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Small-Scale Question Sunday for October 27, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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What sort of spin bike are you using? There is a reason serious cyclists (both mountain and road) use "clipless" pedals. The name is historical: it refers to cycling shoes with a cleat that locks firmly into the pedals. For very maximal force efforts, track cyclists then often add straps ("clips") even now.

I've seen spin bikes with the hardware to optionally connect to cleats (usually Shimano SPD mountain bike cleats) on pedals that can also be used with regular shoes. But sometimes they just have flat pedals.

There is probably also something to be said for good technique. Are you having trouble at high cadences/efforts specifically or more broadly?

A cheap one without any ways of seeing how fast I'm going or any metrics. It has flat pedals without anything holding my foot back like straps.

So I figured that just doing 30 minutes at 70 percent of what I can do would be a start, maybe 40 if 70 is too much.

The seat is fucked too as not super ergonomic but I just want to get my heart rate up. It's safer than running.

There is probably also something to be said for good technique. Are you having trouble at high cadences/efforts specifically or more broadly?

I'll say this: I thought the idea of technique on a stationary bike was silly coming from much more technical exercises, but it takes time to get the rhythm right.