Originally Posted by
prathmann
Same thing they do now if they buy a bike with inappropriate gearing - change it to something more appropriate. Yes, some bikes came with the gears you mention, but plenty came with triples in front (26t wasn't uncommon as a 'granny' gear) and large cogs on 5 and 6-speed freewheels were readily available as well (Suntour's went up to 38t).
Or maybe they just kept the gearing and got stronger? That's what I did.
I am referring to 'racing bikes' only of course, but I don't recall road bikes being spec'ed with anything lower than a 42/25 25 years ago when I started getting interested in bicycling. Even 12-21 was quite common when 7 speed cassettes were the norm.
Back then, I don't remember seeing heavy cyclists, at least not riding 'nice bikes' on hills. They were all quite fit from what I could tell. A lot of riders were lighter than I was, and I was under 150 lbs.
All I'm saying is that the cycling demographic must have shifted quite drastically over the past 25 years as the cost of bicycles at least on the high end, has gone through the roof.