Cadence

[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.

[aicabsolut]

When you start bouncing, it may be that you're not able to control yourself when your legs get going that fast, but it may also be a sign that you've outspun your gear. Try shifting one cog harder and see if it helps without slowing your legs way down. You want to have some resistance under your feet.