It's not foot speed which drives HR, it's simply cadence, the up and down motion of the legs. The speed of that motion increases oxygen consumption (how could it not!) and hence HR increases.

But really? It's silly to argue about this. You'll just have to get on your bike and experiment. Ride the same section of road or on your trainer or rollers at the same power at 50 and 110 cadence for say 5 minutes with enough normal riding at the same power in between for your HR to resettle. Note HR at the end of the interval. Pick a moderate power to make it easy.

At the same power, you'll pedal faster with shorter cranks if you keep pedal pressure the same. The difference between 165 and 170 is so small it might not be particularly noticeable in the short run. I don't know of a device which records total pedal revolutions for a ride, but I betcha that 2 long rides at the same speed with different crank lengths would show more revolutions for the shorter cranks. That's the whole idea of going shorter - we keep our pedal pressure the same and pedal a lower gear. Ever wonder why LA started pedaling 110-115 in TTs after he started seriously juicing?

For instance when I do Fastpedal intervals on my rollers, I use a gear in which I have to hit about 115 cadence to produce 112 watts. That'll produce a HR of about 122, whereas at my preferred cadence HR will be about 105 and lower yet at 50 cadence. That's a bit of reductio, but the principle applies, the numbers are just closer together in normal riding.

I wish people would ignore efficiency because it comes in flavors, none of them seem particularly relevant to cycling, and there's a tendency not to indicate what flavor is being referred to.
https://www.oxfordreference.com/disp...0803100146208;.

Agreed... just want to make the point that anyone who feels constrained by their current configuration such as, medical conditions involving range of motion &etc., should feel free to experiment with crank length if that allows them to get back to the sport they love...

Hello. Finally got well enough to ride again after 4 years. 75 now though. any suggestions on how to 'get back into it' gradually without damaging anything. Be well ya'll.

To RDLange: Having (mostly) recovered from back issues and wanting to get back in the saddle again, I have adjusted my prime ride to have three modifications.
1. Softer saddle
2. Mildly curved upright handlebar with padded grips, also more padded gloves
3. An upgraded triple crankset with the lowest cogs 30. The idea is to maintain consistent cadence of 70-80 with moderate pedal resistance.
The idea is making your ride comfortable and with reduced stress on the old body. I'm 72 but, with these modifications, feel younger!
Best of luck. Be well!

I restarted in 2013 after a 11 year layoff.

I had a back problem in the mid-'80s. Previously, I had trained myself by doing a little more on each ride than I thought I could, but that often resulted in post-ride back pain. I started riding a little less than I thought I could on each ride - 2 miles if I thought I could do 3, 18 miles if I thought I could do 20, etc. I advanced more slowly, but my back didn't hurt. I followed the same method in 2013 - I started with 2 mile rides, . It took me 2-3 months to get from 2 miles to 20. I can't guarantee this will work for you, but I recommend considering the approach of riding less than you think you can.

In the end, the only way to get comfortable riding is to ride. If you start with slow short rides and attend to your body, you'll get faster and go farther eventually, as appropriate to your fitness and comfort on your bike.

I can only speak from my own experience, but barring any underlying health problems, it will partly depend on your overall fitness. Getting back into it will be easier if aerobically and strength-wise you’re in decent shape. Concurrent with gradually getting back into riding and finding the right equipment (as suggested), I think working on biking-specific strength and conditioning exercises would be helpful.

I am with you on this. Selle Anatomica saddles, higher bars level with saddle with gel under the tape, lower gearing and anti-vibration gloves which are much better than cycling gloves. On the occasional bad days a recumbent trike.

Good for you! 77 here. I ride the same bike with the same setup I bought in 2000. All just fine.

I have been a gym member since '79. In the winter and fall, I go for about an hour twice a week to build strength and flexibility. In spring and summer once a week, about 50' for strength maintenance. IMO this is a critical element. Start light with high reps and gradually decrease reps and add weight after the first year, though you can add weight during the first year, just keep the reps high, say 20-30. Sarcopenia is a real thing.

Do a stretch routine every morning. On days you don't go to the gym, add one long as possible plank, and one set of as many pushups as you can do.

On the bike, IMO the best thing is to start with rollers if you've been using them all along, or a simple trainer if you haven't. Start with say 30' every other day, gradually increase frequency and time. Walk on some of the days you don't ride. Wear a heart rate monitor. On the bike, keep your breathing deep and even, "conversational" pace for the first couple months. Then try riding outside, again keeping the pace moderate. If you have hills, just gear way down.

