Originally Posted by
Steely Dan
if wind weren't a factor, i could probably be happy with just one (chicago is dead flat), but riding DIRECTLY along the shore of lake michigan as i do everyday, wind is a huge factor for me, and my absolute minimum of 5 gears would be along the lines of:
~50 - stupid strong headwind
~65 - headwind
~80 - neutral
~95 - tailwind
~110 - stupid strong tailwind
as it is i ride a road bike with a 2x10 ultegra drivetrain (53/39 w/ 11-28) and a hybrid with an alfine 8 IGH.
You must be a fairly strong rider... a 50 gear inch low is typical on road bikes with a performance set up while most modern hybrids will run a low in the 30 gear inch range and mountain bikes will drop that down into the low 20's at the expense of a taller top gear.