rudypyatt

Granting that terrain is key, how much of your available gear range do you typically use? What's the least you've been able to get away with? I remember seeing a race video where (I think) CDR couldn't shift to the big ring and still had a great race. I've also seen a thread to the effect that some riders have been able to compete in crits on single-speeds.

Have any of you been in training races or fast group rides and used five or fewer gears? I'm asking because, on the theory that you begin where you are with what you have, I'm wondering if I could get away with trying (assuming I'd be allowed to join the ride with it) that with my recent BikesDirect single-speed to Sturmey-Archer 3-speed conversion. The bike weighs maybe 22 pounds (lighter tires alone might get it down to 21). The hub is an S-RF3, with a 46/16 ring and cog. According to Sheldon Brown's calculator, that's a range of about 58 to 103 gear inches. I'm used to riding singles and 3-speeds, so I'm used to covering a fairly wide range of cadences.

I have no illusion that I'll come close to the front; that wouldn't happen if I had a CAAD or an Emonda either. Since I don't, I'd just like to try "the progression" and see how I like it and how long I can last before being dropped. Then go back and do it again and try to last longer.

aaronmcd

Yeah you can do it on 3 gears but it won't be comfortable. I broke my rear derailleur cable in the first half of a road race recently, breakaway up the road. Stayed in the race, attacked and got away solo with 20 or 30 minutes to go and finished maybe a minute ahead of the pack (4th place). So yeah its possible.

caloso

Depends. I once finished a 54 mi road race after losing my big ring 10 miles into the race. But it was a pancake flat course and I had to spin like a maniac just to hang on.

108 g.i. Should be plenty for the flats now that I look at it. Sure, give it a shot!

gsteinb

I've regularly done 'fast group rides' on fixed gears, so yes. The less gears you have, obviously, the better you need to be selecting the right one.

carpediemracing 

It was me in that 39T clip. Dead flat course, I only used two gears once I lost the big ring, 39x11, 39x12. For the rest of the season I just blocked out the small ring, using just the big ring, until I fixed the bike.

On flat courses I regularly use a narrow range of gears, especially if you skip the sprint. 53x13-19, five gears or so, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19. Add in the sprint and I'm using the 11, 12 as well. It's not how many gears, it's the range of gears. With a 3 speed, on a flat course, you really have one usable gear. Might as well have a single speed.

If you use an unusual bike, like say a single/3-speed, and you're not super fluent in a group, be prepared to be criticized for the equipment choice, whether the equipment is at fault or not. For example in a different week, same 39T venue, someone showed up with a single speed. That was fine in itself but the rider wasn't that smooth, the bike wasn't properly adjusted, and he almost crashed when he dropped his chain mid-turn. I was super unimpressed with his judgment. He showed up again, single speed, and I have to admit I wasn't disappointed when he got shelled early on. Another guy showed up on a fixed gear bike. He wasn't able to corner the same as everyone (I don't know whether he was limited by his skill or by the fixed gear) so he caused a consistent disruption in two of the three turns on the course. Again, not impressed. Again, not unhappy when he got shelled.

rudypyatt

Thanks all. Yes, group rides will be a new experience, so I'll have to very careful in finding a group that's willing to let me join in: Inexperience plus weird bike would naturally be an issue for anyone already established in the group, even though I just plan to sit on the back to see how things are done.

CDR, I'll be watching that video again. I remember running the numbers through Sheldon's calculator when I first watched the clip and thinking that you must have been around 92", what I understand to be traditional track gearing. It was amazing to watch.

grolby

I have no idea how many gears I use in a "typical" ride or race, but it certainly can be all of them. There are other circumstances where I've only used a few. I've ridden and raced on a bike with a 6-speed freewheel, and that was ok. So 3 is half as many. Seems doable to me. My concern wouldn't be your number of gears, but shifting them in a nondisruptive way. 3-speed hubs don't shift well under torque. You will probably need to ease off or stop pedaling to shift, which could annoy others and make your life harder by allowing gaps to open up.

gsteinb

The correct answer to most questions is attack.

bostongarden

Why not give it a go and see how it works out? Although, I recommend staying initially in the back for the comfort of everyone.

I am currently in a phase where I almost exclusively use my 39 and 11-25, and I find it to be fine when the group ride pace picks up.

gsteinb

I'm currently in a phase where I would do everything I could to make you shift it into the big ring.

bostongarden

Haha and touche! When I get stronger and faster, it will happen....

Hida Yanra

indeed - the only question is "when"

bostongarden

Ok, I entered the big ring today. 1 hour 31 minutes in the 53-25. Transitioning to the 53 is going to be a process....

carpediemracing 

Apparently we avg 28 mph in the P123 race Sunday. I found myself looking for gears a couple times and I was already in the (53x)11. It's not because I was spun out etc, it's because I didn't want to be spinning like mad at whatever particular bit of race. I cramp more easily if I spin a lot so I was trying to keep my rpms under control, which is my normal modus operandi. It worked to a point, I started to twinge dangerously with 2 turns to go.

I can't remember my lowest gears, although during warm up (I did a few laps around the warm up loop, normally I don't warm up at all) I did find myself in the 53x23 (big-big) accidentally a few times.
@rudypyatt it's about a 95" gear I think. 39x11 = 42x12 = 53x15, the last combo being the Junior gear limit when I raced (95.4" I think).