bike positions

n crowley said:

In what position can a rider produce the highest cadence, drops, hoods or the armrest/aerobar position ?

Good question. I'd like to know which of those positions produces the most power.

My guess would be that the position that produces the 1) highest cadence or 2) most power is somewhat rider specific, although I don't know. Hopefully some of the other members can chime in with some actual science.

Doctor Morbius said:

Good question. I'd like to know which of those positions produces the most power.

My guess would be that the position that produces the 1) highest cadence or 2) most power is somewhat rider specific, although I don't know. Hopefully some of the other members can chime in with some actual science.

what produces the most power? probably out of the saddle sprinting as hard as possible for about 5-secs. Probably similar for cadence too. But may also be in the saddle.

From memory i can produce my highest cadence when the bike is unloaded (in a lab on an ergometer with no resistance on the flywheel).

In relation to Noels question, the question maybe dependent on how long you're trying to sustain the cadence for. Additionally, riding at very high cadences isn't probably a good idea (outside of a sprint). I don't know how this impacts your query though...

ric

I would say hoods or bars would allow the highest cadence. Aerobars wouldn't allow as much control while you're thrashing around trying to go wild with cadence. What's the reason for wanting high cadence though? Is this just an academic question for a science fair - or are you trying to figure out how to go fast? I recall reading that faster than 120 rpm is inefficient due to wasted energy used in reciprocating mass, plus some losses trying to get muscles to reverse that quickly. Horsepower increases with rpm until the inefficiencies start to become larger. Somewhere the curves cross and faster rpm does not make you ride faster.

suckinwheel said:

Somewhere the curves cross and faster rpm does not make you ride faster.

Hey suckinwheel. I'm not diss'n your response, but if I can assume we're talking about staying in one gear, I'd have to argue that faster rpm always makes you ride faster. 😄

suckinwheel said:

What's the reason for wanting high cadence though? Is this just an academic question for a science fair - or are you trying to figure out how to go fast? I recall reading that faster than 120 rpm is inefficient due to wasted energy used in reciprocating mass.

you start to become inefficient at way less cadence than this... generally the most efficient cadence is ~ 70 revs/min, but this will vary between people and at different power outputs

ric

ric_stern/RST said:

you start to become inefficient at way less cadence than this... generally the most efficient cadence is ~ 70 revs/min, but this will vary between people and at different power outputs

ric

One of these days somebody like Ulrich is going to start winning multiple TdF's and everyone will then be discussing his amazingly slow cadence.