I try to avoid getting too deep into the power and work type math when thinking about bicycling and touring. That said, I think cadence increase can increase power, but it is not a guarantee that it will. Over a decade ago, my cadence was usually in the 72 to 78 range when exercising. Now, closer to 66.

When you think about professional bike racers, they can put out huge wattage, but they need a really high cadence to do that because the amount of downward force that they can push down on the pedals is a function of their weight, and they usually are skinny little guys that can't put too much weight on a pedal. So, cadence is the way for them to get more power without having to get heavier.

But keep in mind oxygen intake is also a cap for your power, so boosting cadence has its limits.

I am a low wattage rider. Lab tests show that my red cell count is way below normal range. And just about any other medical lab test also shows that I just naturally have a lot less oxygen carrying capacity than the normal person. There is not really anything I can do to fix that. So, I just accept that. And that might be why I am more likely to get off the bike and push up some of the steeper hills, I just do not have the wattage available to maintain the speed needed on steep hills to maintain balance.

If you are starting to look at a scheduled carb boost, you are really starting to make your tour more of a race.

This is the reference that I often cite for energy sources and energy needs.
https://www.roadbikerider.com/energy...e-intensities/

I consider myself to be between the low and medium level when bike touring. I often have more carbs on a bike tour than at home, but I do not go out of my way to increase carb levels on a tour. For one thing I have diabetes and need to have a low carb diet to keep my blood sugar down. But long days in the saddle means that I can have a lot more carbs on a bike tour while I am riding as long as I do not overdo it.

Example, I did a 200k brevet last year and was pleasantly surprised to learn that the box of mini cupcakes fit perfectly in my handlebar bag. Ate almost all of them during that ride. But, I was riding harder and longer on that brevet than I do on bike tours. Thus, I was burning the carbs as I ate them.



Don't forget protein. When I came home from one of my tours, I had some weird physical issues. Was at my Dr office the next day after I got home. Lab tests showed I had a severe protein deficiency. Now, when I bike tour, backpack, or any other strenuous activity for hours, I try to remember to have some protein at the end of that exertion for muscle recovery. When bike touring, I have a 20 gram protein bar when I get to the campsite every day. That is in addition to all my other protein sources.

After I wrote the above paragraph on protein, I suddenly remembered you have done some long days on past tours, I was tempted to delete that paragraph but chose not to. A reminder never hurts, even though I am sure you already knew a lot of this stuff that I just wrote.