Originally Posted by
WhyFi
Definitely pedal, unless you're in endurance mode on a really long ride. Maybe everybody is different, but to me, it's torque, not watts, that really burns matches; the fatigue of 300w @70 rpm is going to accumulate more than that of 300w @110rpm, simply because those slower grinds are shifting away from the cardio and on to the legs.
Endurance training rides mean you get to pedal all the time. Uphill, downhill, sideways, no matter. There is no spinning out-you hit your brakes in order to not spin out. Sunday was 4 hours, and 3% was Zone 1. Funny, because when I catch someone out in the wild, it's usually downhill, simply because maintaining 71% is the goal, and that's not what they're doing. Of course, they usually catch me going uphill, because 71% is the goal, and they dial it up to 400 watts.
Of course, you're right on long fun rides, and killing it uphill is usually the fun/challenge, and coasting downhill is the recovery point.
It always depends on the ride you're doing.