Recumbent - gearing recommendations

:confused: I just bought my first 'bent frame and will build it up over the winter. I hope to use a lot of my current roadie parts. Maybe you can help.

1) The frame uses 700c rear wheel, so I will likely use the Spinergy Rev-X that I use now. If I pair that with a double chainring crankset 39/52, what cassette cluster do you recommend? It's currently set up as 13-23 8 speed.

2) With USS, should I use GripShift or bar ends?

3) Another Question about the 700c rear wheel: what size tire is recommended? Is the 23 I use now too narrow?

4) Anyone use the Aerospkoe 20" front wheel? What is a good, fast, smooth 20" tire?

I'm sure I will wear out my welcome with other questions, but these will do for now:D Thanx in advance for any advice.

Curtis

The underseat steering shifter I've found personally good were the Bar Con style . They suited me very well and always seemed bang on in their gear shifts. One problem though to consider is the gear shift levers can sometimes be in your way of placing your leg down and this in turn could cause you to do a uncalled for shift as your thigh may hit the shift lever. I've ridden USS Grip Shifts also which I found placed my hands slightly more back of my hips than the Bar Cons, they too were not bad but I liked the Bar Cons better.

As for gearing, on one of my bents I have a front chain ring of 22-32-42 with a rear cog 12 to 28. It works OK for most conditions including some moderate steep hills. On my second bent I use an internal Sachs 3x7 (14 to 34 cog) plus a single front chain ring of 34. The rear mega ring was necessary for some serious hill climbing while under a load, it still was a tough haul even with that.

If your incorporating a 700 rear wheel I gather your looking for some degree of speed so a 700x28 is good for that but for touring I would suggest a 700x35. I like the Veriestein tire (Dutch Tire company) as a road slick. :thumbup:

Hope you dont mind the ole cut and paste...

1) The frame uses 700c rear wheel, so I will likely use the Spinergy Rev-X that I use now. If I pair that with a double chainring crankset 39/52, what cassette cluster do you recommend? It's currently set up as 13-23 8 speed.

Is it hill in your part of the world? If so your going to want lower gearing for the hills, theres no standing on a bent. Ya gota spin up them. You could really tear up your knees trying to mussle a bent uphill.

2) With USS, should I use GripShift or bar ends?

Use what you like, both work well.

3) Another Question about the 700c rear wheel: what size tire is recommended? Is the 23 I use now too narrow?

Keep in mind that you can't un weight the rear wheel like you can on a standard bike, I like to run larger tires on my bents to prevent pinch flats. If your light you should be able to use the 23mm tire.

4) Anyone use the Aerospkoe 20" front wheel? What is a good, fast, smooth 20" tire? Have not used the Aerospoke 20" on a bent, I have used there 26" off road wheels on a off road tandem. Good wheels, but a little heavy. I have use a set of HED wheels on my Longbikes Slipstream, nice wheels but usless for touring. The Primo Comet tire is a good smaller tire, with a "fishbone tread"

Oh what frame did you get Curtiso?

Got the M5 28/20. SHould arrive by the end of the week.

Thanx for the responses.

One more question: Just how many different size 20" wheels are there? The seller listed my frame as having a 20"(451cm) wheel. I also see a lot of 20"(406cm) wheels. What gives?

Its not just 20" tires, take a look at Sheldon Browns web sight

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire_sizing.html

The M5 is a nice go fast bent, Keep in mind that at first your going to be slower on the bent, untill you get your bent mussles...

I understand 20/406 tires have more selections to choose from over the more limited 20/451. If memory serves me I recall Lightning Cycles version of the M5 features a 406 front wheel.

My own 26/20 SWB pairs a road triple (Ultegra 30/42/52) with a MTB 9-speed cassette (XT 11-32). This provides a great gearing range for high speeds at one end and steep climbs at the other.

Think gear inches. Front ring teeth divided by back gear times wheel diameter. F/R x Dia. Low gear should be around 20 for climbing. If you're strong top gear could be 120 or higher. I'm not strong and seldom use a top gear over 100 gear inches.

Have you considered the Rohloff Speedhub? Its got 14 gears and, as the name suggests, is a hub gear. It costs a small fortune though. Both my bikes (recumbent and normal) are fitted with it and I wouldn't use anything else.