What Is Cycling Cadence?

Cycling Cadence is one of many terms cyclists will come across, in this post - we look at Cadence in greater detail, including what it is - and how you can understand it and apply it to improve your cycling performance.

Cadence is incredibly simple - it’s the number of revolutions/turns that your pedals make per minute. Cyclists pedal at different cadences, with professional cyclists obviously hitting the upper levels of cycling cadence; a professional cyclist could expect to hit 100 revolutions per minute. A rider who rides purely for pleasure may hit 60 revolutions per minute - with a very fit amateur cyclist could hit between 80 and 90 revolutions per minute. Cadence is also affected by the terrain you are riding across, with cadence decreasing as you ride uphill Vs on a flat surface and riding across rough terrain on a full suspension mountain bike vs riding smooth tarmac on a lightweight road bike.

Why Is Cadence Important?

Cadence is one of the best ways to track power output. If you cycle at a higher cadence, you can expect to work your cardiovascular system more, and if you cycle at a lower cadence - you can expect to place greater stress on the muscles. The musclier a rider is, the more comfortable they are at a lower cadence, whilst the slimmer-built cyclists are usually comfortable at a higher cadence.

Can You Measure Cadence?

One of the easiest, and certainly the cheapest ways to measure cadence is to count the revolutions per minute. The cycling industry has realised how important it is to measure cadence, and there are a number of cadence sensors available on the market.

A power meter is the best way to measure cadence and power output - communicating directly to your cycling computer or smartphone app.

How To Improve Cadence?

Improving Cadence is not just about increasing cadence, riders should aim to improve both low and high cycling cadences. Higher cadence training will help improve neuromuscular and cardiovascular performance, whilst lower cadence sessions will help improve cycling strength.