Road Cycling - cadance?

Is their a need for cadance read out on your computer?

yeah, its neat

Depends on who is sitting on the saddle looking at that computer.

While I'm riding, I read the cadence more than any other stat. My priorities are usually 1) cadence 2) heart rate - bpm 3) speed. I don't really care about the rest until I get home.

Is their a need for cadance read out on your computer?


In my opinion, it is not all that necessary especially after you have been riding for some time and know what it feels like to ride at 80 rpm, 90 rpm, 100 rpm, etc. While I'm on the trainer, I use a heart rate monitor and count cadence often as the workouts require a certain cadance in different sets. For everyday recreational riding I just tell myself "keep the cadence up" and try to maintain a certain avg mph speed.

No, I just peddle at a pace that I feel is pushing me a bit. I do have a HRM and I keep tabs on that as to where I want to be exertion wise.

The only thing I need is distance, to know how far is the next village.

With "time", it's easy to assess one's cadence.

As for the rest:
- heart rate: if I can't talk or sing, I should slow down a bit; if I can't breathe, I should slow down a lot.

- speed: the important speed is that of traffic around me. I'm always climbing too slowly and going downhill too quickly.

Is their a need for cadance read out on your computer?


Very personal. To me, it is the most important metric on my computer. I don't have a HRM.

Why is it important to me?

1) It is a great rough gide of when to shift.
2) I can gague my effort
3) By keeping it high, my knees feel a lot better after rides! Even after many years of riding with it (10+), I am often 5-10 off what I think I am. Post knee surgery, that can take a toll after a while.
4) It has become my security blanket.

My Vetta VT100 w/ optional cadence gives me a scren I really like. Cadence and speed with a average arrow (for above or below).

I've cycled enough in my life to pretty much know what my cadence is but I still like to monitor it, sometimes when you are tired your cadence drops and you don't realize it.

While I'm riding, I read the cadence more than any other stat. My priorities are usually 1) cadence 2) heart rate - bpm 3) speed. I don't really care about the rest until I get home.
What computer are you using?

Is their a need for cadance read out on your computer?

Actually, there's no need for any read out on your computer...just ride :rolleyes:

OTOH, I usually have my computer set to current speed and cadance.

-murray

Not sure. I've been looking at a new cyclo and keep wanting to get cadence which certainly limits the field. I have cadence on my current one but am findng I need it less and less. For the past 1,000 miles, I've stayed between 79-81 with freakish regularity. I guess once you learn what it feels like, you don't need it as much. Then again, if you never had cadence on a cyclo before, I would DEFINTELY suggest it. It CAN make you a better rider. It's just a questionable feature once you learn to ride at cadence...


if I can't breathe, I should slow down a lot :roflmao:

I ride by cadence and dont bother with mph.

I usually keep on eye on cadence and speed. Cateye computer with cadence is only $20 (at nashbar I think).

It's a "nice to have" but not necessary. A new rider friend asked me what to get and I suggested something with cadence so she could dial it in. Like the others, I tend to know about where my cadence is and should be. But it's a cheap option, so why not have it ... in fact, I just installed a wireless cadence sensor on my Polar last night.

You don't need a bike computer. That said, cadence is a nice feature to have. I normally display cadence and current speed on my Cateye Astrale. Usually I only check mileage and avg. speed at the end of a ride.

Ride Like Lance And Maintain A Cadence Of 115 Rpm

Like others above, I usually have my computer on cadence and current speed. I'll check out my heart rate from time to time, as well as current grade.

While it's true that you get used to what your optimum cadence should be, I find that it's helpful if I'm in a cadence range that I'm not usually in. For instance, on a climb my cadence might drop to 60 or so. And then because I'm not that low very often, I might think it's 60 but it's actually in the 40s, so I know I need to up the pace a little bit.

For the record, I've got a HAC4 and it's the best computer I've ever seen or used.

If cadence didn't require extra sensors and extra cabeling, it's a neat bit of extra info to have (some computers have wireless cadence). I used to have it installed on my bike.

However, after my cadence plug broke off a couple of months ago, I quickly got used to counting my pedal revs whenever I thought I might be slowing down (count pedal strokes for 6 seconds and multiply by 10).

Cadence readout is probably more important when you're just starting out riding, but as other have said, you get used to keeping your cadence up pretty fast.

Of course you get use to it. Of course you can count. Of course it a lot easier to have it on your computer. If your going to get a computer,why not get one with everything on it. What the hell. My avg's means nothing because its included in my warm up and cool down.

My cateye astrale 8 has the cadence and wheel sensor on the same wire, with the wheel sensor reading the rear wheel. This has the extra benefit of working on a trainer, although the speed is sort of meaningless on one since you are standing still:)

I usually keep the big number set to cadence and the small set to speed. I have trouble seeing the small number though, and especially have trouble seeing the symbols without reading glasses. It is even worse with my sunglasses on.

While I'm riding, I read the cadence more than any other stat. My priorities are usually 1) cadence 2) heart rate - bpm 3) speed. I don't really care about the rest until I get home.

Ditto. I started riding in January of this year and only focused on speed and distance. That got me only so far. After about a month of steady increases in speed and distance, I plateaued pretty hard. By the good graces of this forum, I learned about cadance and heart rate. By changing my priorities, my training became more focused and every ride was like a tuning session for my body.

When I started riding, I was doing about 15 mile rides and thought a 40 mile ride was intimidating. Two weeks ago, I did the 158 mile Ride Across INdiana. I don't think I could have done it without refocusing on these two aspects of riding.

Good point Ex, butit's hard to count cadence on the entire ride. That counting also takes your mind off the course and timing 6 seconds can be a bit tricky. If you can swing the etra dough (and the Astrale 8 ain't that much more) cadence is a handy feature IMO

If cadence didn't require extra sensors and extra cabeling, it's a neat bit of extra info to have (some computers have wireless cadence).

Shimano's FlightDeck gives you cadence without the extra sensors. It's a "virtual cadence" calculated by your speed and gear.

I've been working with a Heart Monitor for about 2 years. It is a great tool. I finally hooked up the cadence feature too. I alway thought I rode at about an 80-85 cadence. With the counter, I have found there is a great deal of change in that number as terrain changes. I also found that when I am warmed up, 90 +/- 3 rpm is my optimal cadence. I really like having the counter available and am finding it my most useful tool right now.
Frank

Shimano's FlightDeck gives you cadence without the extra sensors. It's a "virtual cadence" calculated by your speed and gear.

I guess I know my speed from knowing cadence/gear, especially since I use maybe 4 of my 12 speeds most of the time. My old cateye solar displayed the speed and cadence large enough that I always saw both and just got to know the relationship, my Astrale 8 as I said before I have a hard time seeing the small number. I like that I can set it to cadence and something else, but I only use distance to see where I should turn around, and I check the time every now and then. The rest I check when I'm done.

If you need reading glasses though I would recommend a different computer.