What gear am I in?

Moderator

richard wrote:

Back in the middle '80's and before all the cycling books were highly stuffy about gear inches etc. They only generally had 10 speeds, but they wrote at length about double shifts and proper shifting. At that time there was only friction shifting too.

Two points I subscribe to the double digit gear discription -- front ring--rear gear. Such as 2-5 or 3-8. The second point is that on LWB bents big- big or small - small or cross chaining is not really a big deal, since the chain is so long.

Cross chaining still is a big deal because of chainring scrub. In other words, with the chain at such an extreme angle, it still rubs against the chainring. Steel rubbing against aluminum= bad deal. I agree, the damage isn't as extreme as it is with a shorter drivetrain, but with a triple chainring setup, there really in no excuse to cross chain. Modern compact drivetrains, on the other hand, encourage cross chaining. It's almost unavoidable, which is good for the chainring business.

Mark

_________________
Bicycling is my drug of choice. Followed closely by beer.

Subject: Re: What gear am I in? Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:31 pm

It has to do with gear inches...which you have to calculate, and there are calculators here in the electronic world of 'you can find anything'...so you can actually find out which combination of chainring to derailer cog will give you a decending/ascending # of gears...however I use the where-ever I am comfortable method ...that is, cadence comfortable yet trying to spin so I do not ruin my knees method.

Moderator

When the one I'm in gets too hard to pedal or I get too tired, I shift! If I don't have any more gears, I rest. When I'm done I beer chug

Walt

Member

If Im questioned as to what gear Im in I subscrbe to the system that Blues promotes. That is front-rear, such as 2-6. When you are at home, with absolutely nothing else to do, you can look up on gear charts the exact gear inches you are using. The 80's seemed to be the zenith of the snobbery gear inch expressions. These snobs always talked gear inches and double shifting etc. In the real world I like most people just shift to suit what the road indicates. Mainly to keep my cadence in a comfortable range.