cadence: spinning and mashing
Hi Charles,
Well if you want to go really low with the gearing, on either the Silvio or the Vendetta, the Ultegra triple plus a MTB rear derailleur such as the Shimano M592 will allow you to use a 30t chainring and a 36t cassette ring. That gets you a gain ratio of less than 1.6, or a speed of 3.9 mph at a cadence of 60. Or you can spin at 100 rpm and go 6.5 mph.
Maria and I both prefer longer cranks (175mm) and a slow cadence. My standard cadence is about 80 rpm and Maria's is a bit slower than mine. A slower cadence allows a rhythm that includes the upper body. If you watch the best DF riders climbing, sometimes they are down in the saddle spinning, and there is no rocking action. Then when they really want to accelerate up the hill, they slow their cadence, get out of the saddle, and rock the frame forecefully side-to-side. I know the common wisdom from all recumbent experts is to spin, not mash. As usual, Cruzbike turns everything upside-down or backwards.
On a RWD recumbent, to be your best at climbing, sprinting, and long flat pieces, all you need to be good at is spinning.
On a DF or Cruzbike, to be your best at climbing, sprinting, and long flat pieces, you need to be good at spinning and slow, rhythmic pedaling (mashing). Being able to slow your cadence and use the upper body to leverage the BB axle is one of the key advantages of DFs and Cruzbikes. In my opinion, that's why they climb better, pound-for-pound, than other recumbents. You can probably do just fine on a Cruzbike only spinning. But I think if you also practice and learn how to mash (Cruzbike-style) you will be able to leap up shorter hills much faster. On long climbs, like the climb up to Caeser's Head (7 miles non-stop climbing) spinning was all I had the energy to do.
Jim
Hi Charles,
Well if you want to go really low with the gearing, on either the Silvio or the Vendetta, the Ultegra triple plus a MTB rear derailleur such as the Shimano M592 will allow you to use a 30t chainring and a 36t cassette ring. That gets you a gain ratio of less than 1.6, or a speed of 3.9 mph at a cadence of 60. Or you can spin at 100 rpm and go 6.5 mph.
Maria and I both prefer longer cranks (175mm) and a slow cadence. My standard cadence is about 80 rpm and Maria's is a bit slower than mine. A slower cadence allows a rhythm that includes the upper body. If you watch the best DF riders climbing, sometimes they are down in the saddle spinning, and there is no rocking action. Then when they really want to accelerate up the hill, they slow their cadence, get out of the saddle, and rock the frame forecefully side-to-side. I know the common wisdom from all recumbent experts is to spin, not mash. As usual, Cruzbike turns everything upside-down or backwards.
On a RWD recumbent, to be your best at climbing, sprinting, and long flat pieces, all you need to be good at is spinning.
On a DF or Cruzbike, to be your best at climbing, sprinting, and long flat pieces, you need to be good at spinning and slow, rhythmic pedaling (mashing). Being able to slow your cadence and use the upper body to leverage the BB axle is one of the key advantages of DFs and Cruzbikes. In my opinion, that's why they climb better, pound-for-pound, than other recumbents. You can probably do just fine on a Cruzbike only spinning. But I think if you also practice and learn how to mash (Cruzbike-style) you will be able to leap up shorter hills much faster. On long climbs, like the climb up to Caeser's Head (7 miles non-stop climbing) spinning was all I had the energy to do.
Jim
