dough.boy

i'm new to the cycling scene and am trying to maximize all my energy on the right gears.

I "understand" everyone when they are referring 50/34 t to 12-27 cassette...but I don't really understand the actual mechanics.

Can someone explain this to me...

lowest gear would be 34/27; highest gear 50/12?

how big of a difference will I see in the cassette when it's 11-25 to 12-26? (# just as ref)

I'm trying to find right crank to cassette ratio for me

Homebrew01

Very seldom will anyone use the 11, so given the choice, I'd go for the 12-26, since you're more likely to need the help going up a hill - (not that there's much difference between a 25 & 26). If you already have a bike, then you'll soon find out for yourself if you have a low enough gear for the hills near you. If you're shopping at a Local Bike Shop, then perhaps they can make a recommendation based on your fitness, size, terrain etc .... Cassettes are easy enough to change if you have the wrong one.

62vette

You'll find some information on gearing including a gear calculator here - https://sheldonbrown.com/gearing/index.html

fly:yes/land:no

assuming a 700x23c tire:
x=chainring teeth count
y=cassette teeh count
z=cadence

x*z*60*2.096/(y*1609)=speed in mph

to see the difference i would plug in your typical cadence and see what speed you would go in the upper and lower limits of each. really though, a majority of your time will be in the middle gears. i wouldn't go for an 11-26 unless i was running 10 gears.

fly:yes/land:no

62vette was faster than me.

DannoXYZ 

You might want to double-check that equation...

Chucklehead

what are...dentists and music producers?

ggg300

If you have a bike or can get one to use do the following:

1) find out the number of teeth on the front rings (count or look for markings)
2) find out the number of teeth on each rear cog (count or look for markings)

make a gear chart with those numbers with a set cadence (90 is good)

https://www.machinehead-software.co.u...alculator.html <<<that one is fun

Then get on the bike and get up to a 90 RPM cadence on a long flat road...change the gears and note what each gear combo feels like at the same RPM. Then the numbers will mean something...

The simple point: the more inches you move per pedal the harder it is and you gotta know what gear inches you feel good in at your RPM of choice. Once you have that down you can look at the numbers and understand what they mean to you.

Then repeat the same for a hill to see what gear inch you like to climb in...

see https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/k7.html for the range per cog set and pick the one you need...

for me 50/34 w/ 11-23 but for the bbiigg hills then 11-27...

slvoid

Oh for the love of god. Here.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/