View Poll Results: How many gears do you downshift when coming to a stop?
0
16
16.16%
1
12
12.12%
2
41
41.41%
3
30
30.30%
Voters: 99. You may not vote on this poll
Downshifting before a complete stop...
09-14-09, 03:50 PM
#1
'09 Synapse Carbon 3
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Downshifting before a complete stop...
How many gears do you downshift at a normal flat stop? I shift down two gears. This seems to work best for a smooth quick acceleration back to cruising speed (~19 mph average) with little stress on the drive train. A quick search on this topic turned up nothing and I was just interested in the results.
09-14-09, 03:53 PM
#2
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This is not a very practical poll. If you are on a downhill and stopping, then not at all. If on an incline, maybe several.
You said at a normal flat stop. I apologize. Now I'll vote.
You said at a normal flat stop. I apologize. Now I'll vote.
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Last edited by mzeffex; 09-14-09 at 04:52 PM.
09-14-09, 04:16 PM
#6
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It depends.
09-14-09, 04:25 PM
#8
SLJ 6/8/65-5/2/07
In the big ring here alot so most of the time I just drop to the 39T to make it an easy re-start. Easiest approach for me but local geography and my own, probably unique, bike set-up have alot to do with that.
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09-14-09, 04:26 PM
#9
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Depends on the speed I'm going and the terrain.
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09-14-09, 04:41 PM
#12
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I like my 42x20 for starting off from most lights, so it depends. It's usually a number greater than the highest choice offered, however.
09-14-09, 04:49 PM
#13
Refrigerator Raider Hater
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09-14-09, 04:51 PM
#14
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Sometimes I ride my fixed gear. Obviously, I don't shift at all before or after stopping.
09-14-09, 04:57 PM
#15
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2 or 3.
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09-14-09, 05:11 PM
#16
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below 60 gear inches.
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09-14-09, 05:21 PM
#17
Senior Member
Depends on what kind of road I'm crossing and my mood. Sometimes it feels good to stand up and hammer on a big gear from the start. I don't like to do that when dealing with lot's of cross traffic, though. I ended up putting down "1" cause that seemed about right.
09-14-09, 05:22 PM
#18
'09 Synapse Carbon 3
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Sure my bike can take mashing hard out of a complete stop but how many miles would I get out of my drive train components? I would rather not have to replace the chain and cassette anymore than necessary. Cycling is expensive enough as it is.
09-14-09, 05:32 PM
#19
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key to a quick start is using a lower gear to get moving, then using a higher gear to get up to speed. doesn't really have anything to do with strain on your drive train.
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Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
09-14-09, 05:37 PM
#20
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Normal flat stop is very vague. Sometimes I'll be in a high gear going 25mph and sometimes I'll be in a lower gear going 14mph. I shift down enough such that when I get going I'm not struggling to get momentum.
09-14-09, 08:30 PM
#22
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09-14-09, 10:57 PM
#25
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Heh... That's what I usually do, actually, if I bother shifting at all. It's the equivalent of about 3-4 cogs, and, once I'm rolling again, lets me switch back to my previous gear with just one shift.
But, as usual, "it depends". I normally just don't care.
But, as usual, "it depends". I normally just don't care.