Cadence

Pace yourself. My preferred cadence (pedal revolutions per minute) is about 90. Over a mile, at about a 30+ k/h pace each foot will run a full pedal cycle 270 times. Over a kilometre, at the same pace, it's about 180 times. If I ride 50 ks that's 9000 revolutions per foot. That's comfortable for me. If I can use my gears to keep that cadence, I can go a long time, into the wind, up a hill (I hope) on the flats.

Of course on the flats, with a good wind, a 90 rpm cadence in the right gear could move me along at 45 to 50 k/h. If I'm heading into a good wind that same pace, in the right gear, may only move me along at 25 k/h. There are other factors involved.

I can maintain my cadence thanks to the gears. And thanks to the gears I can go on a lot longer, regardless of other factors. My velocity will vary a great deal, but my exertion will not. Thus, I suggest, that gears are great!

(One should of course remain humble in the face of the elegant single speed rider, whose dogged determination and physical prowess allows him to grind away into the wind at 30 or 40 rpm just to keep the bike upright and moving, or spins his brains out with a big wind at 150 rpm, and I do. I've even aspired to be that guy, but you know, I just didn't enjoy the ride as much. I cursed more, and it took me longer to get from A to B. I apologize to the gods of bicycle purity, but I have given myself to the efficiency of gears. I may still build and ride and enjoy a single speed bicycle, as an exercise in bicycle soul purification, but I will not spurn, nor mock gears. They are useful. They make sense.)

Gears are like priorities. When you have them straight, you can maintain a steady pace for a long time, cover a lot of territory, and remain mentally and physically sound. So I will pace myself. I will maintain a regular rhythm. My cadence will not waiver. This do I solemnly swear.

Ride report

in: -1'C wind 5 ks SE

out: ABES ride after P/T meetings; then home in 4'C wind 10 ks ENE