Cycle Scribe: Ride, Enjoy, Be Healthy, Live Stronger, Longer

Cycle Scribe: Ride, Enjoy, Be Healthy, Live Stronger, Longer

The Cadence Paradox

What is your 'Optimal' Pedalling Rate?

Mike Kirby (The Cycle Scribe)'s avatar
Mike Kirby (The Cycle Scribe)
Jul 20, 2025
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On a recent long ride with a friend, an experienced, very fit rider, some years younger than me, we got to talking about cadence. I noticed he was pushing a much higher gear than I was, his young legs churning at a slower rate as I spun along at my normal 80 to 90 rpm.

We agreed that trying to find an optimal cadence was work best done in a lab and only …

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