Why the high cadence?

[Paul Drawmer]

Please can someone explain why it is reckoned to be better to spin than grind?

I know I'm an overweight old man, but I have always struggled with high cadence.

Yesterday I did an hour on the turbo trainer at a steady speed. Whilst keeping the speed (and obviously the power) constant, I did 1 minute in each gear, working my way up and down the block.

The following trace shows how my HR tracks the cadence, showing that trying to do 100+rpm knocks the st out of me, and I can travel further, faster by keeping to about 70rpm.



So for a normal old club rider, is it just best to do as you feel comfortable, and why do elite cyclists work better at high cadence?

Strava link
www.strava.com/activities/5117937139/analysis

Edited by Paul Drawmer on Wednesday 14th April 10:13

[Paul Drawmer]

Thank you for the answers everyone. At my age and fitness I'm not looking to change much to enable me to get more enjoyment from my bike; having noted the effect of cadence on myself, I was wondering on how high cadence worked for those at the top.

Thanks to your answers, I have a much better understanding of high cadence.

[Paul Drawmer]

ian996 said:

......... As your heart might be marginally less bullet-proof than an elite riders, I'd suggest sticking with what you are comfortable with.

You might just be correct. At 74 I think I might be 'past my best'!

My original question was not with the aim of me emulating elite athletes, I was just wondering how it worked for them.

Following several comprehensive replies, with many detailed explanations; I now understand what they're doing, and am even more in awe of their achievements.