Being new to this game, on my new Orbea Aqua, I just got on and started cycling. A few journeys of around 25Miles. My plan was highest gear, lowest cadence ( had no idea about cadence at that point ).

So, 2 months later, reading about cadence, and different techniques, I just went out, attempted to stick at the same RPM, and adjusted the gears accordingly to enable me to maintain the same RPM ( no idea what it was, but not 90! ), and hit an average of 15 mph over one of the same routes I couldn't break 12.5 mph average before

So consistency of cadence implicitly gives you a faster mph over teh journey - spent most of the journey in the middle sprokect at the back and just fchanged the front down for hills.

Just ramblings from a fat old newbie road biker. The Orbea aqua though is blinding - not that I've tried any others.

Switching my entry level cateye computer for one with cadence counter on. Would you put a wired cadence sensor on a £550 bike?

I put wired computers on my $5000 bikes.

(and on my 93 trek beater)

I've used wired Cateye computers, all with cadence, on several bikes for 16 years, only one failure.

You can count cadence without a special computer. All you need is a time keeping device that will let you know when 30 seconds has passed, and then start counting. Everytime your right foot reaches the bottom of the pedal stroke count another stroke. Then multiply your total by 2 for revolutions per minute (RPM).

Generally speaking, if you're racing you should aim for a fairly high cadence (above 90). If your goal is to do longer distance rides, aim for a cadence between about 80 and 90 ... recreational rides would probably fit into that range as well.

A higher cadence (i.e. above 80) is easier on the knees, especially over longer distances.

I would recommend wireless, who wants wires all over the place?

Wireless can have some issues too. Ride under power lines and you can end up with some really interesting speed results.

I use a wireless computer and it's fine though the drawbacks are they can lose the signal in certain areas and my not work with certain types of high powered lighting for your bicycle.

I rode under transmission lines on this bridge once that said "Warning: Cyclists may experience a sensation as they ride under power lines" and it didn't cause any erroneous results. Though I didn't experience any sensation either. I felt kinda ripped off.

When they first built the bridge there was a big news article about how everyone was getting shocked going under the lines. They must have grounded the bridge or something...

they can make your hair stand up.

And you say nothing happened!

???

You said you experienced no sensation - interesting!

can this work using my left foot?

Yes, but you have to count backwards.


I feel most comfortable in the 95-100rpm range. On my ride this yesterday, I tried to keep it in 105-110rpm range minimum the whole ride for *****s-n-giggles. Actually was able to maintain 115-120rpm for a couple miles without bouncing all over. A first.

put this on your handlebars

I wouldn't put a wired cadence sensor on anything.