More cadance questions

[SnappyPix]

Monique

Bite the bullet and give it a go, it feels wrong - wrong, wrong, wrong (I felt like a little kid, trying to get the hang of gears, when they spin in the wrong gear way too fast! I'm sure it didn't look like that, but that's how it felt!). I found that gentle tweaking, going one, or sometimes, two lower than I normally would didn't make my speed drop (it increased, as I was able to accelerate/surge more rapidly when I wanted to). I'm still on a learning curve though, so probably not the best to give advice at this early stage, but I'm sure your body will probably thank you for it in the end!

[bounceswoosh]

Monique

Bite the bullet and give it a go, it feels wrong - wrong, wrong, wrong (I felt like a little kid, trying to get the hang of gears, when they spin in the wrong gear way too fast! I'm sure it didn't look like that, but that's how it felt!). I found that gentle tweaking, going one, or sometimes, two lower than I normally would didn't make my speed drop (it increased, as I was able to accelerate/surge more rapidly when I wanted to). I'm still on a learning curve though, so probably not the best to give advice at this early stage, but I'm sure your body will probably thank you for it in the end!

I'll have to try it. I haven't really been riding, but will start when the time changes and it might actually be light after I leave work.

Are you a roadie? I think part of the difficulty is that I play in the dirt, and the varying traction, obstacles, etc. make it hard to practice spinning consistently. (I don't have a roadbike and I really don't want one, to be honest, even though I know it would improve my mountain biking.)

[sarahfixit]

I have a roadie but I still like running the MTB on roads. In the winter I like the extra resistance to warm up with, and it allows pursuing rabbit trails as they come up

[miss claire]

the way i learned to spin was to build up a fixed wheel road bike.I found an old track frame and used some old gear i had lying around bought what i did not.The best thing about using an old track frame is a lot of them have holes to bolt brakes on to them.I use a 42x17 gear on mine which allows me to spin on the flat and push a bigger gear than i used to on the hills so you get the best of both worlds.I understand that some people do not want to buy another bike or spend time geting used to riding a fixed wheel,trust me it is a lot different to riding with a freewheel,but i would recommend doing if you want too get the best from your riding

[LBTC]

I also like to envision the circular motion coming from my hip. Keeps my pedal stroking smooth.

That is fantastic!! I can't wait to try this on my next ride!! Thank you for the insight, dogmama!

I often forget to pedal in circles, and I am always smoother and faster and "lighter" when I do.

I am also a masher, and really have trouble keeping the spin fast - but I sure can tell when I have...my legs don't feel tired after a 2 hour ride! wahoo!!! and there's very little recovery time even at the top of a hill!

my season is just starting, so I'm totally focussing on rpm, when I remember (most of the time). currently working on sets at 100 rpm or more, so that 90+ will be easier. This is, of course, while I'm road training. the whole goal of road riding is to train to be faster on my mountain bike.

I've ordered a new computer as mine uses virtual cadence so it has zero accuracy if I'm lazily pedalling while coasting down a hill....I need better than that! I should have it next week. can't wait!!

namaste,
~T~

[RoadRaven]

I am working on cadence too... very exhausting

I have a false flat and my training partner, who is also my coach, has designed a spinning training session for me on the road.

I ride 500metres up a false flat in one of the two lowest gears at a cadence of 90, then turn, and relax back and then turn and repeat it...

(My lowest gears/speed for a cadence of 90...
18.5km in my 25/39
or
20.1km in my 23/39)

I come home with sore glutes and feeling absolutely shagged...

Here is a cadence calculator link... my apologies if it has been offered somewhere else, I'm still new here and haven't read everything yet...


http://www.endurancecoach.com/Cyclin...Calculator.htm

[spazzdog]

I'm with you on the fixie miss claire.

I just had an estimate done to convert my old TREK 1000 to a fixie to build cadence and hill strength. I'll probably do it later in the season.

spazz

[petals]

Help!! I mash, but love a nice comfortable spin! I'm trying to increase speed on the trainer by reducing gears. My legs are happier. Now I'm trying to understand the circle and scraping gum off of my shoe?

[slinkedog]

Petals... keep your foot as flat as possible during the entire pedal stroke... at the bottom of your stroke, it's kind of like a sensation of scraping your foot backward. You'll be engaging your hamstrings to pull your leg up the back of the stroke instead of just pushing down on the front of the stroke. At the top of the stroke, some people have suggested thinking of moving your foot straight acroos the top instead of making a round motion at the top. I'm still trying to get the feel of that one, but it does seem to help.

Hope this helps a little!