Ever since I upgraded to 48 up front I’ve been on 16 in back – technically it’s my climbing gear but I’ve been using it for every ride. Yesterday I put the sprinting wheel back on Mr. Tib just to see if I cd handle 14 teeth on a traditionally sprinting day at the airport. I figured my initial climb up 16th just 2 blocks from my house wd be a Test Climb. I passed the test.
I know that ten speed cyclists search for a specific Cadence in their rides. Cadences are like Querencias in bull-fighting – places where the bull feels comfortable & is hence more dangerous to the matador. Cadences allow cyclists not to think about pedaling for a bit & concentrate on tactics instead. As I recall Lance Armstrong’s cadence was fast – 95 pedal-strokes a minute – & Jan Ulrich’s was slow – something like 80 per minute. It turned out that from his 95 per minute Lance cd better attack & respond to attacks than Jan cd from his 80 per minute.
Fixies provide no opportunity to have any specific cadence save on flat ground. One’s pedaling-rate is entirely a response to terrain. That having been said, I ride more comfortably on 14 teeth than 16 despite how many teeth I have up front. 14 fits the things I’m trying to do better.
Today was a good day; my first 75 of the year & one of my best sustained speeds. Plus I got to ride with Red Beard for a bit & chat.
My plan is still to use this season as training for next season, but today’s ride felt like actual cycling
Ecbatan 