Originally Posted by
corwin1968
The craziest thing is that right now I'm spinning out gears I hardly ever used until this week. My highest gear in the middle ring is 83.5 gear inches (34 x 11) and I can count the number of times I've used that gear on one hand. This week, the slightest downhill grade or tailwind and that gear is spun out. I may have to re-think my drivetrain rebuild and go with a larger crankset.
.
It's easy to get fooled about how much you are spinning out.
A few years back (when i first went to smaller (1.5") tires on my mountain bike, I thought I was spinning out and did a cassette change. Went from a 13T top cog to 12T.
Simply stated, I couldn't use it.
It turned out, I was basically "spinning out" by about 3 RPM!!!
It sure seemed like a lot more at the time.
Now, when I get the rare tailwind that puts me in the same situation, I just smile and enjoy being able to leave a little reserve "in the tank" for the return home.
EDIT- I notice you said spinning out on the middle ring, which infers you have a larger one? Maybe it's time to use it.