Training & Nutrition - Spinning too fast?

As long as you're not rocking, can you spin too fast? I find that my natural cadence is between 97-100 rpm and it's not uncommon to be cruising at 108-110 while climbing.

Should I slow my cadence down? I've tried experimenting a little bit and find it difficult to keep my cadence below 95 rpm, but I'd be willing to beat it into myself if it would make me more efficient and/or faster.

Thoughts?
James

Spin Away! As long as your pedal stroke is taking advantage of the entire circle then I think you are good to go.

I seem to be comfortable in the 85-90 range. i wish I could spin comfortably at 100+ rpms

Carry on spinning, what are your crank lengths ? this could lead to peddaling faster but no problem.

this winter i have spent some time focused on spinning at 100 rpms for extended periods. only warm weather will tell. later.

Carry on spinning, what are your crank lengths ?

I don't know. How do I find out? I ride a stock Felt F75, except for the seat post and powertap.

I usually spin at 90-100. If I spin any faster it is usually because I need to click up a gear or 2. That would be my only concern is that you may not be putting enough pressure on the pedals.

As long as you're not rocking, can you spin too fast? I find that my natural cadence is between 97-100 rpm and it's not uncommon to be cruising at 108-110 while climbing.

Should I slow my cadence down? I've tried experimenting a little bit and find it difficult to keep my cadence below 95 rpm, but I'd be willing to beat it into myself if it would make me more efficient and/or faster.

Thoughts?
James

Well, here's the deal.

It's generally faster to ride at a bit slower cadence, as you tend to get less out of breath, which works great unless you overcook your legs, at which point you get a lot slower.

Or, to look at it another way, being able to ride at low cadence works great when you want to ride up a hill a little faster than usual. Or, maybe your legs are a bit tired, so you can ride at a higher cadence.

I recommend working on both ends. Being able to ride at around 60 RPM up a hill can be really useful. Being able to spin fast can also be useful, though that's mostly for what it can do to your pedalling stroke the rest of the time.

Different cyclists tend to favor different cadences. Gregg Lemond liked to push big gears at a relatively low cadence of just over 80 rpm. But Eddie Meryx tended to spin over 110 rpm. Who am I to say that either of these guys was wrong? If it feels comfortable, it probably works for you.

I don't know. How do I find out? I ride a stock Felt F75, except for the seat post and powertap.

Check the back of the crank arms, it should be stamped there.

Litely muscled cyclists tend to do best with high cadence spinning while more muscular legged cyclists tend to drive larger gears at lower cadences.

Litely muscled cyclists tend to do best with high cadence spinning while more muscular legged cyclists tend to drive larger gears at lower cadences.

Exactly. The typical cadence in tt's is 75-85 so that tells something