gears

[Wirefire]

hi...just got my first bike since i was a kid and use to 10 speed racers...


got a dawes 301 and it seems perfect...and im enjoying cycling again....

only trouble is the gears...its 24 shimano...

3 on left handle...8 on right...

been experimenting..but wondered whats suppose to be the ideal gearing with 24 gears on flat and uphill and down hill...


and what combination on either handle gets that gear...

apologies if this seems a stupid question....i really should have asked at the cycle shop...

 

[tyred]

On a triple, to begin with, you should probably be aiming to be in the middle chainring on the front (probably marked M or 2 on your gear changer) most of the time on the flat, dropping into the inner small chainring on the front (probably marked L or 1 on your gear changer) for long climbs and the larger outer chainring (probably marked H or 3) for the descents.

Gearing is really a matter of personal preference but it's best to learn to spin a lower gear at a higher RPM (Cadence) than to mash a high gear at low RPM to achieve the same speed. It is less stressful on your knees, less tiring and will make your gear components last longer.

When on the outer large front chainring, I would avoid the two large sprockets on the inside at the back (1 & 2 on your RHS changer) and when on the small inner ring on the front, I would avoid the two outer small sprockets (7 & 8 on the gear changer) on the front to avoid running the chain at a poor angle (straighter is more efficient and cuts down wear).

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Another way of looking at tyred's sage advice is to think of the front as the rough ballpark gear and the rear as fine tuning. And on a triple it does tend to work out a bit like an uphill range, a level range and a downhill range, but that's according to your style of riding. If you're in a feisty mood and celebrating one of those rare tailwinds, you may find that you want to be in the outer ring on the flat, if you're tired and riding into one of those common-or-garden headwinds, you may choose to be on the little ring.

And as tyred says, keep the chain running fairly straight - avoid a big crossover where the front and back are on the smallest rings (and front and back both on the largest rings). This will reduce wear and your chain and cogs will live longer.

 

[Wirefire]

thanks for both those replies...think i understood most of it...

had a good ride this morning...with a consistent gear....middle chainring and middle on the back...

now...if i come to a climb...is it best to leave the back as it is and just go straight on to the smaller front ring and if descending just go straight to the larger front ring...

 

[Tigerbiten]

It depends .....

Dependent on your setup, exactly what size chainrings and sprockets you've got, dropping down a chainring in front equals dropping down 2-4 sprockets at the back.
If the hill suddenly get steeper then just dropping a chainring works as your slowing down means your legs end up spinning at the correct speed.
If the hill is more gradual then just dropping a chainring andyou end up with your legs spinning to fast, so you then need to climb 1-3 gears at the back to get your legs spinning at your correct speed. Dependent on the hill you may soon need to drop the 1-3 gears you have just changed up but doing this lets you carry more speed up hill. This type of change is more normal as the aim is to keep your legs spinning at the same speed up the hill.
Going downhill is the opposite but again the aim is to keep your cadence, leg speed, the same as this is less tirering.

 

[mcshroom]

I tend not to think too much about what gear I'm in front or back too much. Starting from the middle-middle place you were using last time, if it feels too easy then change up at the back, if it feels to hard then change down. If you are getting to the ends of the cassette at the back then think about moving up/down the chainrings.

In general on a touring triple like the disco, changing chain rings at the front is equivalent to about a two gear shift at the back, but just move so you are pedalling at a comfortable cadence

 

[theloafer]

hi wirefire
gearing is a personal thing but you should soon find what suits you best lots of info here if you like
http://sheldonbrown.com/
larry
ps

 

[lukesdad]

Get on the chainring you think you are going to need before you start the climb.