Gear Selection Mystery

[ASC1951]

Why do children all seem to pedal round with the chain on the smallest sprocket and smallest chainwheel? It isn't out of ignorance, because I'm sure they have all been told this is a Bad Thing and shown how to work the gears properly; nor is it for ease of pedalling, because I came across a lad in Ripon on Saturday graunching his way uphill on 30 x 12.

I assume that I would have done it as well, but derailleurs weren't common when I was a child (or my parents were too tight to buy me one. "That tune only plays when the van has run out of ice cream, son").

It's a puzzle.

 

[jimboalee]

There are two explanations to this mystery.

1/ The smallest sprocket and smallest ring are engaged when the gear shifters/twistgrips are in the relaxed position and the child hasn't got the physical wrist strength to shift them.

2/ The cable nipples at the shifters have come detatched and no-one in the child's family can be bothered; or does not have the knowhow to repair them.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Little LC got her first geared bike last year .. it's only a single up front so no worries about cross-chaining it but she really does get stressed about changing gear.

I've explained to her that she should be in the "number" that means it's easy for her to turn the pedals and get along at the speed she's doing but she seems to find the whole shifting process a bit distressing.

Maybe I've made too big a thing of it .. dunno.

 

[Smokin Joe]

And why does every non enthusiast have a rusty chain and cassette? It only takes a couple of seconds with some 3-in-1.

 

[Dave5N]

And why does every non enthusiast have a rusty chain and cassette? It only takes a couple of seconds with some 3-in-1.

Opened a can of worms now. I agree with you, but the die-hard Finish Line mob will be along in a minute...

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I'll must mention WD40 and GTwhatever here for no particular reason.

 

[byegad]

I had a SA three speed on my first bike and used the gears instincitvely within hours of learning to ride.
In those days, the late 1950s the 'default' gear of all the old guys riding to work was third, even into a gale they would wobble along with a cadence almost measurable in revs per hour. I suspect a broken or maladjusted cable was the reason for this.

 

[Arch]

It isn't out of ignorance, because I'm sure they have all been told this is a Bad Thing and shown how to work the gears properly

You're more optimistic than me then.

I very much doubt most kids on bikes have been told anything about how to use gears - unless their parents cycle and even then, you see adults doing it, so they don't necessarily know either.

 

[ASC1951]

You're more optimistic than me then.

I admit I took it for granted that you wouldn't buy a child a bike and not show them how to use it.

That is certainly the case with the last two bikes I bought for children. Careful explanation of the gears, then demonstration, repeated every time they wheeled them out yada yada yada. Not a blind bit of notice - next time they're both graunching along in little chainwheel and sprocket. Perhaps they just do it to wind me up.

 

[mickle]

Finally! A reason for rapid rise!


3 by 1, GT40 and WD85 are excellent products.

 

[Over The Hill]

Middle is only about half an inch away from the granny and the chain is about 18 inches long. That knocks the chain out only by about two degrees. The chain must have play in it to move about ten degrees when it gets derailed. So I conclude the chain wear thing is a myth.
Cog wear may be higher as force is spread over a lesser number of cogs but then there must be a case for spreading the wear away from the middle most used cogs at each end.

Lastly- it is their bike, just be happy they are using it.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Middle is only about half an inch away from the granny and the chain is about 18 inches long. That knocks the chain out only by about two degrees. The chain must have play in it to move about ten degrees when it gets derailed. So I conclude the chain wear thing is a myth.
Cog wear may be higher as force is spread over a lesser number of cogs but then there must be a case for spreading the wear away from the middle most used cogs at each end.

Lastly- it is their bike, just be happy they are using it.

My opinion too.
BTW, that was your 1000th post, where's the beer?

 

[mickle]

No indeed, chains do not wear out. It's an urban myth propagated by the chain manufacturers. Barstads!

 

[Randochap]

I don't know. One of life's mysteries.

 

[kozzach]

I see old Chinese people here doing it all the time as well. They're never in a hurry anyway so even if they had the strength to use a higher gear they wouldn't bother.