{"id":6,"date":"2022-10-05T12:27:48","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T12:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northercycles.com\/?p=6"},"modified":"2022-10-05T12:33:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T12:33:06","slug":"cadence-in-cycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/cadence-in-cycling\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth About Cadence in Cycling: Faster Isn\u2019t Always Better"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you think that a higher cadence is always better when cycling? Well, you aren’t alone \u2014 many cyclists believe this to be the case. However, cadence isn\u2019t everything: and in some cases, a lower one can actually be faster. In this blog post, we\u2019ll explore the truth about cadence in cycling, and help you figure out what works best for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can a cycling cadence be explained?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a nutshell, this is the number of rotations of the crank per minute and is usually measured using a bike computer. Most cyclists will have a natural cadence that they ride at, and will find it comfortable to maintain this speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, a higher cadence is associated with lower speeds and a lower cadence with higher speeds. But this isn\u2019t always the case \u2014 it\u2019s possible to ride at a high cadence and still go fast. For example, Tour de France riders will often have a cadence of around 110-120rpm when riding uphill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kind of cadence will work best for you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The answer to this question varies depending on different factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Your fitness level. If you\u2019re just starting, you might find it more comfortable to ride at a lower cadence. As you get fitter, you\u2019ll be able to increase your cadence without it feeling too hard.<\/li>
  2. The gradient of the hill. If you\u2019re riding uphill, it\u2019s often better to have a lower cadence so that you don\u2019t overwork your legs.<\/li>
  3. Your gears. If you have a lot of gears, you can ride at a lower cadence in high gear. This will make it easier to pedal and you won\u2019t have to work as hard.<\/li>
  4. Your bike. If you\u2019re riding a road bike, you\u2019ll be able to ride at a higher cadence than if you\u2019re on a mountain bike. The reason is that road bikes are designed for speed and have lighter frames.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    In general, it\u2019s best to start at a comfortable cadence and then gradually increase it as you get fitter. If you find yourself pedaling too hard, it\u2019s probably time to shift gears. When you\u2019re riding uphill, it\u2019s normal to have a lower cadence \u2014 so don\u2019t worry if you find yourself going slower than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Is there such a thing as pedaling too fast?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, there is! If you pedal too fast, you might find yourself bouncing in the saddle. This can be uncomfortable and can also lead to injuries. So before you start pedaling like crazy, make sure that you\u2019re comfortable with the speed and that you have the right gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There is no one perfect cadence that everyone should aim for. Some cyclists prefer to pedal at a higher one, while others find it more comfortable to pedal at a lower cadence. Try different methods until you find one that works for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Is it better to pedal faster or harder?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Usually, it\u2019s better to pedal faster rather than harder. This is because pedaling at a higher cadence will make you less likely to tire out and will reduce the strain on your knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But sometimes, pedaling harder can be more efficient. The reason is that you\u2019ll be able to maintain a higher speed even when going uphill. So if you\u2019re riding on a flat road, it\u2019s best to pedal faster. Though it may be more difficult, if you’re going uphill, you’ll have better results by pedaling harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Well, there you have it! We\u2019ve covered a lot of ground in this article, but hopefully, you now have a better understanding of cadence and how to find your ideal cycling rhythm. As we mentioned before, everyone is different and will pedal at different speeds. So experiment until you find what works best for you. And don\u2019t forget that there is no ‘ideal’ cadence \u2014 just ride at your own pace!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Have any questions? Ask them in the comments below and we\u2019ll be happy to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Do you think that a higher cadence is always better when cycling? Well, you aren’t alone \u2014 many cyclists believe this to be the case. However, cadence isn\u2019t everything: and in some cases, a lower one can actually be faster. In this blog post, we\u2019ll explore the truth about cadence in cycling, and help you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6\/revisions\/12"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.northercycles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}