What's in a name?

[CorsairMac]

and it looks like both you ladies got your new IDs!! Congrats, love them both!

[Roadrunner]

Great name! I like it. I want to change mine, too, either KkAllez or Glass Coyote. (My stained glass business is called Coyote Glass Works). I just haven't had time to pursue a name change.

I see you got your name-change. I like it.

[KkAllez]

Thanks! You, too. You know, I'm really suprised that no one else already had Roadrunner as a name. Very appropriate for this board!

Now, about that avatar thing, guess it will be next thing to do.

I'm still trying to figure out all the numbers and gearing ratios. Heck, I know I have three cogs, the little one makes climbing easier, and I shift to keep stress off the knees and sometimes pay attention to cadence. I never realized there was a ratio involved! The ladies on this site are waaaay smarter than I am.

[CorsairMac]

The ladies on this site are waaaay smarter than I am.

Everyone started somewhere. Just like you, most of us learned it over the years or from helpful family/friends/LBS or online forums! and I'm still learning.......

[Roadrunner]

I'm still trying to figure out all the numbers and gearing ratios. Heck, I know I have three cogs, the little one makes climbing easier, and I shift to keep stress off the knees and sometimes pay attention to cadence. I never realized there was a ratio involved! The ladies on this site are waaaay smarter than I am.

I know what you mean I just get on and ride. I tend to go as low as possible on the hilly sections and as high as my legs feel comforatable elsewhere. (I only have a double ring in front).
As for cadence I don't have anyway of measuring that and if I did I wouldn't know what to do with it!! And what's this ratio thing?aaarrgh

[RoadRaven]

If you can work out the gears/cogs you are in, this is a great way to work out your cadence if you don't have a cadence counter on your Cycle PC

http://www.endurancecoach.com/Cyclin...Calculator.htm


As for ratios --- just remember;

...when its Hard you are in a High gear (Huge cog)

... when you are in the Little cogs you are in a Low gear with Less resistence

[Roadrunner]

Thanks Roadraven. I didn't realise the ratio was just what gear you were in. I understand my gears high/low. It's this candence thing how do I know I'm turning at the required revs per min' if I don't have a counter?
Round here it's quite hilly. I'm just really aiming at getting better at going up them and basicly getting better at cycling full stop.On the flattish roads I'm averaging about 13 mph and on the hillier sections about 10mph. I don't know if that's good or not, but I'm hoping to improve.

[CorsairMac]

the easiest way if you don't have a cadenc counter is to count how many pedal strokes you take in a min - that would give you RPM or cadence. If you don't feel like counting Or you're pedaling so fast you can't keep count ( ) I believe the easiest way to "spin" - ride with as little resistence as you can. Just keep dropping the gears until you're maintaining 13 mph/kph? (I forget what you use there) without pushing the gear. I'd say without resistence but that can open a can of worms. It's how I visual it. If you feel like you're starting to push, drop down another gear. You don't want to be bouncing around on your seat but you shouldn't feel like your pushing the pedals as you ride. I know it sounds impossible to pedal faster and still maintain your speed, but you can...and your knees and legs will thank you!