what is cadence in cycling

Cadence in cycling is a measure of angular speed representing the number of revolutions per minute (rpm) of the crank, or in other words, the rate at which a cyclist is pedaling or turning the pedals. Cyclists typically have a cadence at which they feel most comfortable, and on bicycles with many gears, it is possible to maintain a preferred cadence at a wide range of speeds. Recreational and utility cyclists typically cycle around 60–80 rpm, while professional cyclists cycle about 90 rpm during flat and long group stages and individual time trials of ~50 km. During uphill cycling on high mountain passes, they cycle about 70 rpm. Cadence is important because its a vital component in the power you put out on the bike. The power you are able to produce on the bike is the product of torque (force on the pedal) x angular velocity (or your pedal speed) . By increasing your cycling cadence at a given power, you would produce less force on your pedal, thus less muscular strain. While higher cadence puts the balance of effort onto the cardio system, lower cadence puts more stress on the muscles.