Mashing and spinning

ni9x said:

Hello,
Can someone please explain what Mashing and Spinning are?
Thanks

Mashing: potatoes.
Spinning: politics.

No, wait. This is the recumbent group. Now I remember.

Mashing: pushing very hard on pedals in a high gear (bigger front
chainring, smaller rear cog), at a fairly low cadence.

Spinning: pedaling faster using a lower gear (smaller chainring,
bigger cog) and at a high cadence, expending less force on the pedals.

Spinning is heaps better for the knees, especially on a recumbent, and
has some other advantages. It has been mentioned here as a cure for a
squeaky seat; apparently the seat squeaks when you force your ass
against it to mash.

I mash the big chainwheel 'cause I crave speed - but I don't "force my
ass" on anything or anyone and my seat never squeaks. My knees are
just fine, too.

On 2 Jul 2004 23:21:12 -0700, [email hidden] (Eddie H) wrote in
message <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I mash the big chainwheel 'cause I crave speed

And it's just coincidence that all the riders on the Tour spin instead
- and go faster than you do?

My average speed increased dramatically when I upped my cruising
cadence to 100rpm.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

(Eddie H) said:

I mash the big chainwheel 'cause I crave speed - but I don't "force my
ass" on anything or anyone and my seat never squeaks. My knees are
just fine, too.

I know that all Shoshone Indians walk in single file too, because the
one I saw did.