Road Cycling - Do I need Cadence on my computer?

Just getting back in after several years of hiatus. Spent yesterday riding around Stone Mountain, GA and was doing well, feeling very consistent on flats and of course on the downs. However, after passing a few riders, I was immead. passed by the same riders on some of the larger (up)hills. So the question is, is consistent cadence the key to climbing well, and if so, do I need my computer to have that function? Of course I understand that more power and understanding of my threshold comes with more experience, but I'm just looking for tips on consistent climbing. Thanks a lot

More riding will help you up those hills. I ride by my cadence but dont look at it up a big hill.

do you need cadence on your computer? i dont know


would I ever use a computer w/o cadence? NO

I have cadence on Ciclosport 434 and I use it but the power meter function is more helpfull and IMHO more important.

I don't want to hijack, but......

I just count, is there a benefit to having it on the computer. Is it just the constant feedback that helps?

When I'm doing FT (fast tempo) work I use it, I find it more accurate than counting. I also like to use it to check my watts vs cadance. I can toggle between the two and see that on a certain climb my watts may be higher with a higher or lower cadence.

I don't want to hijack, but......

I just count, is there a benefit to having it on the computer. Is it just the constant feedback that helps?
Is there any more you can give on counting? I think I'd have no problem doing that anywhere but the hills, but it is there that it seems to matter, where i easily find myself out of juice and ped'ing much more slowly

I couldn't live without my cadence. I use it to constantly push myself to the proper rpms. when I ride, I've got speed on the top, cadence on the bottom.

there is no way you can count as accurately as can a computer measure.. by feel, i can only tell whether i am in my 'comfort' range (95-105rpm) or not.

i have cadence on the big display.. its my fav feature of the computer

I guess you can ride past mile markers and calculate your speed also, but both of them seem like a lot of work when there are computers that can give you both accurately and pretty cheaply.

Is there any more you can give on counting? I think I'd have no problem doing that anywhere but the hills, but it is there that it seems to matter, where i easily find myself out of juice and ped'ing much more slowly


I count my stokes for 15 or 30 seconds then multiply by accordingly (2 or 4). It suits my needs as a non-competitive cyclist. It becomes second nature to stroke within ones comfort zone which is typically around 100 RPMs, or so.

In general, I keep my cadence up on the hills. I would not worry to much about being passed at Stone Mountain after a several year hiatus.

Average cadence.....you need a computer.

Now I see guys talking about watts, that is over my head and perhaps worth checking out.

I guess you can ride past mile markers and calculate your speed also, but both of them seem like a lot of work when there are computers that can give you both accurately and pretty cheaply.

Stop following me! :D :D

Yep, counting to 30 is a lot of work, which is exactly why 99% of cycling computers come w/o cadence :rolleyes:

There is a smarty pants in every bunch. :D

WhileI've been counting for several years, & decided this year I'm getting one with cadence. Not a necessity for me though, as I can usually get a general idea.

Stop following me! :D :D

Yep, counting to 30 is a lot of work, which is exactly why 99% of cycling computers come w/o cadence :rolleyes:

There is a smarty pants in every bunch. :D
not when someone rides in traffic, or on switchback, when they dont maintain the same cadence even within a 30 second window... then the cutesy self count method isnt so good

I have a hard time doing arithmetic when my brain is oxygen deprived. But that's just me, YMMV.

I've got two bikes, a Tuscany with cadence and a Ritchey Breakaway without (for reasons that are obvious, I trust). I find that I miss the cadence feature on the Ritchey, but not unbearably. For me, the main benefit of cadence is that it pushes me into a harder gear when, for example, I notice that I'm doing over 110 rpm. That, in turn, ups my speed a little, so I end up riding faster and harder. Probably the best indication of importance is what's on my HAC4 display. On the Litespeed, it's always cadence unless I want to glance at power, distance, or time. Even then, I quickly toggle it back to candence.

Stephen

No sir.

