Originally Posted by
gregf83
The suggestion was that you switch to a 50-11 which you won't spin out.
As has been stated, I have ridden an 11 with results that are indiscernible - only on paper are they different. I spin out on 50-11 on hills. I have to try harder to spin out on 52-11 (or 12). Think of this this way: The argument here is that two teeth up front makes little difference. Why not then eschew the 50t and go 48t or cross gearing? You're only losing two teeth after all. Not many takers on that.
We all ride differently. If you consult Sheldon's gear-inch calculator, you will see that the difference is only a little over 1 mph at 50-11 vs 50-12. This supports my assertion that it matters more where one is on the speed curve than just the basic math suggests. If you are going 5 mph and try to push a 50-11, it is the same at that speed as trying to push 50-12. At 40+ mph it is a different story.
Stick that in your slide rule and smoke it
