The Smallest Change, The Biggest Improvement

I find attaching running magnets to the ankles before doing a spin class where the resistance is on maximum and I'm standing up doing 40 rpm works best.

What's going on with all the voting? Is this thread intending to define the one true answer to the question in the O.P.?

Here's another one: Adopting a nihlistic mindset when on the bike.

Going feral, at night.

To be abused and tortured by the fascist can help in find an extra bit of energy.

Fighting dogs are beaten and kept in chains for make them became champions.

There's not a lot to explain. Look where you want to go, usually the furthest point around the apex of the bend that's visible as you approach and navigate it i.e. it's not a static point.

The bike almost always wants to go where the eye is looking.

ok cheers.
recently came off and wanted to be sure I was up to speed..

A little drop of oil. Up to speed as I realized the rear brake is not releasing, already again? After I thought I was really slow to being tired this evening as I had cleaned and checked the bike this morning and everything was fine.

Define quality.

Changing tyres. I've not had punctures in two and a half years, which I attribute to the Marathons on the bike.

It's not a smoother, easier rider... but every time someone else mentions punctures I yet again appreciate not having any.

this.

ok cheers.
recently came off and wanted to be sure I was up to speed..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_fixation

I think it affects cyclists in two ways...

1. You just plain fixate on an object and ride right into it without even thinking of taking avoiding action, you lose situational awareness. This is the sort fighter pilots also get.
   
2. You want to take avoiding action but don't feel you can lean the bike over to avoid the object so can't steer around it. This is more common in motorcycling.
   
   

But either type of target fixation can affect anyone controlling a vehicle, you see F1 drivers doing it, guy in front goes off, guy following him follows him straight off the road in sympathy.

How about, in n% of cycling, a higher cadence is generally less tiring than pushing a big gear at a slow cadence?

My anecdotal evidence is that higher cadence = legs tiring out sooner, lower cadence (assuming same speed) = lungs tiring out faster.

Getting a good saddle.

*still searching

My anecdotal evidence is that higher cadence = legs tiring out sooner, lower cadence (assuming same speed) = lungs tiring out faster.

I assume you mean the other way round, I.e. lower cadence/leg speed means a higher gear for a given speed, which is more likely to tire your legs out.

Personally I've never felt exhausted from 'high' cadence, but my legs really suffer if I try to push too high a gear.

For me, high cadence (140+) for any longer than a few minutes tends to end in a burning sensation in my shins. Something that I quickly recover from by lowering cadence though.

A very different sensation than mashing a big gear, which leaves my legs feeling like flaccid noodles.

After mashing a big gear, try adding a dash of sesame oil and soya sauce to your legs to salvage them.

After mashing a big gear, try adding a dash of sesame oil and soya sauce to your legs to salvage eat them.
ftfy

I assume you mean the other way round, I.e. lower cadence/leg speed means a higher gear for a given speed, which is more likely to tire your legs out.

Personally I've never felt exhausted from 'high' cadence, but my legs really suffer if I try to push too high a gear.

nah, I kinda agree with sumo. guess it just depends on what shape your fitness is, they work different things, I'm rubbish at spinning and find it really tiring, obviously I just need to practice.

if you've got big legs - there's not much point trying to maintain a high cadence when climbing. l tire sooner... and I get dropped

gnocchi for dinner today.

if you've got big legs - there's not much point trying to maintain a high cadence when climbing. l tire sooner... and I get dropped

I have big legs.

if you've got big legs - there's not much point trying to maintain a high cadence when climbing. l tire sooner... and I get dropped

The lower your cadence / the more 'grinding' you do. The more fatiguing it is on your muscles. And nothing kills speed and endurance like muscle fatigue.

A higher cadence for long durations is depending more on the energy systems in your body.

You should aim to be spinning at 90+ rpm.

But the world is not perfect, my name isn't Lance and we'll all know riders stronger than us whose leg speed is slower.

if you can spin comfortably at 130rpm (for around half a minute, on a turbo trainer for example) then your ideal cadence to ride should be around 100, if you can't spin any more than 100 rpm without bouncing up and down, then your cadence should be pretty low around 70rpm, I think the rule of 30 is sufficient, but not when you are overly experienced at spinning, I can hit above 200rpm before I start bouncing up and down, thats just from practice, generally I stick to around 85rpm, but mainly I time trial and 90-100 is ideal.

Also, this is a rule of thumb, and is subjective.

£6.40 change from £10.

Two tubs of ice cream, Mango and raspberry and a mint choc chip.

Sorry. I didn't mean to de-rail this thread with endless cadence discussion.

Virgin Aluminium: Rode the rollers 120mm to the left tonight; lower frequency vibrations.