Cadence for large cyclists
12-13-21, 08:12 AM
#101
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Greer, SC
Posts: 344
Bikes: GR300, Grail, Live Wire, 5010
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 189 Post(s)
Liked 241 Times
in
121 Posts
I wouldn't be, alleycats are traditionally done on brakeless track bikes. If geared bikes are allowed they have their own category. Heres a vid from one of the more prestigious alleycats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01YpWiJCTnc
Kinda reminds me of my motorcycle commute in SoCal a couple decades ago.
Likes For sarhog:
12-13-21, 11:44 AM
#102
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,617
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10969 Post(s)
Liked 7,495 Times
in
4,191 Posts
Likes For mstateglfr:
12-13-21, 01:33 PM
#104
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,617
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10969 Post(s)
Liked 7,495 Times
in
4,191 Posts
Likes For mstateglfr:
12-13-21, 02:12 PM
#105
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,853
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1067 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 259 Times
in
153 Posts
Never had any complaints.
It doesn't have to be dangerous, you just need to apply a bit of brain power to the way you are riding.
12-13-21, 02:34 PM
#106
Obsessed with Eddington
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brussels (BE) 🇧🇪
Posts: 1,330
Bikes: '16 Spesh Diverge, '14 Spesh Fatboy, '18 Spesh Epic, '18 Spesh SL6, '21 Spesh SL7, '21 Spesh Diverge...and maybe n+1?
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 621 Times
in
368 Posts
Also, 172.5 is also common, as is 175. Right or wrong (and I am uninterested in a discussion about crank length), manufacturers spec bikes with crank arm lengths relevant to the frame size. Each has their own method, but small frames get short cranks, large cranks get long cranks, etc.
Likes For Badger6:
12-13-21, 02:35 PM
#107
Obsessed with Eddington
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brussels (BE) 🇧🇪
Posts: 1,330
Bikes: '16 Spesh Diverge, '14 Spesh Fatboy, '18 Spesh Epic, '18 Spesh SL6, '21 Spesh SL7, '21 Spesh Diverge...and maybe n+1?
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 621 Times
in
368 Posts
Likes For Badger6:
12-13-21, 03:00 PM
#108
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
Likes For WhyFi:
12-13-21, 03:34 PM
#110
Obsessed with Eddington
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brussels (BE) 🇧🇪
Posts: 1,330
Bikes: '16 Spesh Diverge, '14 Spesh Fatboy, '18 Spesh Epic, '18 Spesh SL6, '21 Spesh SL7, '21 Spesh Diverge...and maybe n+1?
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 621 Times
in
368 Posts
Likes For Badger6:
12-13-21, 03:47 PM
#111
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,547
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3674 Post(s)
Liked 5,441 Times
in
2,764 Posts
Likes For shelbyfv:
12-13-21, 03:50 PM
#112
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,995
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2700 Post(s)
Liked 486 Times
in
351 Posts
Only the club Fred ride has told me to get a jersey. The three race rides I do don't care. Though one is trying to crack down on dangerous riders after a horrible crash on Friday, I'll talk to some of the more experienced people and tell them to keep an eye on me/yell constructive criticism if needed.
Likes For LarrySellerz:
12-13-21, 04:01 PM
#113
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,985
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10440 Post(s)
Liked 11,914 Times
in
6,101 Posts
Only the club Fred ride has told me to get a jersey. The three race rides I do don't care. Though one is trying to crack down on dangerous riders after a horrible crash on Friday, I'll talk to some of the more experienced people and tell them to keep an eye on me/yell constructive criticism if needed.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
Likes For genejockey:
12-13-21, 04:08 PM
#114
Obsessed with Eddington
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brussels (BE) 🇧🇪
Posts: 1,330
Bikes: '16 Spesh Diverge, '14 Spesh Fatboy, '18 Spesh Epic, '18 Spesh SL6, '21 Spesh SL7, '21 Spesh Diverge...and maybe n+1?
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 621 Times
in
368 Posts
Only the club Fred ride has told me to get a jersey. The three race rides I do don't care. Though one is trying to crack down on dangerous riders after a horrible crash on Friday, I'll talk to some of the more experienced people and tell them to keep an eye on me/yell constructive criticism if needed.
Seriously, man, put on a jersey. just do that for us and for your fellow riders.
MODS: d-bag is a commonly accepted invective in the paratrooper world. A “deployment bag” is what holds a parachute while in the pack tray, but it is an utterly useless piece of fabric beyond that.
