Poonjabby

My brother has a 2012 Trek Madone 4.5. He is always in the big gear and doesn't use any of the small gears on his cassette. He's constantly spun out on any downhill. His cassette is a Shimano Tiagra 12-30, 10 speed. Any suggestions on a different gear ratio to give him higher top ends and more challenging climbs?

Thanks,

Poon

JerrySTL

He just needs to shift if he isn't using any of the smaller gears on the back. Now if he is in the 12 on the way down the hills, he might be able to use an 11. However there's a more likely chance that he has something like a 50-tooth big ring in front. In that case something like a 52 or 53 could make him faster. However once you are above 30 mph, it's usually better to get get aero and coast.

GlennR

Your post is a bit confusing "doesn't use and of the small gears", sounds like he doesn't use the 12 or 13, but I think your talking about the 30.

The 4.5 has a compact crank, you could go to a standard. He could also get a 11-28 cassette.

Andrew R Stewart 

The hardest way, but the best for the results, is to train the engine to better spin and also be able to apply power. This is but one reason why racers use to do their early season on a fixed gear bike.

I also am confused by what the OP's brother is really doing, or is it not doing?? Is he using the easiest gears all the time (in which case he's likely spinning pretty fast already) or is he using the hardest gears but can't spin his legs fast enough to keep up on the down hills. There is a big difference in how I'd suggest the solutions between these two possibilities. Maybe riding with an educated partner who has no emotional baggage would help. Andy.

3speedslow

[QUOTE=oldnslow2;17653772]Your post is a bit confusing "doesn't use and of the small gears", sounds like he doesn't use the 12 or 13, but I think your talking about the 30.

I am so glad you said that. Same thing was looping around in my thought process as well.

himespau 

Maybe he needs to learn to spin faster?

Bill Kapaun

I think it's genetics.

FastJake

Assuming a "worst case" scenario with a top gear of 50/12 a cadence of 120 RPM puts him at roughly 40 MPH. If the hill is that steep he could probably go faster by coasting and tucking.

This question comes up a lot. Simple answer: learn to spin faster.

Bandera

Since "He is always in the big gear" simply convert to fixed gear in that ratio and discard all of the useless cogs.
Riding a 50/12 FG will provide sufficient challenge on the climbs for a rousing good workout while learning to spin at high cadence on the descents.

Be sure to leave both brakes operational to avoid hamster-in-cage syndrome while smoking the descent.

-Bandera

Poonjabby

Ok my bad.

What I mean is he is on the largest front gear and the smallest rear gear and climbing isn't a challenge. Now we ride in Kansas so we don't have huge mountains or anything. SO I was thinking a maybe a non-compact crank and 11-23 rear gear?

Poon

wphamilton

The 11 tooth cog will give him about 9% more at whatever his cadence is. A 53 tooth chain ring will be 6% more than his compact. The cassette makes a bigger difference.

He'll still spin out on a steep enough hill, maybe 3 mph faster.

There's nothing at all wrong with 11-23 with a standard double. That's kind of standard in fact if you're a beast and especially with mostly flat territory. For most people the 53x11 combination is totally wasted except for brief moments going down a long hill, which may explain the skepticism of some here.

Swap the cassette out, then decide if the compact double is limiting him.

Poonjabby

Thank you!

Poon

davidad

Bicycle Gear Inch & Shifting Pattern Calculator

himespau 

What do you mean spinning out? That's the question a lot of people are sort of alluding to. For some people, spinning out is as low as 85-90 rpm. For other people, it's 150+ rpm. For others it somewhere in between. If you're a masher with a typical cadence of 50 rpm, 80 can seem really fast. For others, it's pretty slow. So, if he's a masher, there's a lot he can do before he needs to spend any money.

trailangel

Was the highest gear smoking?

SquidPuppet

110 gear inches and climbing is not a challenge?

fietsbob

How about a Ducati instead? Ducati Superbike Panigale R - Ducati

caloso

Just to make sure I understand the problem: your brother has no problem climbing hills in a 50x12 that is so steep that he is spun out in that same 50x12 on the way down?

Poonjabby

Don't know what you mean.

Poon

Poonjabby

Evidently not to him.

Poon

Poonjabby

wphamilton answered the question so thanks.


Poon

noglider 

Yup, another leg-pulling thread by Poonjabby. This one isn't as funny.

FastJake

I read the whole smoking disc brake thread and enjoyed most of it. Lots of useful information.

I gave the OP the benefit of the doubt on this thread. No more. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

noglider 

He may need to get a new username to continue his antics.

Poonjabby

Not pulling anyone's leg I just asked a gearing question.

Poon