Lower ratio option - to save ageing knees - !

[SpokeyDokey]

A pal at work has recently started cycling, using a straight bar hybrid. As he's been to spinning classes @ the gym, he has fixated himself on 90 -95 rpm. As the bike he bought has a 'stock' chainset, he's stuck in the middle chainring most of the time in order to achieve his desired cadence. He admits it is B####Y hard work thought - ! Perceived wisdom on cadence appears to be listen to your body and try and maintain between 70 - 90 rpm average. Apparently Lance Armstrong was a 100 rpm rider, wheras Jan Ulrich is a 70 rpm man. I had another go today and I just can't get my 62 year old legs to spin any faster that about 80 rpm, even downhill at full tilt - !

Don't worry - is when the protesting buggers stop spinning that you need to worry.

 

[mybike]

A pal at work has recently started cycling, using a straight bar hybrid. As he's been to spinning classes @ the gym, he has fixated himself on 90 -95 rpm. As the bike he bought has a 'stock' chainset, he's stuck in the middle chainring most of the time in order to achieve his desired cadence. He admits it is B####Y hard work thought - ! Perceived wisdom on cadence appears to be listen to your body and try and maintain between 70 - 90 rpm average. Apparently Lance Armstrong was a 100 rpm rider, wheras Jan Ulrich is a 70 rpm man. I had another go today and I just can't get my 62 year old legs to spin any faster that about 80 rpm, even downhill at full tilt - !

My 67ya legs seem to like ~60rpm.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Interesting setup, but the rings are spot welded onto the spider. Trouble is if, like most of us ( ? ) we tend to favour one or possibly two particular rings, when it / they wear down, the whole chainset has to be replaced, rather than just the offending ring /s.
I think one or two folk have missed my point that it's at the high end I'd like to lower the ratios a bit, as I very rarely use the low end of the cassette and can't recall the last time I used the granny at the front - !

If your not using the lower gears, but need the gearing lower, just use the lower gears, you don't have to ride the 13th
@oldroadman my set up is a 28/38/50 with a 12-23

 

[Cyclist33]

I do a regular commute of about 25 miles a day on my GT Bravado which some years ago, I reworked as a drop bar tourer and I very happy with the setup. However, my knees aren't getting any younger and I think it may be advisable to lower the ratios a bit. Through years of habit, I tend to push higher gears than I should, as I'm of the 'old school' of thought of pushing against a bit of resistance as oppose to spinning in a lower gear.
My current setup is a 13 - 23 8 speed cassette with a 44 / 32 / 24 triple, all Shimano. It appears that any 8 speed with anything more than a 13 top is unavailable, so looking at the other end, is it possible to get a triple with a 42 tooth top - ?

Save your money and modify your riding style.