How do I stop mashing???

[TrekTheKaty]

I have heard about shifting the cleats a little further back on the shoe and riding a little more "heels down" if you have serious problems with calf cramps. One of the guys I ride with has done this with some succes. But I don't think it would be really comfortable to stay in one locked position all the time if all else is well?

I just asked my DH to check my cleats (spinning class is hard on them) and he asked if I liked my cleats all the way forward? I do have tight calves--may be I'll move them back a hair and see how it feels.

Something new to concentrate on this year!

[Geonz]

I would work on the actual technique at whatever cadence happens before fixating on the exact RPM. My technique got a whole lot better when I got on a trainer at the bike shop on a February "open house" day and could just focus on the skill (with coaching from whatever video he had going).

We have two very fast riders in the club. One is slow cadence, the other fast. They both have efficient pedal strokes - it's just one goes faster than the other. I tend to have a low cadence myself. If I go too fast, I am more likely to "mash." I'm going to try those downhill drills (on what passes for hills around here) to improve my pedal strok when my legs are moving fast... could be fun