Newbie question - hills or miles????

[DelB]

Well done.
I however hate this term granny ring, (I know I wont change peoples views on this)
I did this little climb yesterday http://app.strava.com/activities/59045601#1100134050
Set a p.b. on it, the point is the slowest part I was doing 7.7mph with a cadence of 54 which roughly is a gear of 48" or 40x22 combo, or on my set set up either 40x21 or 23 on my middle ring, however, if is use the so called granny ring, which is 30th on mine its 30x17, I then have more flexibility to drop a gear or two and keep the cadence up, gears are about using them correctly for the given conditions, not to be viewed as granny rings, a triple which the term is usually applied to, can be set up with the same gear range as a double i.e. my 30x26 is 30.35" a compact double with a 34x28 is 31.94" but you wouldn't call that a granny ring, put a 30th rear on it and it's 29.81" less than mine.
So use gears correctly not because they perceived to be for those unfit to use higher gears.
Triples can also be set up to have closer group of ratios.
For the recorded my avg gear " yesterday was 65.6" which on my bike is a 52x21 gear.
25.31 miles 1051ft @ 16.1mph

Good point and very well made. I've got a 'hole' in my work diary tomorrow morning so may well try the same route and use all available gears.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Good point and very well made. I've got a 'hole' in my work diary tomorrow morning so may well try the same route and use all available gears.

You do however have to work the higher gears sometimes to improve, but it comes naturally the more you do.