What is the optimal pedaling cadence ?
- Date added:
- Lundi, 01 Juin 2009
- Last revised:
- Lundi, 01 Juin 2009
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Answer
Often neglected by beginners, finding the optimal cadence is very important to make the most of your cardio-vascular and muscular potential. If your cadence is too slow and you use a gear that is very tall, you put excessive strain on your leg muscles. If your cadence is too high and you use a small gear ration, you start hyperventilating and quickly feel exhausted. On flat terrain, the general tendency is to use a gear that is too tall, turning the legs at 70-80 rpm, whereas ideally cyclists should aim for 90-100 rpm. To learn what the optimal cadence feels like, you can purchase a cyclo-computer with a cadence function or count how many times you pedal come around in 15 seconds, then multiplying by 4. When starting out, it is something you should think about often on rides.