Using the right gear..

[ray316]

l know everyone's different cycling in a high or low gear, but what gear is best to use to feel comfortable for cycling..
When l use a low gear speed drops even though l peddle slightly faster but l don't have any strain on the legs.
When l use a high gear speed increase's and l peddle slower but feel alot of strain on my legs ..
l have been using higher gears for a long time and no matter how often l use the high gears l get aches in the legs.
Is there any positive or negative points for selecting high or low gears..
Do you burn more calories using a high or low gear.

 

[Banjo]

Bit impossible to answer really. I prefer easier gears and turn pedals a bit quicker.This puts less strain on your knees .

You will find though that as you get fitter you will comfortably get up hills in a higher gear. I think you should just ride how you feel happiest and see how it progresses.

If your legs are aching a lot you may need to consider if your bike is set up correctly.The usual fault is having the seat too low which causes great pain on the top of your thighs.

Sat squarely riding the bike your leg should be almost straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke,if it still has a considerable bend at the knee you need to raise the seat.

Having the seat too high will result in having to rock your hips to reach the pedals at the bottom of the stroke, this is also bad for you.

 

[HovR]

As you said, everyone is different. Different gear ratios, leg strengths, terrain etc will mean that each persons preferred gear will likely be different from the next's.

A good guideline is, if you are on the flat, start in a central gear. If you have 3 gears at the front (left side of handle bars) and 7 at the back (right side of handle bars), then pick something along the lines of 2 on the left side, and 4 on the right side. This is a fairly central gear. If you find this is too easy to pedal and your legs are spinning very fast, then change up a gear on the right hand side. If you find this gear is too hard to pedal in, and your legs are spinning very slowly, change down a gear on the right hand side.

If you reach a point where you can no longer change down gears on the RHS (e.g. you have changed down to gear 1 on the right hand side, but it is still too hard to pedal), then you can change down a gear on the left hand side. Or vice versa if you have reached gear 7 on the RHS, but want to continue changing up gears.

There is no set gear which is good for a certain terrain - In fact, due to different gear ratios, one persons gear one may be totally different to another's! As you progress you will find the gear which suits you for certain situations on your bike - And as you increase in your fitness this may change, and you will find yourself going faster.

Hopefully that made some sense!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Unless you're training yourself for something I'd say use whichever gear feels good, simple as that!

 

[MontyVeda]

the answer you seek comes from your own legs.

 

[Nosaj]

I think Banjo's hit the nail on the head. Look at your set up I only get knee ache with a balls out effort over a prolonged period.

You can get a professional fitting however if you are only leisure cycling start with the basics i.e. saddle height, this is always a good place to start and takes a while to get it just so.