Back when I first started ridding I used cadence but got rid of it and went to a simple Cat Eye wireless; nice and clean. I tend to always be pushing the higher gears just because I like the feel of it and the burn. #1 tip that comes to mind is BE STRONG and BE LIGHT if you want to climb! In our club rides, another guy and myself are about 135# each , and we sit at the top of the long steep ones and watch as the rest of the club climbs up! What a sight and what a kick that is to see! Honest, get light and you will climb like a cat and look forward to hills, just because you can!

I've had cadence on my Cateye Solar mounted to my Davidson for as long as they've been around. Now that the wheel counter has died, for whatever reason, all I have is cadence and time. I still keep the thing on the bike just for that. I've been doing the same rides so I always know my mileage.

But OTOH, I don't have a computer on my other road bike, and I never miss it.

Spent yesterday riding around Stone Mountain, GA and was doing well, feeling very consistent on flats and of course on the downs. However, after passing a few riders, I was immead. passed by the same riders on some of the larger (up)hills.
I usually ride from home to Stone Mountain. I get there about 12:30-1:00 p.m. and do a few laps and then head home. I'm unemployed so I ride there 5-6 days a week. Maybe I'll see you today.
Did you pass me? Did I pass you? What color jersey were you wearing? What kind of bike?
I'm the old fart (59) on the Litespeed and usually wear a fluorescent yellow jersey or whatever jersey is on top of the jersey pile in the drawer. Could be blue or my BikeForums jersey or ..... :rolleyes:



Just getting back in after several years of hiatus...
So the question is, is consistent cadence the key to climbing well, and if so, do I need my computer to have that function?
Since you're just getting back into cycling I'd say yes. Once you get the "feel" of a comfortable cadence you don't really need it.
When I first got back into cycling in 1999 I got a Cateye Astrale (has cadence) to "monitor" how fast, or usually, how slowly I was turning the cranks. ;) Five years later I still have (and use) the cadence feature on the cyclocomputers (Vetta RT77) on both bikes. Sometimes I just want to see how fast I'm turning the cranks. Wow, 95...98...102. :D Going up "heart attack hill" at Stone Mountain, 68...54...42. :o

Back when I first started ridding I used cadence but got rid of it and went to a simple Cat Eye wireless; nice and clean. I tend to always be pushing the higher gears just because I like the feel of it and the burn. #1 tip that comes to mind is BE STRONG and BE LIGHT if you want to climb! In our club rides, another guy and myself are about 135# each , and we sit at the top of the long steep ones and watch as the rest of the club climbs up! What a sight and what a kick that is to see! Honest, get light and you will climb like a cat and look forward to hills, just because you can!

I'd have to amputate both arms and one leg to get that light.

I usually ride from home to Stone Mountain. I get there about 12:30-1:00 p.m. and do a few laps and then head home. I'm unemployed so I ride there 5-6 days a week. Maybe I'll see you today.
Did you pass me? Did I pass you? What color jersey were you wearing? What kind of bike?
I'm the old fart (59) on the Litespeed and usually wear a fluorescent yellow jersey or whatever jersey is on top of the jersey pile in the drawer. Could be blue or my BikeForums jersey or ..... :rolleyes:

I'm the guy who has a couple of jerseys, sitting on a dark green cannondale with yellow bartape. the only bike i noticed passing me was a motobecane tt bike. the thing is, i'm at emory all day, so i don't get there til between 6-8. regardless, i look forward to seeing you there.

the thing is, i'm at emory all day, so i don't get there til between 6-8. regardless, i look forward to seeing you there.
Ah, Emory! My employer until they downsized in 2000. Thank you John Henry. :fight:
If you're at SM on the weekends I usually ride about the same time -- 12:30-1:00 p.m.

Ah, Emory! My employer until they downsized in 2000. Thank you John Henry. :fight:
If you're at SM on the weekends I usually ride about the same time -- 12:30-1:00 p.m.

I hope you were at least like John henry and smiled before you set down the hammer and died. I'm actually a PhD student, so I'll be at SM a couple times a week for the next 4 years. They can't fire me, but I might fail. The PhD budget also explains the R500 C-dale instead of something a little sexier. I may have to get rid of one of my Gibson banjos if I want to sit on something a little smoother next spring . . .