I Need A Lower Gear!
- Thread starter DuncanBeaumont
- Start date
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ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
According to Sheldon Brown's calculator - 5.7 mph. Your numbers are about right unless that floating full stop was supposed to be a decimal point and you meant 0.6 mph, in which case you are out by nearly an order of magnitude!
I just changed my cassette from a 12-26 to a 11-32 but had to get a new rear mech (Shimano SLX) and a new chain.
The 32 is a banker for the monster climbs (well monster to me). Its always good to have. Plus the new 11-32 has a 28 tooth sprocket which is a wee bit easier than the 26
The 32 is a banker for the monster climbs (well monster to me). Its always good to have. Plus the new 11-32 has a 28 tooth sprocket which is a wee bit easier than the 26
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I always laugh when people say they are struggling and the advice given to them is basically equivalent to "MTFU"! Perhaps 10-20% of people will hear that and think "Okay, you wait a few months and see what I can do then!" - whereas the majority of people will just feel like giving up.
I don't see how overgearing riders to the extent that they have to get off and walk on steep hills helps them get fitter! Much better to provide them with a gear that they can keep turning and by doing so they should eventually no longer need it. Everyday cycling should not be a strength exercise. Okay, if you want to be a track sprinter, you'll need huge, strong legs, but to be great climber you'd be better with smaller legs able to spin a lower gear.
I'll never get away with using high gears on steep climbs again unless I have surgery to fix my ageing body. My hips and knees are on the way out, and I get cramp in my feet if I push too hard on the pedals. I'll stick to lower gears.
So what if Duncan fits lower gears, enjoys riding them in the hills and eventually no longer needs them most of the time? The day will come when he has ridden 80 miles fast, is knackered and comes to a killer hill and a killer headwind and needs an extra low gear. It happened to me once and boy was I grateful for that low gear, even though I hadn't used it for months prior to that - tired legs, 25% climb, 15 mph headwind - well, hello granny!
The truth is that most people's bikes are overgeared. How many people really need a 53/12 or a 50/11 top gear unless they are racing at a pretty high level? People run out of gears at the low end more often than they do at the top, so I say - gear down folks, and learn to spin!
I don't see how overgearing riders to the extent that they have to get off and walk on steep hills helps them get fitter! Much better to provide them with a gear that they can keep turning and by doing so they should eventually no longer need it. Everyday cycling should not be a strength exercise. Okay, if you want to be a track sprinter, you'll need huge, strong legs, but to be great climber you'd be better with smaller legs able to spin a lower gear.
I'll never get away with using high gears on steep climbs again unless I have surgery to fix my ageing body. My hips and knees are on the way out, and I get cramp in my feet if I push too hard on the pedals. I'll stick to lower gears.
So what if Duncan fits lower gears, enjoys riding them in the hills and eventually no longer needs them most of the time? The day will come when he has ridden 80 miles fast, is knackered and comes to a killer hill and a killer headwind and needs an extra low gear. It happened to me once and boy was I grateful for that low gear, even though I hadn't used it for months prior to that - tired legs, 25% climb, 15 mph headwind - well, hello granny!
The truth is that most people's bikes are overgeared. How many people really need a 53/12 or a 50/11 top gear unless they are racing at a pretty high level? People run out of gears at the low end more often than they do at the top, so I say - gear down folks, and learn to spin!
I always laugh when people say they are struggling and the advice given to them is basically equivalent to "MTFU"! Perhaps 10-20% of people will hear that and think "Okay, you wait a few months and see what I can do then!" - whereas the majority of people will just feel like giving up.
I don't see how overgearing riders to the extent that they have to get off and walk on steep hills helps them get fitter! Much better to provide them with a gear that they can keep turning and by doing so they should eventually no longer need it. Everyday cycling should not be a strength exercise. Okay, if you want to be a track sprinter, you'll need huge, strong legs, but to be great climber you'd be better with smaller legs able to spin a lower gear.
I'll never get away with using high gears on steep climbs again unless I have surgery to fix my ageing body. My hips and knees are on the way out, and I get cramp in my feet if I push too hard on the pedals. I'll stick to lower gears.
So what if Duncan fits lower gears, enjoys riding them in the hills and eventually no longer needs them most of the time? The day will come when he has ridden 80 miles fast, is knackered and comes to a killer hill and a killer headwind and needs an extra low gear. It happened to me once and boy was I grateful for that low gear, even though I hadn't used it for months prior to that - tired legs, 25% climb, 15 mph headwind - well, hello granny!
The truth is that most people's bikes are overgeared. How many people really need a 53/12 or a 50/11 top gear unless they are racing at a pretty high level? People run out of gears at the low end more often than they do at the top, so I say - gear down folks, and learn to spin!
Thats the advice i like to hear - constructive and easy to read - i hate the MTFU expression, especially when people say it to people they dont know - the maybe underlying reason's why he can't hill climb but doesnt want people t know that reason - so asking for gear advice is his way of getting the info he needs.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
IMO its cheaper and easier to fit a larger cassette if you need more gears and you don't lose your top gears and like ColinJ say if it encourages the OP to cycle more and they do get fitter, it easy to change back if need be.
mcshroom
Bionic Subsonic
- Location
- Egremont, Cumbria
Agreed.
Btw I had 22-32 available in October when I was touring round the Cairngorms. At climbing cadence I managed to hold a steady 3.2mph and steep bits about 2.5
(it is easier to balance a bike with 35mm tyres and front and rear panniers).
