Preparation
Pace: Length of Trip in Days
The amount of time it takes to bicycle across the United States of America on the Transamerica route can vary depending on a number of factors, such as your fitness level, daily mileage goals, and the amount of time you take for rest days and sightseeing.
Generally speaking, a rider who is in good physical condition and is able to maintain an average daily distance of 60-70 miles can complete the Transamerica route in about 2-3 months. However, some riders may take longer if they choose to take more rest days or if they encounter unforeseen obstacles or delays along the way.
It’s important to note that the Transamerica route covers over 4,200 miles, and includes a range of terrain and weather conditions. It’s important to be well-prepared and to have a solid plan in place before embarking on this kind of journey.
Cycle Cadence
Cadence
When riding, try to maintain cadence rather than speed. Cadence refers to how fast you spin the pedals and is measured in “revolutions per minute” (RPMs). While you can’t count those yourself, most GPS devices for cycling and some of the bike cyclometers do. For many riders, 90 RPMs is a comfortable cadence that will move you along quite nicely on a flat surface.
When you come to a hill or encounter a headwind, you have the choice of pedaling harder and slower without shifting gears or shifting to a lower gear that will enable you to maintain the 90 RPMs. You will expend more energy if you make the first choice but will economize it with the second choice. As the hill becomes steeper or the headwind stronger, you may run out of lower gears and be forced to slow your cadence, but you still won’t expend as much energy as you would if you just cranked harder without downshifting.
As the terrain flattens or you turn out of the headwind, you can shift back up and resume the 90 RPMs (or whatever number works best for you). Of course, once you top the hill and start down, don’t feel restrained to the 90 RPMs. Let the bike roll as fast as you feel safe doing, especially if there is another hill ahead and you can use the momentum to get partway up that incline before you have to start pedaling again.
Cadence is a key measurement because it’s a vital component in the power you put out on the bike. After all, power is a calculation of how hard you push on the pedals (torque) multiplied by how fast you are turning them (cadence).
Cycling at a lower cadence typically puts more strain on your muscles, while a higher cadence shifts the load more to your cardiovascular system, says Dr Xavier Disley of AeroCoach, who has researched cycling efficiency and cadence, working with a number of elite cyclists.
If you have a more muscular build, you’re likely to be more comfortable at a lower cadence, while a wiry rider will probably want to push a lower gear at higher revs. There’s an energy cost to just turning the legs, which will vary with your physique, Disley points out.
Experiments have shown that trying to ride faster at a lower cadence (in a high/difficult gear) is more likely to lead to muscle strains and muscle soreness after a ride than achieving the same speed at a faster cadence, but with a lower load.
On the other hand, too fast a cadence and you’re likely to find your pelvis rocking, which could lower pedalling efficiency. You’ll also tire quickly.
Cycling cadence varies widely from rider to rider, and in different situations. Generally, a good cadence in cycling is between 80-100 rpm. Beginner cyclists often pedal rather slowly, around 60-85 rpm. Racers and more experienced hobbyists usually average between 75-95 rpm, and pros can sustain over 100 rpm during attacks or more than 110 rpm during sprints.