That doesn't mean that recreational cyclists should pedal that fast also. Competitive cyclist know that the greater the force that they exert on their pedals, the faster they use up their stored muscle sugar and the more quickly they tire. So they ride at lower gears, allowing them to exert less force and spin their pedals at a faster cadence. However, a recent study from The University of California at Berkeley shows that recreational cyclist do not increase their endurance by pedaling faster. When people who are not used to pedaling fast try to pedal fast, they lose their coordination and do not increase their endurance.
Cycling is a power sport.
The stronger your leg muscles, the faster you can pedal. If you want to be a faster bicycle rider and pedal fast like competitive cyclists do, you have to strengthen your legs. A study from the University of Texas shows that the fastest bicycle racers exert the greatest downstroke power on their pedals. Most bicycle racers do not lift weights with their legs because it causes their muscles to feel sore and limits the amount of hard riding that they can do. To strengthen your leg muscles so that you can ride faster, practice climbing hills as fast as you can.