Road Cycling - Spinning RPM's

I paid closer attention to my pedaling today, after finally getting my bike after two weeks off, long story. Anyway, I found that Im spinning at 108 or so. This just from a ten second count, which I normally get 18, actually had it up to twenty today. How fast does everyone else spin? or mash for some people? I go up a gear and probably am still spinning at 90-100 and that just feels like Im mashing so I bump back down again and spin away.

Sometimes folks, when they count their spinning, only count 1/2 way around, and not all the way around. Therefore, their spinning speed is doubled from the actual. I am sure that is not your case, but we have had several folks who were not aware of needing to count the entire revolution.

Spinning at 120 is indeed remarkable.

About the best I can do is 85-90..

Counting to determine cadence is not so accurate. If you really want to know get a computer.

I have a Polar 720 computer and it gives you an average cadence for each excersize. I average around 100 rpm on my road bike a little less on my mtb and fixed gear.

Everytime I get on the fixed gear I can get the rpm's up to 140 on some downhills, and my personal max is 150. This results in major butt bounce!

I've been at 170 for about 2 seconds. This is when I first got my cadence computer. I was going downhill, and I shifted off the big ring to see how fast I could go. Lost of fun. I am usually around 95, more for downhills, and less for uphills (running out of gears)

I've been doing *a lot* of work on increasing my climbing cadence.

Last night I went out for a one hour tempo ride (first time in over a month) and was shocked to see that I now cruise at 100 rpm when I'm pushing hard. :o Four months ago I would've been at 80 rpm for the same effort.

So, to answer your question... 90-100 is my preferred cadence on the flats and about 80-85 when climbing.

my climbing rpm averages 60s and normal riding 80s, max 127

i like my cadence between 80-100rpm.. When I get really tired, and almost out of breathe, I drop it to 70-75rpm..

When I'm tired and climbing and out of gears, No spinning anymore... Impossible in my current fitness level.. 45-50rpm:(

I've always been a spinner. Now I've got a cadence meter, the numbers are something like this: 80-85rpm average over moderately hilly stuff, 90-100 on the flat (gives me optimal speed for effort), typically 120-125 on downhill stretches, unless it's really long/steep (when I coast). Climbing varies: 90-100 on short climbs, 70-75 standing or on long climbs (a mile or more).

Max ever: 180rpm on the fixed gear, very short period, won't be done again. Typical max on raod bike is about 140rpm at bottom of steep hills.

Originally posted by TriDevil
This just from a ten second count, which I normally get 18, actually had it up to twenty today.

Count your revs in a six second interval and multiply by 10.

I believe you're using fuzzy math.

I like it at 85-110.

whats so fuzzy about 6x18 being 108rpm? or 6x20 being 120 rpm? Isnt 6x10 and 10x6 the same? or is their some complex cycling math involved?

Originally posted by TriDevil
or is their some complex cycling math involved?

Only in Greg's head.

You are correct Sir.

TriDevil, trust me when I say that one day I'll say something that will win back your confidence.;)

haha, no problem. I read over my previous post a dozen times just to be sure! I was afraid I was going to post that and then sure enough I would have done something dumb.