Originally Posted by
M.Roshi
Still kinda new to some cycling terminology haha, when I started getting back into riding a bike I most use the middle chain ring because I won't get tired easily, a few months ago I starting using the big chain more to train myself to exert my muscles, I do fall back onto the middle chainring when I feel it getting hard to pedal consistently on the big chainring and play around with the rear cogs to feel that I can still put some torque but still have a easy cadence.
Based on advice in bike magazines, I've been a "spinner" since I got my first good road bike, stayed on the small (42) chainring for years. These days I have more specific advice, and more helpful for older folks like me.
I don't push a harder (tall) gear when seated, it puts more stress on my kness. I also raise the saddle as high as possible without having to rock my hips to reach the pedal at the bottom, as this keeps my knees straighter and less stress there. But too high and hip rocking is also bad. Most people, it seems, have the seat too low.
When climbing, I either spin up in a low gear, or, upshift a couple gears and stand on the pedals. Too low a gear, cadence is too fast, tire fast. Too high a gear, have to pull too hard on the handlebars, tire fast. Gear just right, and I can climb with just weight on pedals without hard pull, about (guessing) cadence of 50, this is very efficient and easy on knees because leg is straight when under highest force.
With my flat handlebars, longer bar-ends are helpful on standing-climbs, as you'll want a handgrip further forward than when seated. If road bars, on the brake hoods instead of the top back bar.