Ideal Cadence for Trike?
-
- Posts: 406
- Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2010 1:11 am
- Location: WA
Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby Downhill » Thu Nov 07, 2013 10:47 pm
What's the "ideal" cadence for a recumbent trike on a flat course? Is the cadence for a trike the same as for a DF (circa 90 RPM)?
Thanks,
Downhill
2010 Oppy C6
- sogood
- Posts: 17168
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:31 am
- Location: Sydney AU
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby sogood » Thu Nov 07, 2013 11:14 pm
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
-
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:12 pm
- Location: Albany. 400km South of Perth
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby John Lewis » Fri Nov 08, 2013 12:30 am
The reason is, that unlike a DF bike, you are working against the seat back and it's possible to put a lot of
pressure on the knees and possibly do damage.
Spinning helps keep the pressure off the knees.
John
-
- Posts: 406
- Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2010 1:11 am
- Location: WA
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby Downhill » Fri Nov 08, 2013 9:27 pm
My next question is - is a cadence of 90 RPM as applicable to recreational cruising as it might be to racing?
And just what is the"average' cadence? If 90 is the optimum then I imagine that the average would be lower, especially when climbing. Personally I find 90 tiring, but I can cruise all day at 70 to 80 without any joint pain. Is it purely a personal preference / physiology thing?
2010 Oppy C6
-
- Posts: 5470
- Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:23 pm
- Location: Yangebup
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby Baalzamon » Fri Nov 08, 2013 10:23 pm
under 80 rpm can cause issues with you knees
- RonK
- Posts: 11508
- Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:08 pm
- Location: If you need to know, ask me
- Contact:
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby RonK » Sat Nov 09, 2013 11:40 am
No, an average cadence of 90rpm is generally considered the optimum and it's muscle fatigue that it aims to avoid.Downhill wrote:And just what is the"average' cadence? If 90 is the optimum then I imagine that the average would be lower, especially when climbing. Personally I find 90 tiring, but I can cruise all day at 70 to 80 without any joint pain. Is it purely a personal preference / physiology thing?
Yes, you will find maintaining an average 90rpm tiring at first. You have to train your aerobic system to cope (that is what fixies are for), and this will take time.
As previously posted, the ride position and also the extra weight of a trike would seem to make it all the more important to maintain a high average cadence.
Regardless of the ideal cadence, some people will always be mashers and others will be spinners, so yes there is an element of personal preference and physiology involved.
- sogood
- Posts: 17168
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:31 am
- Location: Sydney AU
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby sogood » Sat Nov 09, 2013 12:02 pm
I think the same advice is applicable to whatever type of riding activity.John Lewis wrote:The usual advice for recumbents is to spin. 80+ cadence is often mentioned.
The reason is, that unlike a DF bike, you are working against the seat back and it's possible to put a lot of
pressure on the knees and possibly do damage.
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
- Bartek
- Posts: 197
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:43 pm
- Location: Waikiki, Western Australia
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby Bartek » Sat Nov 09, 2013 12:42 pm
KMX Viper
Trek 350
- Duck!
- Expert
- Posts: 9876
- Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 8:21 pm
- Location: On The Tools
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby Duck! » Sat Nov 09, 2013 1:32 pm
This is all pretty well spot-on.RonK wrote:No, an average cadence of 90rpm is generally considered the optimum and it's muscle fatigue that it aims to avoid.Downhill wrote:And just what is the"average' cadence? If 90 is the optimum then I imagine that the average would be lower, especially when climbing. Personally I find 90 tiring, but I can cruise all day at 70 to 80 without any joint pain. Is it purely a personal preference / physiology thing?
Yes, you will find maintaining an average 90rpm tiring at first. You have to train your aerobic system to cope (that is what fixies are for), and this will take time.
As previously posted, the ride position and also the extra weight of a trike would seem to make it all the more important to maintain a high average cadence.
Regardless of the ideal cadence, some people will always be mashers and others will be spinners, so yes there is an element of personal preference and physiology involved.
- Riggsbie
- Posts: 659
- Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:55 pm
- Location: Geelong, Vic
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby Riggsbie » Sun Nov 10, 2013 8:18 pm
My average is 95rpm and max out at 125rpm......on my trike, my velomobile, my two wheeler recumbent.......on my indoor trainer I spin at 110 average now......aerobic fitness is the key !
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
-
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:12 pm
- Location: Albany. 400km South of Perth
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby John Lewis » Sun Nov 10, 2013 8:52 pm
I used to spin quite happily at 90 and above but these days 60 to 70 is about it.
No danger of hurting the knees these days either as I no longer have much power.
I need to take it quietly anyway because of tachycardia but the slow down is noticeable.
I do recall reading that cadence does decrease with age. Perhaps sogood or RonK may know more there.
John
- RonK
- Posts: 11508
- Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:08 pm
- Location: If you need to know, ask me
- Contact:
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby RonK » Sun Nov 10, 2013 9:30 pm
What makes you think I would know about that John - are you implying something?John Lewis wrote:I do recall reading that cadence does decrease with age. Perhaps sogood or RonK may know more there.
Actually my knees are not good after years of pack hauling, so keeping my cadence up is essential.
-
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:12 pm
- Location: Albany. 400km South of Perth
Re: Ideal Cadence for Trike?
Postby John Lewis » Mon Nov 11, 2013 11:42 pm
Not implying anything. It was just you seemed pretty knowledgeable about what is being discussed and I thought you might be able to tell me whether I was correct in the statement that cadence decreases with age or not.
John
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.