How many gears do we really need on a bike

[rydabent]

Isn't your 'trike' also a recumbent?

Yes, a tadpole.

 

[Conrad_K]

What cassette or block have you got on the recumbent?

48 tooth front, 13 to 26 in back.

When you say "16-speed" this is 2x8, right? Again what cassette?

Patterson 2-speed crank, 28 tooth with "virtual" 45 tooth, internal geared. (60% overdrive)

Shimano Alfine 8-speed rear hub. Gears: .527, .644, .748, .851, 1.0, 1.223, 1.419, 1.615. (about 17% steps)

I wouldn't have paid my own money for such fancy bits, but they came with the trike. The ability to shift gears while stopped is pretty handy, though.

 

[Grant Fondo]

IMO 8 or 9 would seem to be plenty.

 

[Grant Fondo]

30 on my MTB but i need twice as many

 

[Ajax Bay]

48 tooth front, 13 to 26 in back.

If the recumbent has a cassette (as opposed to freewheel) then how about a 12-32t to give you a wider range (which you've said you could do with)?
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bi...ram-pg-730-7-speed-cassette-12-32-639658.html
If a freewheel then this one will at least get you a lower gear:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/freewheels/monsoon-7-speed-freewheel-shimano-compatible-1334t/

 

[Conrad_K]

If the recumbent has a cassette (as opposed to freewheel) then how about a 12-32t to give you a wider range (which you've said you could do with)?

Is there a way to tell if it's a cassette or freewheel just by looking at it?

 

[raleighnut]

Is there a way to tell if it's a cassette or freewheel just by looking at it?

Yep to a degree, if it has 8 or more cogs it's a cassette, 7 cogs could be either 6 and below a freewheel.

 

[Punkawallah]

Or spin it backwards. If the centre moves with the wheel, it’s a cassette.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Is there a way to tell if it's a cassette or freewheel just by looking at it?

https://sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.html

 

[DRM]

Amount of gears/Number of teeth etc depends on what you are riding & where your riding it, i.e in a flat tarmaced area you you can get away with a single speed, other extreme an MTB or Gravel bike on hilly off road terrain where you can't stand up to pedal as you need your backside way back on the saddle to maintain grip, you need more gears with a larger tooth count, there is no such thing as one size fits all, or you've got far too many gears on your bike, there are just too many variables

 

[Conrad_K]

It's a 7-speed. I'll have to take the panniers off to get a better look. Thanks!

 

[Saracenlad]

Did my LE - JOG with 21 gears. Used each of the 3 chainrings and just 234&5 sprockets. Gave myself a big cheer when I made it up A6 to Shap in 2nd.

 

[Lone Wolf]

I got two - 56” and 78”