Originally Posted by
GavSmart
Hi folks,
Broctoon: I think you are spot on about the ratio I have on the bike at the moment being about right for a hilly city. The 42t / 17t combination does feel like quite a good balance overall. I think once I get the shorter crank length right for my body shape, it's gonna help ease some of the pain I sometimes feel in my knees. I think the problem might be less about too tough a gear ratio, and more about the 170cm cranklength putting added strain on my knees when I'm needing to peddle harder?
It is just as
79pmooney outlines above. I flip the bike upside-down and rest it carefully on the seat and handlebar. Loosen both hub nuts and slide the axle forward, lift the chain onto the desired cog, slide back again to remove slack, and tighten the nuts. I don't even bother with a tool to handle the chain. My chains don't tend to be very grubby, but if I happen to get a little mess on my fingers, that's just part of the experience.