Spinning

[wabisabi]

I had similiar feelings initially about spinning, but lately have noticed a change. It comes from experience riding and an increased base fitness--from training for an riding full and metric centuries. There is probably a name for the phenomenon. It seemed that as I have reached a certain level of ability/fitness, my spinning has become more effective. One day I thought, "oh, so THIS is spinning!" Not feeling that it was ineffective, but like it was actually working. I was riding against a headwind the other evening and it really worked. I was also playing with riding way down in the drops and spinning, and it was so fun!

[Dogmama]

A trainer told me it had to do with muscle memory - if our muscles are used to mashing, it's difficult to get them to spin. Ditto for your foot position on the pedal. Too many women pedal with their toes pointed. Foot should be flat.

[RoadRaven]

I am finding it very hard to spin for any length of time

I do a cadence training ride once a week - I spin for 500metres at a cadence of 90, its on a false flat going up... but I can't consistently keep my 90 up for every single run at the 500 metres...

I guess when I can maintain it, I'll be upping the cadence I am aiming for
But golly-gosh (or in other words "$%%##!!%(&^&$#@!!!!!) it is tiring...

[KSH]

My 65 miles of spinning... here is my story:

I rode the MS150 this past weekend... which for me... was the MS65!

I have had knee pain that I have been *fighting*... and in the past few weeks, I have only been able to make it 20 miles, before I can't pedal anymore.

So, my plan was to SPIN... and to go SLOW (10 MPH!)!

I can say that the spinning REALLY HELPED with all the HILLS I went up. In fact, I enjoyed the hills and wind... more than I did the flats! While some other struggled mashing up the hills, I would *spin* by them... and I wasn't even huffing or puffing.

Now, I just have to learn how to spin on the flats!

There is a technique that has to be learned to make spinning effective... and you have to start slow and work your way up... to the point where are spinning in the higher gears, and it is effortless.

Best of luck... and even though it's hard... try to spin the best you can... and work on it. It will feel right at some point!

[trigurl]

I am trying to spin too, these hills here make it hard but last night I was able to do it most of the time, on 90% of the hills I am in g/g (granny gear) and it is still hard! the first several I went up I would spin fast then slow down to catch my breath then spin, and repeat, that helps me get up those monster hills (I ride up them for the fun of it really)

On the so called flats here is where I have a hard time spinning, but last night I practiced that too, I rode by myself for the first part of the ride so I wasn't pushing to keep up with anyone and could concentrate on my spinning, then on the second part another rider joined me and of course I did whatever possible to stay with him that was fun.