[left]Simple really, I'm new to proper road riding (trek 1000 yada yada yada) and was wondering if theres an optimum speed to be pedalling at, i.e. how quick should the pedals be turning. Is it better to be fighting up a hill in the hardest gear I can physically push before giving up and suffering the inevitable crappy downshift to the inner ring or should I change way earlier and keep the pedals spinning for longer?[/left]
[left]Is there an ideal pedal rpm? Cos I think I'm pedalling quite slowly in too high a gear at the moment. [/left]
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- Cycling Equipment
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- 24 August 2004
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- 26 August 2004
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- paul smalley
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paul smalley said:
[left]Is there an ideal pedal rpm? Cos I think I'm pedalling quite slowly in too high a gear at the moment. [/left]
Same question from me!
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[font='Times New Roman']This is a gear ratio to rpm to speed calculator. sheldonbrown.comgearsOpen ↗ check out what this guy has to say about Gain Ratios too. In my opinion is just depends on what kind of rider you are. Some guys can pedal really fast and be efficient, some guys have the strength to just mash those gears all the time. As for the climb I personally hate shifting while I'm climbing, I think its inefficient and you risk losing your chain. I would suggest trying to get into the proper climbing gear before or right at the base. I like to be in the highest possible where I'm pretty sure I'm not going to have to shift until I hit the top.[/font]
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I'm at the extreme end of the group I ride with. On flat ground, I don't feel comfortable working at a cadence under 90. I prefer to stay between 93 and 96 but I'm not uncomfortable at 100 either. When climbing, I let the cadence drop some but rarely below 75 or 80. It's for this reason that I'm going to a compact double, not because I really need the lower gears. I just never seem to be in the highest ones, not even when we're cruising at 30 mph.
There are about 70 people in our little touring club and the other extreme is a cadence of about 60 on flat ground. It's probably a little odd that the biggest "masher" in our club is a slender female in her upper 40's. Don't get me wrong. It works for her. This lady can ride. However, unlike me, I don't see her dropping her cadence when climbing, just downshifting.
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80-100 rpm is a good place to start.
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the basic idea though is to keep the cadence pretty steady climbing or descending or on flats right? to pick a gear to match the cadence?
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KMKS said:
the basic idea though is to keep the cadence pretty steady climbing or descending or on flats right? to pick a gear to match the cadence?
that's correct. -
I like to stay at about 70rpm and never off of my 53 chain ring
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