Spinning: I think I finally get it
 

I've spent the last 5 rides or so trying really hard to keep my cadence up, especially on uphills, and just never felt it did much good. I was about to give it up as bunk and move on, then on my last ride I completely forgot to think about spinning.... I just did it.

I'm here to say that ride was the best ride I've had in 15 years. It wasnt overly long, just shy of 30 miles, but not once during the ride did I feel like stopping. Hills went easier. flats went faster, recovery after hills was faster, etc. etc.

I cant wait to get back out there for my next ride. Hopefully tomorrow night I can do it, otherwise it may not be until saturday night... boo.

So if anyone is trying the whole higher cadence thing and think its a waste of time, stick with it. It is SOO worth it. I have been a masher all my life, but I now see the light.

Welcome to the (as some here might say) dark side. :thumb:

i find that the spinning helps my mashing but not the other way around. My cardiovascular system is in such great shape now that If I have to get up and stomp it for a bit, I can do it sooooo much better than I could do it in the past

If I ever get strong enough to spin up hills then spinning would be great. For now I have to drop to my lowest gear and then I still end up having to drop my cadence to 50 just to get to the top. On level ground I can spin around 80 to 90 rpm on a good day.

When asked "Is it better to spin a small gear, or mash a big gear?" Eddy Merckx said "It's better to spin a big gear." :)

Of course he also said..... "It doesn't get easier.... You just ride faster!"

Actually, that was Greg Lemond. :)

Spinning and mashing both have their place. They are like tools, use the one that works for the application.

Lemond turned huge gears and look what happened to him. He got shot in the back with a shotgun. Coincidence? Maybe. But you never know. :)

yeah but I'd wager he got shot in the back because he's a d-bag, not because he turned huge gears ;)