Does it qualify as mashing if...

[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.

[Mr. Bloom]

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.

Well, I didn't see the word "walking" in there...so I stand in awe!

[SouthernBelle]

Well, I didn't see the word "walking" in there...so I stand in awe!

No walking! Just mashing, stomping, gasping, and cussing when I could get a breathe to do so.