Originally Posted by
5ofus
I usually have the largest diameter on the chain ring, then I work my way through the gears as I spin. So if I am spinning freely on the smallest diameter gear, then I gradually moved up to the largest diameter on the cassette.
Sorry, still not making sense.
If you want more speed from the same effort/pace of pedalling you change to a smaller sprocket(rear) or to a bigger ring (front). Or both.
If you want easier climbing you change to a bigger sprocket(rear) or a smaller ring(front). Or both.
Originally Posted by
5ofus
Doing this in the past I was only able to get up to around 22MPH downhill, freely spinning on the largest chain ring and cassette diameter.
That does make sense. As said before, the big-big combo will have a lowest comfortable speed range at about 18 MPH. But big-big is kinda silly to use on a downhill, for top speed you want big front and small rear. And as even the small ring(front) would take you to about 25 MPH, you'd pretty much have to hit a descent to actually need the big ring.
Originally Posted by
5ofus
Does weight factor in?
Yes.
A heavier person hasn't got much more air drag, but more weight pulling the rider down the slope. Rolling resistance and bearing drag stays about the same too.