Originally Posted by
B. Carfree
For decades I used a classic half-step + granny (either 24,42,45 or 24,45,48 front and six or seven speed 12-24 rear). I couldn't imagine anything I couldn't get over in a 1:1 no matter how much load I carried (yes, I have ridden over a number of passes in Colorado). Now I'm older and weaker. After I wore out a Phil Wood rear hub I finally built up a wheel with a 9-speed cassette and have gone to 24,34,48 by 11-28. I've also cut the weight of my gear down. Someday I'm going to have to move my gearing more towards cyccommute's; he seems to have defined a new standard of granny gearing.
As for terrain, I much prefer riding in the hills/mountains to anything flat. I lived in Davis, CA for two decades; I've ridden enough flat for several lifetimes (nearest hill larger than an overpass is about twenty-five miles away). I'll often take the unpaved route in order to enjoy the lower traffic volume and steeper climbs.
I've had lower. Mountain Tamer Quad on a mountain bike with a 44/34/24/16 and a 13-34 (I may have even had a 38 on it at one time
) For those of you who are counting, that's a 12" gear (It's a 10" gear with the 38
). The Quad doesn't like modern front shifters, however
This was back when bicycle component companies actually built components for humans with real knees
Last edited by cyccommute; 07-04-11 at 09:05 AM.