Gearing
This really isn't a roadie question nor is it for the conversion/cafe crowd.
I try to ride the velodrome in the winter. It's indoors and works great when it's raining. When it's nice out I train on the flats of a delta about 3 feet above sea level. I find a headwind (maybe 15-20kph) either going or coming and my average speed is around 30kph with 44/15 and 165mm cranks. That works out to about 80rpm.
I just spent the morning switching back to my indoor 49/16 setup. I don't encounter too many hills other than the bridge between my city and the river delta. I'm thinking my fitness is at the level I can run 49/16 outside in the wind/bridges/etc.
Is 80rpm too early an average cadence to switch up on a single speed? Should I be looking at an average of 90rpm to take it to the next level?
49/16 seems fine at the track. Just looking to keep my knees alive this summer.