Fifty Plus (50+) - Correct gear combinations to use?

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Savas
09-20-05, 10:24 AM
Is there a link for information pertaining to popular gear combinations when using a 27 speed bike? Or perhaps someone knows and can help enlighten. I recently made the mistake of having the chain on opposite ends of the spectrum, which caused the chain to rub against the derailler. After that happened, I figured there might be a protocol of which group of rear gears to use when I’m on either the first, second or third front gear.

jackb
09-20-05, 10:38 AM
Use whatever gears are comfortable for the terrain, but don't cross chain, i.e. have the chain on the largest ring in the front and the largest cog wheel in the back or the smallest in the front and the smallest in the back. The middle chain ring should work anywhere, but try to keep the chain as parallel to the bike as possible.
Applehead57
09-20-05, 10:43 AM
Use whatever gears are comfortable for the terrain, but don't cross chain, i.e. have the chain on the largest ring in the front and the largest cog wheel in the back or the smallest in the front and the smallest in the back. The middle chain ring should work anywhere, but try to keep the chain as parallel to the bike as possible.

Yep, that's the skinny.

It isn't a crisis if you cross-chain, but it is something you'd want to avoid. Cross-chaining wears out your components a little faster, I can hear my bike complain whenever I do it.

For my main ride, I use this general guideline:
Small ring: I stay out of the two smallest cogs
Middle ring: I stay out of the largest & smallest cog
Big ring: I stay out of the two largest cogs.

levensnevel
09-22-05, 01:55 PM
mmm,

not sure as I don't care about gear ratios. I feel much more comfortable with a steady 'peddling frequency'.
In my case comfortable means 85 - 90 rpm.
I'm riding a 21 speed triple MTB while commuting - a 40 km roundtrip with only twice a trafficlight. And I normally only use 2 gear combinations
> 4th cog on the rear with the big cog on the front
> 4th cog on the rear with the 'middle' cog on the front
if the weather gets really worse, like a with a very strong headwind or crosswind I resort to the 3rd option
> 4th cog on the rear with the small cog on the front.