To go through Jim's formula for my hefty old steel hybrid, it weighs ~38lb with rack, water bottle, lights and handlebar bag with a 35mm SLR camera and tripod in it.
1/38 x 1000 gives a recommended gear of 26.3"
It is (factory fitted) with a 28/38/48 triple and 14-28 five speed block giving two lowest gears of 24.9" and 29" so just slightly on either side of the 26.3" recommended by Jim's formula. I would say Jim's formula is pretty much spot on as using this bike, I, as a reasonable fit but certainly not super fit cyclist have been able to ride this bike up every hill I have come across and some of those were very steep indeed(I have no figures for how steep. Irish road authorities never give that info on signposts).
1/38 x 1000 gives a recommended gear of 26.3"
It is (factory fitted) with a 28/38/48 triple and 14-28 five speed block giving two lowest gears of 24.9" and 29" so just slightly on either side of the 26.3" recommended by Jim's formula. I would say Jim's formula is pretty much spot on as using this bike, I, as a reasonable fit but certainly not super fit cyclist have been able to ride this bike up every hill I have come across and some of those were very steep indeed(I have no figures for how steep. Irish road authorities never give that info on signposts).
