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CXRAndy

Guru
Location
Lincs
I've found that a very, very low gear 26/32 or 26/36 I can spin @85 or so on >5% gradients (180-200 bkool watts). Take that to a 36/32 or 36/36 and I'm down to 70-75 (190-210 bkool watts). Speed/power turns out to be very similar. I can hold the low spin gear easier, but put out a little more power easier in the higher gear. But I tend to burn out quicker in the higher gear. It's just finding that sweet spot of the 2.

Higher you can sustain the spin, less load on the legs and more on the heart and lungs, which can recover in a very short time. Your results mirror mine. Watts are virtually the same for a easier gear with higher cadence=less fatigue.
 

AAAC 76C

Large Member
Location
LIVING THE DREAM
Quite a few Bob. Sealant would hardly effect the performance.

The neutral support companies like Mavic and Shimano have probably driven there being a UCI ruling to say you can't use it to keep them in buisness!
 

AAAC 76C

Large Member
Location
LIVING THE DREAM
I've found that a very, very low gear 26/32 or 26/36 I can spin @85 or so on >5% gradients (180-200 bkool watts). Take that to a 36/32 or 36/36 and I'm down to 70-75 (190-210 bkool watts). Speed/power turns out to be very similar. I can hold the low spin gear easier, but put out a little more power easier in the higher gear. But I tend to burn out quicker in the higher gear. It's just finding that sweet spot of the 2.

FYI the norm is to quote chain ring over cassette sprocket.
36/36 is a 1:1 ratio so one turn of the pedals is one wheel turn.
55/11 (for the Tony Martins out there) is a ratio of 1:5 so one turn of the pedals is five wheel turns.
So the difference is that for 1 pedal turn:
1. In the first instance you will travel 22/7 x the wheel diameter metres
2. In the second instance you will travel 22/7 x the wheel diameter x 5 metres
As the 22/7 is the constant then the gear ratio represents the theoretical wheel diameter you would need to cover the same distance if you had a penny farthing.
So Tony Martin's 55/11 with a 700c wheel (circa 0.63 m diameter) is like having a 3.15 m diameter back wheel.(10 foot 4).
 

theboxers

TheBoxers on Cycle Sim sw
FYI the norm is to quote chain ring over cassette sprocke.
Unfortunately that's what I was doing :cry:

The BMC has a 26/36/48 crankset and the GT a 36/52 (soon to be a 36/48 with a new 48t chainring).

I am coming round to the high cadence style of riding due to the lower impact on the legs. Unfortunately my heart and lungs need to catch up on the requirements :sweat:.

Hopefully at least 7.5 miles of Pikes Peak on BRVR later this afternoon :bicycle: :blink: :surrender:
 
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CXRAndy

Guru
Location
Lincs
My club run was a pacey one yesterday, with all the fastest guys and budding youngsters there. I was on the limit physically, alot, spinning like a crazy fool sometimes. The bike wasn't and had a gear or two left. 40/11 being the highest gear. Today my legs feel fine.
 

Whorty

Gets free watts from the Atom ;)
Location
Wiltshire
My club run was a pacey one yesterday, with all the fastest guys and budding youngsters there. I was on the limit physically, alot, spinning like a crazy fool sometimes. The bike wasn't and had a gear or two left. 40/11 being the highest gear. Today my legs feel fine.
Towards the end of my ride yesterday I was struggling a bit and slowly climbing up a hill. Got to the top and a group of 10 club riders came over the top of me with the usual "morning" greetings. We topped the hill and it leveled off and I ended up staying on the back wheel. They were not going much faster than me so I pushed on and kept the rear wheel for about 4-5 miles. I lost the wheel a couple of times (on descents!) and had to push hard to get it back but once I did it felt 'easier' to hold the pace. Now I really understand how much energy can be saved in the peleton :smile:

The third time I lost their wheel, I backed off as I thought they would take a right the way most groups do, and by the time I realised they were staying on the same road as me they had a lead of 10 metres and I just could not pull it back. Top gear, pushing really hard, but could not close the gap. Even though their last guy was hardly turning the pedals over! Thankfully I was coming into my village then so didn't mind as only 1 mile left.

I hope they didn't mind me jumping on to their group, but for me I learned a lot about group riding which I've never done before.
 

kipster

Guru
Location
Hampshire
My club run was a pacey one yesterday, with all the fastest guys and budding youngsters there. I was on the limit physically, alot, spinning like a crazy fool sometimes. The bike wasn't and had a gear or two left. 40/11 being the highest gear. Today my legs feel fine.
I was fortunate enough to miss the pacey club ride on Saturday as I was leading a hilly steadier ride. The pacey one turned out to be 60miles at just over 20mph. Most of riders on it race in one way or another (Tri's, TT's, MTB, Crits etc..), and have super light bikes. I would have given it a go if I wasn't down for leading a ride, honest I would!
 

CXRAndy

Guru
Location
Lincs
My club run was very much broken up in sections with a puncture break and one guy crashing because his rear wheel nearly fell out of the dropouts. All I remember is trying like mad to hold the lead riders wheel on long climbs and doing 20-22mph into block headwind whilst behind a 16yr old lead rider. On one shortish climb I went for it and lead the pack till last third of the hill, then lightweight youngsters sailed by. Strava reckons I was developing over a 1000W in bursts going up the hill. I still got overtaken gasping for air at the crest :cry:

A couple of occasions I was near the back and its much nicer to hide behind a whole group of riders. Just need to watch out for sudden pace increase whilst gently spinning. i like to hold 2nd or third wheel to put in more effort.
 

Whorty

Gets free watts from the Atom ;)
Location
Wiltshire
cheers @Whorty at 1 point about half way I thought I cant be bothered then some art work across the road saying keep going so I did cheers
You was pushing out some big watts there :okay: At times though you started pushing say 300 then 190, then back up to 280, then down again .... I go like that when I get tired too ... I then have to just concentrate on a steady watts level (say 220/230) and just keep a good tempo. You did really well though to stick it out - can be a lonely place (as I'll find out in Wales) climbing those mountains :sweat:
 
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