Originally Posted by
Jamminatrix
I was unaware it was universally accepted every 'bigger' (not sure if you mean by height/weight or body fat?) rider was a masher, or is that just a blanket statement? Plenty of bigger riders have naturally high cadences.
I should have been clearer. In the circles that typically justify mashers Bigger = cyclist who is overweight, and probably new to the sport and doesn't understand cadence.
Also, what is a naturally high cadence? I spin 90-100 on flats and cadence isn't even a data field on my main screen anymore. Is this natural for me? I certainly don't make a conscious effort to do it. How do you know the cadence that someone is pedaling at their "natural" cadence? Did you asked them if it is natural for them to spin?
Fitness goes up, cadence naturally goes up.
If you spend all your time riding at 60-70RPMs you're not going to get very fit. Of course being a fitter rider allows you to spin more easily. I'd argue the causality goes in the other direction. Work on improving your cadence and the fitness will follow.
There are plenty of other underlying conditions that cause people to ride a lower cadence than they otherwise normally select. For instance, poor fit. If someone cannot get comfortable on the saddle, they're going to select a lower cadence to try and take pressure off their crotch.
I agree...but riding a lower cadence due to bad bike fit doesn't make mashing anymore efficient. Its almost the same argument a lot of unfit people make in favor of mashing -- its certainly more comfortable in the short term but it stunts your development as a rider.