Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
well, I'm going to have to disagree with that. Just goes to show everyone's different.

I find that I breathe much more efficiently both running and cycling when it's synced to my cadence. Chi Running definitely recommends syncing one's breath as a way of maintaining body awareness. Swimming, obviously everyone has to sync, like it or not. If you feel you're breathing too fast, try adding a pedal stroke - in one, out two; in two, out two; in two, out three; or whatever.
Yes I hear you.
I guess what I mean is that when I absent mindedly synch my breaths with my pedaling, my breaths are way too quick and shallow. Then when I double the length of breaths and still synch them to the pedaling, I'm not breathing fast enough, even when breathing deeply and calmly. So for me, I have to just concentrate on my breathing as a separate rhythm and try to get the right breathing cadence that feels oxygen rich and relaxed.
We are all different, and I tend to have respiratory/lung capacity issues, so that's just my own experience.
But being aware of one's breathing vs. pedaling cadence is certainly helpful to find what's right for each person. It's something that's easily overlooked.