I get the concept of spinning/mashing, but like you Bethany, I would prefer to mash. The only time I really feel comfortable spinning is going up hill.
I put a cadence sensor on my new road bike and I seem to be comfortable right around 80 rpm. Is this considered mashing? I see lots of articles, etc that say you should be around 90, but that feels so ...not sure of the right word..."unproductive" maybe? to me.