Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Ken Cox
10-21-05, 11:34 AM
This summer I worked up to a 53t chainring with a 17t cog for almost 82 gear inches.
Pretty tall gearing but the speed felt good.
So, for winter, and to make it easier to stay off the front brake, I went back down to 47X17, for about 72 gear inches.
Surprisingly, to me, I got around town as fast as I did with my 53X17 gearing, and maybe even a little faster.
I think my spin improved a lot over the summer and the lower gearing gives me more punch on the hills.
Anyway, I had a Shimano Biopace ring as my 53t ring, and when I put on the 47t ring I felt a big difference in "elegance."
I missed the effect of the Biopace.
So, I ordered a 19t EAI cog from Businesscyles and have gone back to my 53t Biopace ring with the 19t EAI cog, for about 73.3 gear inches.
Now I can more equally compare a round ring with a biopace ring, since 47X17 and 53X19 have only about one gear inch difference between them.
Bottom line:
It still takes the same number of watts to get up a hill and push the wind out of the way.
Nonetheless, the biopace feels more "liquid" and smooth, and much more comfortable uphill out of the saddle.
My heart and my lungs don't feel any difference but my legs do.
Harriscyclery offers a 53t, 52t and 42t biopace in my crank's 130mm BCD.
If I can see my way clear money-wise to build a fixed gear ice bike, I think I will put the 42t biopace ring on it.
Someone looking for a different size ring might want to experiment with biopace rings, since Harriscyclery almost gives them away.
As for chain tension, I adjust mine for 1/8" slack at the tightest point and about 5/8" slack at the loosest point in the cycle.
Pretty tall gearing but the speed felt good.
So, for winter, and to make it easier to stay off the front brake, I went back down to 47X17, for about 72 gear inches.
Surprisingly, to me, I got around town as fast as I did with my 53X17 gearing, and maybe even a little faster.
I think my spin improved a lot over the summer and the lower gearing gives me more punch on the hills.
Anyway, I had a Shimano Biopace ring as my 53t ring, and when I put on the 47t ring I felt a big difference in "elegance."
I missed the effect of the Biopace.
So, I ordered a 19t EAI cog from Businesscyles and have gone back to my 53t Biopace ring with the 19t EAI cog, for about 73.3 gear inches.
Now I can more equally compare a round ring with a biopace ring, since 47X17 and 53X19 have only about one gear inch difference between them.
Bottom line:
It still takes the same number of watts to get up a hill and push the wind out of the way.
Nonetheless, the biopace feels more "liquid" and smooth, and much more comfortable uphill out of the saddle.
My heart and my lungs don't feel any difference but my legs do.
Harriscyclery offers a 53t, 52t and 42t biopace in my crank's 130mm BCD.
If I can see my way clear money-wise to build a fixed gear ice bike, I think I will put the 42t biopace ring on it.
Someone looking for a different size ring might want to experiment with biopace rings, since Harriscyclery almost gives them away.
As for chain tension, I adjust mine for 1/8" slack at the tightest point and about 5/8" slack at the loosest point in the cycle.