I’ve always struggled with the “normal” cadence range of 80-100 rpm. My rides (even in the flats) are more like 70-75. Put me the mountains where I live and it’s more like 50-60s (even in a bike with a maximized granny gear).
Whenever I try to increase my cadence I find my mid to lower backs hates it! I then gravitate back to grinding.
I don’t all of a sudden go from a 70 rpm ride to a 85, I’ve tried gradually increasing it as well.
I’ve tried a bunch of things like bike fitting, regular core training with a good personal trainer, etc.
Problem with the lower cadence is that I am muscle bound verse really working my cardio. I seldom really feel it in my lungs.
Thing is I am doing 100+ km rides through mountains and it’s pretty taxing (left hip bugs me too…sigh). I think the hip wouldn’t bug me so much if I could bike at a higher cadence.
Has anyone experienced this and solved it.
I am 48, I bike around 3,500-5000 km a year. FTP = 215.