Originally Posted by
sarhog
I couldn't get that calculator to run custom chainrings and cogs. (50-38-24 X 12,14-19, 21,23 9-speed) I hit :custom" but the chart just went blank. I saw no way to enter my sprockets.
OP, calculating your gears is the way to "get" what you need to do to find shift patterns that match your riding style. (It might even encourage you to change the gears top better fit. See my gear choices above. I've never seen my choices on a stock bike but I love 'em. Before I aged, I rode 53-42-28 X a variety of freewheels and cassettes, all having 13,14,15,17,19 and adding more cogs as the numbers grew.
I live around real hills, some quite steep and I love to climb. Having a bike that doesn't allow me to go up them doesn't work for me. (I've been known to pull out middle cogs and add 25 and 28 tooth cogs.)
Ben