Cadence is more than a rhythm

One of the more beautiful aspects of the Skylands Region is the rolling hills and mountains cut by the Delaware River. The ridge that marks the horizon to our west is part of the Delaware Water Gap National Park and home to a section of the Appalachian Trail.

While the more southern roads tend to meander though relatively flat pastoral farmland, the area where I most often ride contains some category 4 and 5 climbs. These hills can be a challenge for an old goat like me.

One of the training skills I found myself needing to work on when I returned to cycling was cadence. Initially, I was inclined to use the big gear and climb out of the saddle in some vain attempt to overpower the wind and the hills.

After some research, I purchased a Cateye Strada Double Wireless cycle computer. The wireless cadence sensor displayed my RPM along with the speed and other features. By focusing on my tempo, I was able to increase my cadence from a 70-90 range to a more efficient 90-110.

This past Christmas, my daughter gave me a wonderful gift, a Garmin Edge 200. Wow! This amazing little fun machine introduced me to the world of GPS tracking. I’ve had a great time mapping my rides and comparing times. But it lacks one important thing – cadence. Unlike its more expensive counter parts, the 500 and 800, it doesn’t have the ANT+ feature which transmits to the cadence sensor.

Initially, I removed the old cycle computer, but recently I put it right back alongside the Garmin. Now, I have the best of both worlds at a very reasonable cost. I use the Gamin for recording rides, mapping courses, etc. Then my eyes check the old Cateye for speed and cadence.

Today’s ride was a short one. The headwind was nasty. Still, I never tried to overpower it; I spun through it with my old friend – cadence.