Cadence rate against motor rpm ???

[anotherkiwi]

Way back when in my road bike days I was on the Dark Side and pulling obscene ratios at very low cadence. Now I have learnt the error of my ways and am between 80 and 90 dropping down to the high 60's on steep climbs. The secret? Always be in the right gear.

 

[(NoLongerRegistered#15675)]

Lance Armstrong routinely rode with a 110 cadence. His great rival, Jan Ullrich, was often quoted as having a very slow cadence, some saying as low as 75, but that just wasn't true. When he was clocked it turned our his cadence was near to 90, but that just looked slow when riding with Lance.

Since both had drug use bans, it seems that usage doesn't influence cadence.

The main reason for avoiding low cadences like 40 is the damage they do to knee joints. The higher the cadence for a given distance and energy input, the less pressure per stroke. The sum of a number of low pressures does not equate to a lower number of high pressures in this respect, hence knee damage being a common affliction of long term cyclists.

Cadences of 60 to 70 are a sensible range for average cyclists, and they should always avoid the temptation to drop to low slogging cadences on hills if they wish to avoid joint replacements in later years.
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I,m already on one knee replacement so I,m stuffed.. .
Your comments totally agree with surgeon who worked on knee last November...Asked him about when and how to get back cycling ( I avoided TKR with graft/ stem cell)
Started on ex bike with very low resistance but also told to avoid very high cadence ( which must vary according to physiology)..I don't pedal above 90 at moment, never stand on pedals and try to keep cadence around 65..( never below 50)
Just trying to get fitness back after long lay off.( knee prevented cycling around last August)
Believe it or not if I keep within these limits knee is free of pain following day. When knee starts aching, get out on bike and its ok...
Physio reckons usage promotes synovial fluid production ?"?
Going well at moment..

Trouble is efficiency of bike / rider as a whole is combination of both, and some aspects are beneficial to one and detract from other. Introduce limited power and its a 3 way relationship..
Anyhow I,m off biking...

 

[flecc]

When knee starts aching, get out on bike and its ok...
Physio reckons usage promotes synovial fluid production ?"?
Going well at moment..

My brother, a one time very keen road cyclist, has found the same. He has a severely damaged right knee from his serious cycling days and finds getting out for moderate rides is the best solution for the onset of pain.
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[Gubbins]

The other thing I have notices about cadence. If I up mine to 85-90 my HR cimbs really fast and I soon start panting.... As does standing up so I dont do either for more than 30 seconds, if at all!

 

[flecc]

The other thing I have notices about cadence. If I up mine to 85-90 my HR cimbs really fast and I soon start panting.

Those indicate you are probably going beyond your fitness limit Phill. Depending on your age and general health, you could improve on those by planned daily exercises to improve your fitness. In general the greater the fitness, the lower the heart rate for a given activity level. Altitude training is even better for this purpose, increasing the blood's red corpuscle count to hold more oxygen.

But for most of us these things aren't worth it, basic fitness and keeping to sensible activity levels is all we need do, even should do for a long and injury free life.
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[Gubbins]

Those indicate you are probably going beyond your fitness limit Phill. Depending on your age and general health, you could improve on those by planned daily exercises to improve your fitness. In general the greater the fitness, the lower the heart rate for a given activity level. Altitude training is even better for this purpose, increasing the blood's red corpuscle count to hold more oxygen.

But for most of us these things aren't worth it, basic fitness and keeping to sensible activity levels is all we need do, even should do for a long and injury free life.
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Well yes I would agree with that. I just keep pedaling all the time and don't stop for a rest . My max hr is around 168/ 170 and tick over at 56/60 although pushing past 165 is getting harder each year . My average hr is around 140+ on a 60 to 90 minute run which is probably a bit high for my age (66 ) but I hate being overtaken so tend to overdo it a bit as I am overtaken often.
I am not overweight, don't smoke, binge booze or go out with girls so tend to think I am not unfit, but still run out of puff quite quickly.
As an aside... I am amazed to see quite a few cyclists sat on the kerb fagging it .. it must be a good excuse to stop and clear their lungs. (No offence to smokers , I used to be one)

 

[EddiePJ]

Those indicate you are probably going beyond your fitness limit Phill. Depending on your age and general health, you could improve on those by planned daily exercises to improve your fitness. In general the greater the fitness, the lower the heart rate for a given activity level. Altitude training is even better for this purpose, increasing the blood's red corpuscle count to hold more oxygen.

But for most of us these things aren't worth it, basic fitness and keeping to sensible activity levels is all we need do, even should do for a long and injury free life.
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flec something that I practice when out on the pedal mtb is sprinting between set distances. I often push myself to take in one last road climb before turning in for home, and will sprint between lamp posts, slow down for the next and then sprint again. It's a hard thing to do at the end of a ride, but hopefully it is doing some good.


Flud, don't take this wrong way.. But just get on and ride the bike.
I really don't see the point of analysing every minute detail of riding an ebike. The system is there to make your life easy, so just ride it. And if you intend to ride off road, then you just ride to suit the environment and conditions anyway.

 

[anotherkiwi]

I am not overweight, don't smoke, binge booze or go out with girls so tend to think I am not unfit, but still run out of puff quite quickly.

Well I wouldn't say binge booze... But I only meet two out of four of those criteria

The silliest thing I ever did was take the stairs to race the lift out of the Gouffre de Padirac 75 metres. That got me in the red... But I have a strong enough heart to have survived other interesting tests of that strength...