Gradually increase intensity on the bike over the months. Four years is a very long time at our age. You won't be the same and you won't get it all back. Just do and be satisfied with what you can do.

I haven't been riding outdoors much since my first syncope in October. Yesterday I led my first group ride in a long time, on our tandem. Five tandems and 10 singles showed up, all old riding buddies of two sexes. We did 31 miles with only ~700 of total gain in a little over 2 hours. After ride, we had our traditional pub gathering with plenty of pain solvent and joyous conversation. The plan is to do this every Sunday when it isn't raining. The ride was I would say, extremely popular. You can imagine.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c7b282299d.jpg
New brewpub around here...

My schedule is every 3 days but about the same overall weekly mileage...
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Nothing makes an old man happier than blue sky, mild temps and light breezes.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...08d31cee3.jpeg
This photo is un-edited = :love:

stuff on right cost' ya >$20 a 16 oz can (high-test stout aged in a whiskey barrel)... $2 taster... deal!!!https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...945c792315.jpg
G

The only thing better than a blue sky day is a bunch of blue ski days together with a bunch of rides.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fd8c9c3fc.jpeg
A Bianchi Day
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b8f487b09.jpeg
A Tallerico Day
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...492392d21.jpeg
Boating Day - and it was crowded at the main launch area.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...243b66c9b.jpeg
The AD Olympian - you’ll just have to imagine blue sky.

Saw this agave preparing to bloom this year...


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9a400e89ae.jpg
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I just don’t have the heart to leave a msg for this business owner who needs a new plan. As I have yet to meet the horse who can shovel pucky and serve themselves dinner.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a22023339.jpeg

... had a yellow bike... LeMond, BA... should'a kept it!

Ioannidis

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c6a77bdba.jpeg
23 yo Calfee. CF frame still in warranty. Maybe. Nothing is original to the frame - it has been worthy of a couple of major upgrades. This from today on the climb home.

Latest additions to my stable:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bbe0fe02fa.jpg
Wabi Classic with 650c wheels

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...154318e662.jpg
Specialized Sirrus X 5.0

I've heard of toe overlap, but never bottle overlap.
Don't let it slip over a bump; especially at speed.

What? Me worry.

It's actually not as bad as it looks as can be seen in the photo taken from a different vantage point. There's over an inch of clearance between the water bottle and the front tire. I did change the water bottle cage to a side loader style to facilitate insertion and removal of the water bottle. The real issue is proximity to the chain.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9a33f74a7b.jpg

Should be wrenching some several niggles on bikes needing maintenance.
But I would rather ride!

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...60617474d.jpeg

Well don't forget the niggles entirely, they never, (ime), service themselves and almost invariably cause me serious probs, when far from home, sans basic repair kit.
I've got a Peugeot that looks a lot like your bike, but. My ebike has to be main transport to 2 towns and their public transport connections. It works well, so much better than worrying about a zillion car probs. Always more costly and stressful.
This bit of France has more beautiful bike/hike trails than anywhere in Europe I think, so I'm in paradise, with my E-bike, plus 3 others without motors. All a bit rusty and likely to need fixing.
Ebiking base level, is only a little bit of power, for some extra speed or, uphills, via 'pedelec'.

Got more without niggles, so I ride problem free. There is always a queue at my home workshop, repair times vary based on weather and the mechanic's frame of mind. Lately, the weather has been ideal for Spring riding. Vintage, modern + e-roadie all ready to go. Long retired, I use the e-bike for hillier rides and for recovery days when the body needs an e-asy spin - keeps me rolling.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1acb1a1c19.jpg
E-Orbea (hub motor) is fun......
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b571fd6def.jpg
.......as are all the oldies.

Feel'n stout...
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...baa36d8b5d.jpg

Looks like you emptied the terrace 'lounge'. ;)

....sometimes my feet stink, too. :innocent: :roflmao2:

Well, now I'm 65+.

In seven years, Gen X will begin to arrive.

-mr. bill

I'll be back in a year.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...71feffb5c8.jpg


Bring it on Gen. X...

Funny how my life sometimes emulates my rides. An uphill slog, with many twists and turns - and forget about “getting up to speed”.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...79ae10867.jpeg
of course, then again it is sometimes fast and twisty where I just coast along with no effort.

A tailwind is always good...