taller gear
12-14-05, 07:17 AM
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domestique
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taller gear
Converting my bike to singlespeed is taking a while. Yesterday, I decided to ride my wife's geared MTB to work. I continued the "ride in one gear" experiments that I had started doing on my bike. I accidentally changed the gears several times due to the grip shifters. I readjusted them but couldn't see what gear I had chosen because it was dark. I was surprised to find when I got home that I was in a much higher gear than I had previously settled on with experiments on my own bike. The gain ratio used on the two biggest hills during my ride home last night was 3.6. My previous choice was 2.9 on my bike. I can think of a couple explanations.
1. Psycological. Not knowing what gear I was using erased previous ideas about what was possible in each gear.
2. I was riding slowly because there was a fair amount of snow and ice. Maybe that left me fresh for the two big climbs toward the end of my ride home.
3. My wife's bike is newer and in better condition. Maybe my old gritty BB and never maintained wheel hubs on my bike slow me down more than I realized.
1. Psycological. Not knowing what gear I was using erased previous ideas about what was possible in each gear.
2. I was riding slowly because there was a fair amount of snow and ice. Maybe that left me fresh for the two big climbs toward the end of my ride home.
3. My wife's bike is newer and in better condition. Maybe my old gritty BB and never maintained wheel hubs on my bike slow me down more than I realized.
12-14-05, 08:15 AM
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jack of one or two trades
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4. Different crank lengths change gain ratio. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gain.html
5. Different wheel sizes change the gear-inches. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_g.html#gearinch
5. Different wheel sizes change the gear-inches. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_g.html#gearinch
12-14-05, 01:46 PM
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domestique
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I used Sheldon Brown's online gear calculator and entered the crank length and tire size in both cases.
Maybe another factor is pace. I was going pretty slow last night up the hills. Usually I am more ambitious about pace on those hills.
Maybe another factor is pace. I was going pretty slow last night up the hills. Usually I am more ambitious about pace on those hills.
12-14-05, 02:11 PM
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Sorry, I thought you had gear ratio, not gain ratio. 3.6 would be pretty tall, unless you're riding a 20".
That is a pretty big gap though. I'd be inclined to say that the "psychological" difference played a lot, if only because the numbers don't point to anything.
That is a pretty big gap though. I'd be inclined to say that the "psychological" difference played a lot, if only because the numbers don't point to anything.
12-14-05, 03:08 PM
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domestique
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Can a person usually climb a hill in the same time regardless of gear? In that light, I should be looking for the tallest gear I can use on the hill without failing and having to rest or walk. Using lower gears just makes it more comfortable?
Or, is it the case that a person can usually climb faster while spinning in a lower gear?
My last singlespeed experience was at the age of 10, and back then I only had one gear ratio to try.
Or, is it the case that a person can usually climb faster while spinning in a lower gear?
My last singlespeed experience was at the age of 10, and back then I only had one gear ratio to try.
