, that's roughly your cadence

a little more accurate - count number of revolutions of one leg (one side) for about 15 seconds, multiply by 4.

You want to pedal at a comfortable rate, with some tension in the chain, and without bouncing in the saddle. most people pedal naturally around 80-90 on average, but some people are gear mashers, and some pedal quicker.

SPIIIIIIIIIIIN!

Han

[singletrackmind]

Rpms on your computer has to do with how fast yer wheels are spinning. Cadence...how fast yer cranks are spinning, like NJBikeGal said. You can get a computer that has a sensor for cadence if you want. I did because I tend to spin slow on big gears, which I am trying to change to a faster spin in smaller gears to preserve whatever may be left of my arthritic knees. Seeing that number constantly is a reminder.

Now if only I could find some fast-twitch muscles!

[li10up]

Not to nit-pic but I don't want anyone to be confused. Cadence, in cycling, is how quickly you are turning the cranks. Not how quickly the wheels are spinning. You could be coasting with a cadence of 0 but you could be traveling 30mph ie., coasting downhill. There is usually a sensor mounted on the chainstay and a magnet on the pedal crank. Each time the magnet passes the sensor it counts on revolution. RPMs are then displayed on your computer.

[Eden]

??????? I'll have to check it out, since I don't think I've ever seen a bike computer that reads out wheel rpm's..... seems like pretty useless data on a bike.

[singletrackmind]

A couple of my Cateyes read RPM and yeah, at least for me, pretty useless info. Maybe if I wanted to grate cheese or something?

[Kitsune06]

This might be a dumb question, but whenever I raise my cadence pretty high, (no computer so I don't know 'how high' I end up bouncing on my seat. Not a sway-back-and-forth-to-reach-the-pedals bounce.... is my seat too low? What's the deal?

[Eden]

High cadence actually takes a fair amount of practice and most people unaccustomed to it will bounce, even if their seat is perfect. The trick is to just practice and strengthen the muscles that are used for it. Try to relax your butt and that should help too. Take yourself up to the cadence at which you are bouncing and then back off just to the point at which you are pedaling smoothly again and pedal for 20-30 seconds. Do that a couple of times every time you go out and ride and eventually you should be able to increase your cadence without bouncing.

[spokewench]

This might be a dumb question, but whenever I raise my cadence pretty high, (no computer so I don't know 'how high' I end up bouncing on my seat. Not a sway-back-and-forth-to-reach-the-pedals bounce.... is my seat too low? What's the deal?

Smooth, round, efficient pedal strokes is the key and practice. The old standby description is try to pedal round, it's like scraping your foot on a doormat at the bottom of the pedal stroke and you have to consciously concentrate on pedaling over the top of your pedal stroke too.

Sometimes, I used to practice while going downhill where you are on top of your gear and beyond, i.e. low gear, hardly any resistance, spin as fast as you can going downhill. Pretty soon, you will be spinning faster.