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@Velocio
There are three styles of pedaling;
[li]Mash[/li]
[li]Elliptical[/li]
[li]Smooth[/li]
To mash is to put all your energy and force on the down stroke.
Elliptical is to apply pressure to several parts of the stroke, usually both down and up with dead spots just off of the top and bottom.
Smooth is a constant application of pressure throughout the stroke.
I would've thought that most fixed and singlespeed riders would come out near the smooth mark, but by his own admission laplusgourmande mashes all the time, and I know that I pedal elliptical.
I know I pedal elliptical because a cycle fit showed this. But that was a year ago and I thought it might've changed. I rode geared this morning (first time in ages) and it felt horrifically spongy at the top and bottom. Basically I ride elliptical and have been using the motion on a fixed bike to pull my feet over and through the dead spots... not good.
So, what's the best method to progress from having an elliptical technique to having a smooth technique? Or for that matter from mashing to elliptical (because these things come in steps and you can't just jump to smooth).
Has anyone consciously done this before?
63xc has this: http://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_8.htm . But that doesn't really focus on the techniques, just some drills to improve cadence and power... which is fine except if you're mashing at 200rpm it's going to get messy.