The gear one climbs in means nothing without knowing the grade and speed. 50/21 on a 3% grade is not a strain, but the same gear on an 8% grade at 8 mph is very hard on the bike. Normally climbing in a high gear (out of the saddle only) is done to maintain speed over a relatively short hill or to change up the muscles used for a short time, and is generally done still using a respectable rpm rate. The rocking that the bike experiences during out of the saddle riding absorbs most of the shock at normal climbing speed and cadence.
Last edited by cny-bikeman; 07-11-14 at 05:13 AM.