180 cadence?!

I just flipped the flop and did my first commute today on the fixed hub. Rode the SS for a week before attempting it. I have a 42:16, which is ~71GI, I have a pretty steep hill to get down (11%, not 6% as I previously thought!), and with a freewheel I was getting to 38mph, according to Rabbit that's 180rpm!

I was struggling earlier with anything above ~25mph which is 120rpm. Once you get used to spinning what kind of cadences can you achieve comfortably?

(I can't change the gear ratio really as I am only just getting up the hill in the morning!)

Also, it will be my first time going down it later today, any tips? On a much milder hill on the way here I was braking a lot to keep my speed down...

Thanks in advance,

-Ifor

200 is pretty good going

Tips
Make sure saddle is not too high otherwise you will be bouncing and just really relax your legs and just let them get out of the way. You will soon get used to it but saying that it can still be hard going on very long hills.
If it gets too much you can always brake anyway, the adrenalin only really comes in riding brakeless down steep hills!

its usually ok because you are only at that cadence for a short amount of time, and i think you will find that riding down the hill fixed, you won't reach the same speed as on a freewheel bike unless you put some effort in, because the drivetrain will have more resistance in it - some of the energy is wasted spinning the cranks, and moving your legs, unless you are perfectly keeping your legs going round at the right speed,

i think 180-200rpm can be done relatively comfortably over short bursts

Cheers for the replies guys, so to spin that quick I should just let my legs be spun by the momentum in the pedals? Or should I actively try and pedal that quick?

Start by letting the bike take your legs. As you get used to that kind of spinning you can start to push it that fast.

I actually find it easier to TRY and pedal faster.

There is a bizarre moment when you start to feel like a cartoon character whose legs are spinning at ridiculous speed. Generally I relax, lettng the momentum build up my leg speed, once comfortable with that I will then try to put some extra force in with my legs.

Pilates helps with this as one of it's main principles is that by have goo core control you free up limbs to move more freely.

I have great goo control.

SPlutrhghjadkl

oops

Cheers for the advice, it went ok...ish.

I started off fine, then began picking up speed, and then more speed, bu was on top of it, then my feet slipped out of the toe clips (was doing 40mph by now!)! So I just lifted my feet and applied the break for the rest of the way down, hopped onto the kerb and stopped to get back into the clips, and the rest of the journey was ok.

Going to take a while to get used to this I think! Although I am borrowing a set of spd's and some shoes tomorrow (but the shoes are a bit big), we'll see how it goes!!

I actually find it easier to TRY and pedal faster.

+1

I find it hard to go over about 130rpm when I'm trying to hold the bike back a bit (e.g. the start of the H25/2), but have done over 165rpm when I'm actually pushing. I know; pathetic. Absolute top whack I've ever done on the rollers for about 5s is 180rpm, which is feeble next to the sustained 220+ it takes to get a decent Rollapaluza time.

I actually find it easier to TRY and pedal faster.

I do too, it feels somehow dangerous to let go a "freespin" (? made up new term).

I either pedal into it or apply resistance, never relax legs completely.

my cadence sucks, i dont reckon i reach 130 before i look like a bouncing baby on the bike seat. My muscles just can't do it.