User's Manual

It’s not dangerous to exceed 80 RPM on a hill, but for extended periods it will likely raise the rider’s intensity too
high and won’t achieve the strength benefits of climbing. It is all right to exceed 80 RPM for brief periods, such
as in a standing climb for the last 10-20 seconds. The rider intensity will increase dramatically, so make sure one
has planned for this in his/her profile.
The lower limit of 60 RPM on a hill is for safety reasons. There won’t be many situations where a cyclist will
pedal slower than 60 RPM. If one cannot turn the cranks at a faster cadence than 60 RPM the resistance is too
high. A key indicator is the need to contort the body by throwing his weight into pushing the pedal downward
while pulling on the handlebars. This excessive resistance places too much load on the knee joint and puts the
hips and low back at risk. One wouldn’t perform a bicep curl with a weight that would require the rider to throw
his/her hips forward. The same applies to resistance while pedaling. A rider must build the strength in his legs
using appropriate resistance at a cadence no lower than 60 RPM. If a steep hill is the goal, find the highest
amount of resistance one can maintain while employing good form at 60 RPM without contorting the body to
turn the pedals. Remember, 60 RPM is one revolution of the pedals per second.
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