Originally Posted by
chasm54
I don't know anyone who cycles primarily to build leg strength either. However, almost everyone who trains seriously for racing will do some low-cadence, high-gear work to build force. Especially important in a sprint, and they don't blow their knees if their form is good. And actually, most of the research indicates a very poor correlation between cadence and power produced.
That's not to say that moving to a higher cadence, most of the time, isn't a good thing. It is.
Agreed, though I'd add that those who do low-rpm high-resistance work are experienced cyclists who do it as a supplement to the rest of their training, and if they're really serious they do similar work off the bike. And they tend to have the mileage base, fitness level and muscular strength to prevent knee injury when doing it. A new rider here in Clydeland isn't likely to have that kind of conditioning in his legs just yet.