As a complete newbie to cycling, how would you esteemed gentlemen recommend I get going? I'm getting two very different schools of thought here:
1. Start out very short for 4 weeks (3 miles or so) 3x per week, then add 1/2 mile every other week, keeping the cadence high (80-100).
2. Start out longer, but easier effort and gradually increase the cadence over time.
One person told me "Just go a lot longer and ride at a higher cadence" which is physially impossible, since at a high cadence I'm already at my limit. The bike I'm on is geared very easily (like an 15-year old 10 speed, which is exactly what it is), and on the hills (you guys would call them bumps) I'm already in the easiest gear, so I've got nothing left to trade in the Cadence/Effort equation.
Should I bite the bullet and ride longer, but at a lower cadence and try to build cadence over time, or should I ride shorter at a higher cadence and try to build distance over time?
1. Start out very short for 4 weeks (3 miles or so) 3x per week, then add 1/2 mile every other week, keeping the cadence high (80-100).
2. Start out longer, but easier effort and gradually increase the cadence over time.
One person told me "Just go a lot longer and ride at a higher cadence" which is physially impossible, since at a high cadence I'm already at my limit. The bike I'm on is geared very easily (like an 15-year old 10 speed, which is exactly what it is), and on the hills (you guys would call them bumps) I'm already in the easiest gear, so I've got nothing left to trade in the Cadence/Effort equation.
Should I bite the bullet and ride longer, but at a lower cadence and try to build cadence over time, or should I ride shorter at a higher cadence and try to build distance over time?