leg speed

drmac618 said:

How important is leg speed (rpm) in a crit and road race?

Are crits usually at a high rpm?

How do you incease leg speed?

There is a lot of discussion about what is a god leg speed. Some argue that faster is better cos you save more energy etc. Which isn't necessarily true. Others argue that a higher leg speen can help you respond to changes in pace quickly. This may be true too. But it all depends entirely on the individual.
We all must ride at a cadence which is comfortable for us, which produces our best response and power and which won't cause undue fatigue. This is different for many people but tends to centre around 90 or so rpm.
This isn't to say that you could be slower if you don't pedal at 90rpm. You should experiment to see what makes you feel more confortable. This along with other aspects such as your power/endurance and strength help determine your "style" and depending on your style you might be better suited to different races. There is no such thing as a hard and fast rule or formula to success. trial and error are still the best ways to find the best races/training techniques/diets and so on for you.

drmac618 said:

How important is leg speed (rpm) in a crit and road race?

Are crits usually at a high rpm?

How do you incease leg speed?

Leg speed is vital. Especially in crits. Learning to spin at high revs is a vital and valuable skill.

do some spin ups on your own. Essentially, start in a low gear and increase your cadence and hold it until you can not hold it anymore and then recover for 3-5 minutes and repeat. Motorpacing is another great way to increase leg speed as is riding in a group that can hold 50kph.

byron27 said:

Leg speed is vital. Especially in crits. Learning to spin at high revs is a vital and valuable skill.

do some spin ups on your own. Essentially, start in a low gear and increase your cadence and hold it until you can not hold it anymore and then recover for 3-5 minutes and repeat. Motorpacing is another great way to increase leg speed as is riding in a group that can hold 50kph.

I understand different people being suited for different races. I think my body is more suited for road races and TT -- I enjoy crits and the training change is good for me.... I have a lot of improvement to be made so any tips would be appreciated.