Gears
- Thread starter audi321
- Start date
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Big_Dave
The unlikely Cyclist
- Location
- Alfreton, Derbyshire
e assist cuts out at 16mph, and rides pushes 18-20mph on a bad knee, how fast could he go when he had 2 good knees??
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
and a lighter bike ?
ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
My old racing bike has a 52 / 14 top gear - which only sees use on long downhills. I can hit 30mph without much difficulty, and I guess back in the 60s the pros managed much better than that! The only downside is the 42 / 28 low gear is not really as low as it could be for steep climbs (do-able, but a real grind) - but with an e-assist this shouldn't be an issue.
18-20mph I'm in either 52 / 20 or 52 / 17, with a cadence >90rpm. As others have said, this is *much* easier on the knees than grinding a higher gear at <60rpm
If you're not used to pedalling at a higher cadence, try to concentrate on performing a full circular pedal stroke, applying force all the way around, rather than stomping on the down stroke. Best visualisation advice I've had was to picture throwing your knees forward over the handlebars on the upstroke. This is a bit easier if you're clipped or strapped into the pedals (toe straps/clips are a cheap and worthwhile upgrade if you don't already have this). Practice by dropping a gear lower than your normal choice but maintaining the same speed - with a bit of practice you'll get the knack of it, and will probably find it improves your cycling efficiency, and with luck maybe even any knee issues.
I'd love to try an electric bike up on Dartmoor/Exmoor one of these days...
ps - where on earth have you managed to find a 56 or 58 tooth chainring?!
18-20mph I'm in either 52 / 20 or 52 / 17, with a cadence >90rpm. As others have said, this is *much* easier on the knees than grinding a higher gear at <60rpm
If you're not used to pedalling at a higher cadence, try to concentrate on performing a full circular pedal stroke, applying force all the way around, rather than stomping on the down stroke. Best visualisation advice I've had was to picture throwing your knees forward over the handlebars on the upstroke. This is a bit easier if you're clipped or strapped into the pedals (toe straps/clips are a cheap and worthwhile upgrade if you don't already have this). Practice by dropping a gear lower than your normal choice but maintaining the same speed - with a bit of practice you'll get the knack of it, and will probably find it improves your cycling efficiency, and with luck maybe even any knee issues.
I'd love to try an electric bike up on Dartmoor/Exmoor one of these days...
ps - where on earth have you managed to find a 56 or 58 tooth chainring?!
mcshroom
Bionic Subsonic
- Location
- Egremont, Cumbria
I'll add another voice to the 'spin faster' advice.
I currently ride a touring bike with a 42-11 top gear most of the time (and otherwise a lower geared singlespeed) which is a very similar gain ratio, and don't feel like spinning out very often. 52-14 is the same gearing that the old 10/12 speed racers used to have.
You could try a bigger chainring, as Tigerbiten said above, but if you are worried about dodgy knees, then I would suggest working on spinning your legs faster and more smoothly. It feels weird at first but you will find it becomes natural quite quickly with practice. This will put less strain on your knee. It will also mean that you move from a strength exercize of pushing your higher gear to a cardio-vascular effort (moving your legs faster). More beneficial for health and less impact on the body.
At the end of the day, however, it's your bike so if you aren't happy then you can always change it until you are. I'd suggest trying the spinning faster approach first though as it costs nothing, whereas changing the freewheel/chainring will cost money.
I currently ride a touring bike with a 42-11 top gear most of the time (and otherwise a lower geared singlespeed) which is a very similar gain ratio, and don't feel like spinning out very often. 52-14 is the same gearing that the old 10/12 speed racers used to have.
You could try a bigger chainring, as Tigerbiten said above, but if you are worried about dodgy knees, then I would suggest working on spinning your legs faster and more smoothly. It feels weird at first but you will find it becomes natural quite quickly with practice. This will put less strain on your knee. It will also mean that you move from a strength exercize of pushing your higher gear to a cardio-vascular effort (moving your legs faster). More beneficial for health and less impact on the body.
At the end of the day, however, it's your bike so if you aren't happy then you can always change it until you are. I'd suggest trying the spinning faster approach first though as it costs nothing, whereas changing the freewheel/chainring will cost money.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
I think we missed the part that the OP is on a MTB hybrid but still the spin advice still applies even with the slightly lower gear ratio of a 26 " wheel according to sheldon brown is 30.2 mph @ 90 rpm i will edit my OP as 700 wheel at 90 rpm is 31 mph.
to get 52 x14 x 26 tyreto top out at 20 mph its 60 rpm .
to get 52 x14 x 26 tyreto top out at 20 mph its 60 rpm .
