Does it qualify as mashing if...

[Mr. Bloom]

Your cadence could drop to 30 but if you are putting energy into the pedal most of the way around then its not mashing.

Hmmm...I never ever understood it that way...so, I guess that makes me feel better.

Ironically, my knees hurt at a higher cadence, so I've felt "strange" for feeling like I needed a slower cadence...but also consider that my legs are pretty strong which I think favors slower cadence IMHO

[RoadRaven]

Ironically, my knees hurt at a higher cadence,

My partner was told by many his cadence was too slow - so he tried real hard to "spin" more - but he just ends up making his knees hurt. So has a slower cadence than many of those he races against, but thats ok - he won a national title and a gold medal last year and aims to defend it this year with the cadence he uses.

Many will say to use a high cadence, and logically it is the right thing to do - particularly if you want to increase speed... but ultimately, you need to find the cadence and style that fits you best.

[Mr. Bloom]

but thats ok - he won a national title and a gold medal last year and aims to defend it this year with the cadence he uses

FREE at LAST - I'm FREE at LAST. Free from the fear of slow cadence!

Seriously: I've struggled with the concern that in my comfort with slower cadence that i'm inflicting long term damage. I suppose that it is still possible for any one of a number or reasons, but not something I should be overly concerned of.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

FREE at LAST - I'm FREE at LAST. Free from the fear of slow cadence!

Seriously: I've struggled with the concern that in my comfort with slower cadence that i'm inflicting long term damage. I suppose that it is still possible for any one of a number or reasons, but not something I should be overly concerned of.

Slower cadence does not necessarily mean mashing. Two different things.

[Mr. SR500]

I'm a classic masher, but as I ride more, and get faster, my cadence picks up. I'll still average 70 - 74 rpm for a ride, regardless of length, but I try harder to spin up hills, and in a fast paceline I might spin as high as 105 - 110. I shoot for 90 rpm, but occasionally spin faster, partly because I run a compact.

[OakLeaf]

Well, average counts any time you're coasting, too - downhills, when you're just hanging out talking with someone, softpedaling in a paceline. I just got a computer that logs average cadence last week, so I don't have a lot of data, but I do know that on the flats I'm almost always between 95 and 105 unless there's a stiff headwind and I'm either solo or taking long pulls. But the last four rides I've done in hill country my average has been 81-89.

[SouthernBelle]

I thought about this thread this morning after I finished off my nemesis hill. It's the one with a 20+% grade.

Before I finished I was mashing, stomping, whatever I could do to get to the top.