[QUOTE=t2p;23022705][QUOTE=terrymorse;23021935]
Originally Posted by
big john
On my triple road bike, 52-39-30, I can do a lot of rides without ever using the small ring./
opposite for me - very little / almost no climbing in the big ring
not too many climbs I could / can take with a 53 or 52 chainring ... or even current 50 or 46 ...
can use big ring on small or short climbs (rolling) - but that’s about it ... just about everything else small ring ...
I was referring to the triple and not using the 30 ring on most climbs, meaning climbing on the 39 like a standard double. I wouldn't climb on the 52.
In the 80s and early 90s most of us had doubles with 52-42 rings. On my 7 speed stuff I put a 28 cog on the back. You could buy individual cogs and put what you wanted. So I climbed everything in 42x28 low and I was 220#. Still can't believe I did that. I was always the slowest climber in my groups and had the lowest gear.