Cadence Sensor – Worth it?

Ok, so a bit of a kit-whore question, but is it a useful thing to have for training and the like, or just another thing to weight down a [road] bike on longer runs?

it’s a bit interesting, weights a few g and does wheel speed/distance to correct against the GPS.
It proves I don’t spin and that I have getting above a certain RPM.

Good for keeping your rpm in the range. Had one on my cyclocross and it was very useful for helping me keep going the distance.

I have one on my both race and winter bikes. love it and use it a lot during training.

Can’t say the weight of it has ever crossed my mind, it must weigh next to nothing! I think unless you are the absolute top end and looking to make minor gains then you should be worried if you think a cadence sensor will weigh you down on longer runs!

Makes sense on a road bike (and weight is miniscule) but cant see the point on a MTB really?

Does anyone know of a cadence only computer? (maybe a clock too) as that’s all I want.

Use mine all the time, very useful and not just for training. I commute regularly on the road bike and it’s very useful – I watch cadence as much or perhaps more than speed.

very useful, definitely get one

Yep, useful for training. I have a screen on my garmin which is just HR and cadence to try to get me to ride in the right gears rather than grind. Found my average speed go up quite a bit when I do this rather than just monitoring hr and speed

Is there a BT available for syncing with a mobile phone running Strava or the like, I know you can get a BT HRM so why not a cadence sensor (accepting the battery will get spanked of course)?

Is there a BT available for syncing with a mobile phone running Strava or the like

ive got the topeak one. works really well.

accepting the battery will get spanked of course

BT low energy so uses very little.

I’m a big fan. I ride SS a lot, and find that i am a bit rubbish at changing gears without a cadence reminder. My mate who doesn’t do SS can’t see the need.

do you forget to change gear in the car as well?

Had one on a Lapierre EI shocked bike, its interesting, and you do find yourself using it to keep an eye on how lazy (or teh orsumz) you are being, but I wouldnt buy one just for that info alone.

I bought one for my turbo trainer bike, made a world of difference for me.

Odly on road though I would not really look at it, but now my legs do feel more programed to spin.

Ride fixed on the road and your speedo serves the same purpose (cadence = 5 x speed for 42:16). And will make you a spinning god that renders the need for a sensor moot. Off road I ride SS and never felt the need for cadence or HR.

It’s nice to see my average cadence after a race is 90-100, but once you learn to spin, it’s not that much of a deal.

ive got the topeak one. works really well.

Still using an S2 as my cycling computer / logging device (and will be for a while yet) the panobike stuff is BT 4.0 and only seems to be iphone 4S/5 compatible… Correct?

I have toyed with the idea of getting a Polar Wearlink+ HRM it’s pretty “old” technology now but will at least work with my phone… being able to monitor / record cadence as well as HR would be useful.

The funny thing is I think I’ll be looking more at how good for use as a cycle computer my next phone is than how good it is as an actual phone, I can’t justify buying a Garmin just yet…

Interesting points. I accept that the weight of such a thing is likely to be a non issue (barely a slice of cake I guess), but I’m really trying to be as minimal as possible on the road bike to encourage me not to tart around, but to just ride.

On the other hand, if it helps me maintain a better speed over longer distances, I can justify the cost of one that links to my Forerunner 310XT under the “Training” budget.

I think I might sleep on it. Well, not the cadence sensor, the idea of buying one.

(barely a slice of cake I guess)

Barely even a biscuit

Its good to use one if you have no control of how fast or slow your legs go. Once you know what your best rpm range feels like its pretty much redundant.

I have toyed with the idea of getting a Polar Wearlink+ HRM it’s pretty “old” technology now but will at least work with my phone… being able to monitor / record cadence as well as HR would be useful.

In clearing out my house to move last week I came across an S725i HRM with 2 Wear Link straps, a cadence sensor, 4 speed sensors, 3 bike mounts and the running foot pod – if any of that’s of interest let me know!

Its good to use one if you have no control of how fast or slow your legs go. Once you know what your best rpm range feels like its pretty much redundant.

I disagree. I’m pretty good at knowing roughly what cadence I’m riding at but it’s nice to be able to confirm that. Once above 80rpm I don’t think I could guestimate closer than +/-5. I tend to ride in the 90-95 range mostly but if I’m feeling spritely that’ll go up into the 95-100 range, IMO the differences are quite subtle but the gains (ave speed over an hour for example) can be quite large.

OP – in terms of faffage, my Garmin (705) doesn’t require any faff. I fitted it years ago and haven’t touched it since (might have changed the battery once). The head unit just detects it and off you go.

I’m with DT78.

I also have a screen with just cadence and HR on my Garmin, and this is literally all I need to ride further, and more comfortably. I don’t ‘train’ as such (haven’t raced for years), but it does make every ride well measured and sustainable. I find these 2 measures keep me well within my limits and allow me to ride better. Encourages me to spin more freely.

As for weight – again about a biscuit’s worth. Definitely worth it.

Grrrrr. That means another we-based technology purchase! At this rate, I’ll have no pocket money left for biscuits or cake.

I still need to get my road bike service too. Ah well.

Cheers Njee but I don’t think the S725i HRM is bluetoothy for phone syncing like the wearlink+ is it… that’s really what I’m after, there actually only seem to be a couple of BT HRMs about that will work with an android phone, unless I’m missing a few products…

very important if you want train to be like this guy

😯

Its good for high cadence training drills and that’s about it. As for helping you ride further and faster- riding/training more does that not a cadence sensor.

Cheers Njee but I don’t think the S725i HRM is bluetoothy for phone syncing like the wearlink+ is it… that’s really what I’m after, there actually only seem to be a couple of BT HRMs about that will work with an android phone, unless I’m missing a few products…

Aah, didn’t realise there were different straps, thought the Wear link ones were all the same.

To answer the OP, I don’t find cadence massively useful. I used to do high cadence drills, but didn’t really need a number to chase. Only time I use it really is when doing a bit of a recovery spin to ensure I’m not pushing a big gear.