lobo

I did some more riding over the week and what I'm discovering quickly is the trails that I coasted with a 32x16 single speed mountain bike are a bit difficult with my fixie geared at 46x16. Is this going to go away in time or am I using insane gearing?

Most of my riding is on the streets and bike paths (which I am starting to loathe from all the branches and goose crap) with few hills. Still, I couldn't help but walk some of it.

Some might ask, "Why didn't you use less aggressive gearing?" Mostly because my Monocog ticked me off with almost always spinning out on a very slight decline. So as soon as I tried the gearing for the first time I was like, "Oh yeah! No spinning!"

qmsdc15

This guy Campynolo (sp?) invented a mechanism that changes gear ratio on the fly.

bostontrevor

The short answer is it'll go away in time. Out of shape is a bit of a squishy concept, but let's just say that you're not conditioned yet for this specific type of activity at this level of exertion.

I know a lot of people who quite comfortably (myself included) run around a 3:1 ratio without any discomfort. I can even do some small hill climbing (for those who know Boston, Beacon Hill leaves me a little spent by the top). Maybe you shouldn't increase your gearing 44% at a shot.

bostontrevor

Surely you're talking about the quick release hub.

(and it's Campagnolo)

A3rd.Zero

I must say that I have been riding my 42x16 in hilly country for about a month now and don't feel like I am getting any stronger. However over Turkey Day, I went on a geared mtb ride with my dad and my sister and though I have ridden all my life and am very used to the route we took I have never felt stronger. It was almost obscene. You may not feel like you are getting stronger but if you can function in the gear that you are using now then go for it.

Milo

crustedfish

chill out, bro...give it some time...

50x14

qmsdc15

yeah, I guess that's what it's called. I still can't figure out how to flip the wheel around without stopping and getting off...

nocoins

you are going to have to move pretty fast in order to do it while you are riding.

ultra-g

Do you seriously ride 50x14?

No effin way. I've been riding 48x15 since I got my Langster and I'm aching to get an 18t cog for the rear.

habitus

it depends on where you live, really. you can't ride 50x14 in seattle if you actually want to bike up the hills. but chicago is a different story.

bostontrevor

That's what I figured, 'cause Campy invented the modern parallelogram der, but there were others before him.

One word: stoppie.

qmsdc15

Yeah, your QR reply inspired me to check on that. Apparently that is not an uncommon misperception. I was thinking derailleur, tried to hide my ignorance with the wheel flip comment, but you're seeing through that. OK, I'll leave now.

bostontrevor

There's a fascinating book out there called the Dancing Chain that covers the development of the derailleur and multispeed bikes. At least, so I hear. I've read excerpts of it online. Pretty cool turn-of-the-century patent war stuff.

skitbraviking

It's not easy. Try it and then you will have proven your human spirit.

crustedfish

50x14 in chicago is no big deal. with the wind picking up and my load increasing, I'll be back to my 50x16 winter gear.

my friend and ex bikeforum member rolls 52x16 year round...he's my inspiration.

HereNT

Ex bikeforum member? Why?

myxbyx

not enuff pie

ultra-g

How fast can you go on a flat pushing 50x14?? My top speed on a flat section with 48x15 is 27mph. I can only keep it up for about a minute, then I'm shot.

Rowan

I think the motocross guys have it down pat -- a big jump, do a bit of body twist, a quick flipon the rear wheel and you're right to go when you land.

Ceya

46 x 16 is a good gear. it is not too hard or too soft. You can get speed but not kill your knees . It is easy to slow down also. That is my standard gear on all of my track bikes.

S/F,
CEYA!

crustedfish

i dunno, never measured my speed.

next time im at the velodrome Ill take some lap times and convert it to Kph.

filtersweep

I ride fixed, but it is the same principle. I don't care to get into a pissing contest over what my gear ratio is... frankly, I find it amusing to see someone with a 50X14 and they are churning along with a cadence of 60. Mashing has never gotten me anywhere- and my goals are more on the order of being able to smoothly hold a cadence of 140, for example. A 42 X 14 or 16 meets most of my needs... but if I were on a mtn bike, I'd drop it to a 39 X something...

*new*guy

churning along while you blow past them with your flailing legs and jackrabbit-like cadence? To each their own. Personally, I strive to be as fast as I can, and find I'm fastest while pushing a big gear.

ajkloss42

42x14 isn't exactly what I'd call a spinning gear. It's a lot higher than most of the ratios I see running around. As someone else pointed out though, if you can spin at 140 in 42x14 and I can spin at 140 at 50x14, you're totally screwed. It's my new rule for dropping fixes when riding a multispeed bike: Step 1: find their ratio, step 2: match their cadence, step 3: shift up one, step 4: match their cadence. Unless the person riding fixed is a lot stronger than you, this should always work, especially on declines.

habitus

diabolical!