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I dont have that much experience cycling, but what I always used to do on my mtb and now on my new hybrid, is to always cycle in top gear (21) unless im going up hill. I have never really used lower gears on the flat, as I was taught to go in the highest gear that you can manage, but should I use lower gears with a higher cadence?
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Really there is no right and wrong - you should go in the gear that you find easiest to push for the speed you want to go at. Normally though that's not the biggest gear there is - those are meant for flying downhills - so try and push smaller gears with a faster cadence and see how you get on.
x - post with Ian but yeah people often recommend a cadence of around 90 - but as he implies don't worry if you aren't bang on.
I think that my cadence is probabily well below 90 when running or cycling, but certainly less when cycling. I have feel like im putting in more work and going nowhere when in a lower gear, but is that good when training as you work harder to get there?
Louise, watch some pro-cycling on TV and see how quickly they pedal. Then watch a little old lady ambling down your road and see how quickly she pedals. You want to be more like the first and less like the second.
And no, grinding a big gear is not good when training any more than strapping weights to your ankles is a good idea when you're running.
I tend to keep in as small a gear as possible whilst maintaining a 80+rpm. I rarely use grinding these days.
But to throw a spanner in the works....
I am a grinder (cadence between 60 and 70 rpm) as I find it keeps my heart rate down. if I spin, my heart rate rises and I get too out of puff
As Pops says - everyone is different - but check out the pro peloton and they're all spinning happily.
Grinding a big gear cant be good for your knees - I know pros have done it in the past as a training exercise - but not all the time.
I am about to start my winter training in earnest and I need to sort the bike out so that I don't fall ton pieces on the run.
it can also be useful to have a fixie or singlespeed bike with just one gear so you have no option but to spin if you set the gearing up right. alternatively, practice on the turbo
You can get bike computers that give you cadence or you can just count how many revs per minute you do. Prob easiest on a turbo though.
Once you have that start point you should have an idea if its too low or not. If you do feel its too low - then just try and force yourself to ride on the next gear down - and you'll soon get used to it.
I ride a fixed wheel in winter - not just for this but also cos its less hassle to clean.
Spin classes will also help you spin faster. I can hold 120rpm for my 50 min turbo session no bother - but the older guys in the club are so much faster than me.
I've taken them off now, I'll put them in the post to you, youngster!
"As you were", to quote a crab!
<ahem>
Caveat!
Some and i note SOME can get away with grinding. However you need to have a fecking spot on position and change the gear ratio. I "bimble" on a 75 cadance. however that is pushing a 55/11 ratio. Only due to his fancy bike fitting has a certain pebble come back and beat my time(show down next seaon folks!)
You will get some grinders list fairy, you get some spinners. get someone to look at your style.