How many times do you really need the real top gears? I've set my bike up for touring/audax with a 42-32-22 chain set and an 11-28 cassette. That gives me a range of about 21-101". If I'm going fast enough to spin out on a 101" gear (that's 27.1mph @ 90rpm) then I might as well free wheel, but riding up a hill in a 21" gear is a lot faster than getting off and pushing.
Btw I had 22-32 available in October when I was touring round the Cairngorms. At climbing cadence I managed to hold a steady 3.2mph and steep bits about 2.5
(it is easier to balance a bike with 35mm tyres and front and rear panniers).How many times do you really need the real top gears? I've set my bike up for touring/audax with a 42-32-22 chain set and an 11-28 cassette. That gives me a range of about 21-101". If I'm going fast enough to spin out on a 101" gear (that's 27.1mph @ 90rpm) then I might as well free wheel, but riding up a hill in a 21" gear is a lot faster than getting off and pushing.
I always laugh when people say they are struggling and the advice given to them is basically equivalent to "MTFU"! Perhaps 10-20% of people will hear that and think "Okay, you wait a few months and see what I can do then!" - whereas the majority of people will just feel like giving up.
I don't see how overgearing riders to the extent that they have to get off and walk on steep hills helps them get fitter! Much better to provide them with a gear that they can keep turning and by doing so they should eventually no longer need it. Everyday cycling should not be a strength exercise. Okay, if you want to be a track sprinter, you'll need huge, strong legs, but to be great climber you'd be better with smaller legs able to spin a lower gear.
I'll never get away with using high gears on steep climbs again unless I have surgery to fix my ageing body. My hips and knees are on the way out, and I get cramp in my feet if I push too hard on the pedals. I'll stick to lower gears.
So what if Duncan fits lower gears, enjoys riding them in the hills and eventually no longer needs them most of the time? The day will come when he has ridden 80 miles fast, is knackered and comes to a killer hill and a killer headwind and needs an extra low gear. It happened to me once and boy was I grateful for that low gear, even though I hadn't used it for months prior to that - tired legs, 25% climb, 15 mph headwind - well, hello granny!
The truth is that most people's bikes are overgeared. How many people really need a 53/12 or a 50/11 top gear unless they are racing at a pretty high level? People run out of gears at the low end more often than they do at the top, so I say - gear down folks, and learn to spin!
Absolutely agree with this. Nothing better at putting people off going out than the thought of being beaten before they start so to get fit you need to want to get out in the first place. I ride a triple and still need the lowest gear for the longest/steepest hills locally and could still probably do with a lower gear or 2 at times when I have to stop for a breather half-way up one local hill that's a bit of a killer. Furthermore, the low gears help me complete longer rides - last year when doing 100+km for the first time, towards the end the low gears helped me complete the route on hills (well slopes!) I'd normally waltz up in a higher gear. I rarely if ever think I could do with a higher gear!
DuncanBeaumont
Senior Member
- Location
- Surrey The Deep South
Well. Since you ask, I bought the bike in August '11, I am just getting back into cycling after a break of about 60 years (that's right 60).
It very probably is a lack of fitness and strength, but at the age of 77, which way is my fitness and strength going to go?
I am enjoying my cycling and I would like to be able to get up more hills before I have to get off and walk.
the_mikey
Legendary Member
- Location
- South Gloucestershire
It's clear to me that in order to continue spinning on hills the same way I would on the flat, I need lower gears. I swapped my 12-25 cassette for 11-32, added a MTB derailleur and it now provides favourable gearing for spinning at different speeds without needing to use bad chainlines, including steep hills, and reach the top much faster and less fatigued.
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
I can't help wondering if there might have been less MTFU comments if you'd told us your age in the OP.
Serious respect !
As for which way is your strength and fitness going to go ? Just google Fauja Singh....
MattHB
Proud Daddy
- Location
- Deepest darkest Dorset
I've got a 12-30 on the back but 50/34 front. So you can defo get more teeth on the rear if you want to
As far as fitness is concerned, I was really struggling on hills for ages and then I went on a hilly club ride (my first). What I found was I was much fitter than I thought! After that I see hills differently, which goes to show that, for me at least, 70% was confidence. The trouble with going out on my own is that I'm always only able to compare myself to me! And that's often an over critical target.
As far as fitness is concerned, I was really struggling on hills for ages and then I went on a hilly club ride (my first). What I found was I was much fitter than I thought! After that I see hills differently, which goes to show that, for me at least, 70% was confidence. The trouble with going out on my own is that I'm always only able to compare myself to me! And that's often an over critical target.
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
I'm shortly swapping the 12-25 for a 12-34 or so on my Carbon Uberbike.
That's with a 50-34 compact.
I can get up most things round here, but I'm taking that bike to some mountains in the summer, with any luck.
That's with a 50-34 compact.
I can get up most things round here, but I'm taking that bike to some mountains in the summer, with any luck.
I thought it was "One more than you've got"
Yes, you have always got the emergency "24 inch gear" (aka 2 feet)
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Ha ha ha - that should give the MTFU lot something to think about - well done Duncan!
Apparently, you should be ashamed of yourself at the youthful age of 77, even contemplating giving way to lower gearing. Somebody will probably post now about an ex-Olympic champion aged 92 who rides a 54-17 fixed gear bike up Mount Ventoux 3 times a day throughout the winter in blizzard conditions!
Keep it up mate, and ride whatever gears you need/prefer!
