Re: 16 weeks shaky to say the least

On 9/13/2024 10:53 AM, Zen Cycle wrote:

On 9/13/2024 11:35 AM, Frank Krygowski wrote:

On 9/13/2024 5:36 AM, zen cycle wrote:

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Cadence preference is different for everyone. I generally ride 95-100, but if I'm doing low-zone training I spend more time around 90. There's no right or wrong to it for recreational cyclists, but any coach will try to get you in the 90-100 range - this seems to be the most bio- mechanically efficient range for most people on the competitive level.
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But don't try to alter your cadence because someone on the internet said they do it differently. Ride how your comfortable. There's nothing wrong with a cadence of 80-85.

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Back when I did some low level time trials, I tried to ride the time trials one gear lower than normal. I think it helped my power and endurance.

 That's quite common, even amoung professionals. In a TT you're not as concerned about needing to respond to an attack - Keeping a higher cadence is quite helpful in that.
 

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But yes, I see a wide variety of preferences for cadence. And I'll note that on a tandem, it becomes a compromise issue. My wife has never been able to spin as well as I can, so I eventually learned to accommodate her preference. And one couple we know failed at tandem riding because (among other things?) their preferred cadences were so very different.
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I find at cadence above 90 I just don't feel as smooth and powerful. I like to kind of dig into the pedal with some resistance. So going full out and getting above 95 just seems less efficient to me and mentally more taxing. The only thing about my cycling that is generally decent is my aerobic capacity to just keep going long. Not necessarily super fast and sprinting for sure but constant output. I am a horrible climber because there are not even hills around here and again I just cannot find a tempo. Put me on a long straightway of 50 miles and tell me to go, I can do that and I don't water and food even if it hot. Indoor trainer today with flat pedals I basically was in the 50-19 with 85 cadence doing around 17.6 mph. I find it easier to push harder gears than try and pedal faster to go faster.
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Deacon Mark