12-13-21, 04:30 PM
#115
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,995
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2700 Post(s)
Liked 486 Times
in
351 Posts
I’m gonna go out on a limb and offer this bit of advice: be careful pointing fingers, there’s more pointing back. That “Fred ride” is probably guys like me who used to race, and who still hammer it out, but are also more likely to take the time to tell you to not be a d-bag (because you are, or at least you present yourself as such on BF). The “race” rides as you call them, if in fact are filled with Cat 1/2 riders, are not going to waste their time on telling you anything, because they show up to those rides to train as a team, and they don’t care if a d-bag shows up to ride, as long he/she doesn’t interfere with their training. If those rides are team rides, you’d know it because they’d tell you to scram.
Seriously, man, put on a jersey. just do that for us and for your fellow riders.
MODS: d-bag is a commonly accepted invective in the paratrooper world. A “deployment bag” is what holds a parachute while in the pack tray, but it is an utterly useless piece of fabric beyond that.
Seriously, man, put on a jersey. just do that for us and for your fellow riders.
MODS: d-bag is a commonly accepted invective in the paratrooper world. A “deployment bag” is what holds a parachute while in the pack tray, but it is an utterly useless piece of fabric beyond that.
12-13-21, 04:34 PM
#116
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,985
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10440 Post(s)
Liked 11,914 Times
in
6,101 Posts
If that were true, you'd wear a shirt when people ask you to, because it wouldn't matter to you.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
Likes For genejockey:
12-13-21, 05:21 PM
#118
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,985
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10440 Post(s)
Liked 11,914 Times
in
6,101 Posts
12-13-21, 06:48 PM
#119
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,995
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2700 Post(s)
Liked 486 Times
in
351 Posts
Well in any case I might not be able to ride with the noon ride anymore 
. I didn't do anything wrong but am relatively new to group rides and they are on edge because Friday's crash was one of the worst in the rides history. They are cracking down on noobs and I asked some senior members if I should stay away . Big bummer. EDIT: I can keep coming as long as I stay in the back!
. I didn't do anything wrong but am relatively new to group rides and they are on edge because Friday's crash was one of the worst in the rides history. They are cracking down on noobs and I asked some senior members if I should stay away . Big bummer. EDIT: I can keep coming as long as I stay in the back!
Last edited by LarrySellerz; 12-13-21 at 07:06 PM.
12-14-21, 05:19 AM
#120
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,516
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3241 Post(s)
Liked 2,512 Times
in
1,510 Posts
Lathered up in sunblock is probably more aero than wearing a jersey unless you have Sasquatch DNA. Gotta make those gains where you can. Every little bit helps.
12-14-21, 06:03 AM
#121
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,516
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3241 Post(s)
Liked 2,512 Times
in
1,510 Posts
What about a fishnet jersey? That would provide airflow and not flap in the wind. OP could be rocking one like Diamond Dave or Glen Danzig. People'd be asking him for his autograph. Win win.
Last edited by seypat; 12-14-21 at 11:54 AM.
Likes For seypat:
12-14-21, 09:32 AM
#122
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
I was on a single speed with a freewheel, and yes I was pedaling thats how I hurt myself. I can't spin that fast for more than a few seconds it seems. had to stop and remove myself from the ride my leg hurt so much. I know the cadence because I did what you did and used a gear calculator. 180 RPM isn't even that high for track sprinters BTW, as shown in that video posted above
On a freewheel downhill, there's no way to estimate your cadence by MPH. All you can say is that it's less than the maximum amount needed to propel the bike at that speed.
12-14-21, 02:23 PM
#123
Obsessed with Eddington
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brussels (BE) 🇧🇪
Posts: 1,330
Bikes: '16 Spesh Diverge, '14 Spesh Fatboy, '18 Spesh Epic, '18 Spesh SL6, '21 Spesh SL7, '21 Spesh Diverge...and maybe n+1?
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 621 Times
in
368 Posts
Let me redirect your attention to my first statement:
So….
Don’t try to hijack this, and turn it into a thread about you and your abnormally tiny crank. 
So….
Likes For Badger6:
12-14-21, 02:44 PM
#124
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
Well, there you have it. Since "winning" is off the table, no need to "spin to win" anymore. Just ride whatever cadence comes naturally, and if people keep commenting on what your feet are doing, tell them "my eyes are up here, pal." 
Likes For ThermionicScott:
12-14-21, 02:45 PM
#125
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Hell, I'm not even going to try to hijack it with my abnormally slow cadence/abnormally high gear stuff. I'm just going to say I'm pretty sure I wouldn't look pretty going 180 RPM what with the exploding heart/legs combo..
Likes For livedarklions: