Originally Posted by
Trakhak
Analyses of power data from highly trained racing cyclists have shown conclusively that only a very low level of power is applied from the 6:00 point to the 12:00 point in the pedaling circle and that most of that power is applied between the 6:00 and 7:00 points.
Most inexperienced cyclists begin by pushing high gears at low cadence, a.k.a. "pedaling squares" (by the way, what happened with tellmethetruth and his 70 x 11 for 50 mph thread?); as cyclists strive for higher speeds, especially those who ride in pace lines with racers, they learn to spin lower gears at higher cadence, a.k.a. "pedaling circles."
Here's the problems I have with that type of analysis. Highly trained racers are a select group who probably started with physical attributes that are outliers from the general population, so what you really might be seeing is that the technique happens to be well-suited to that segment of the population. It doesn't follow from that that the technique is good for people who don't share those attributes. Also, riding in a pace line is so unlike any other kind of riding that there's no reason to assume it is a good technique for riding against unmitigated air resistance.
@
tellmethetruth appears to have taken his big chain ring and gone home.