Originally Posted by
merlinextraligh
The concept "bailout gear" can sometimes lead to the wrong approach to climbing. Some people will not shift to the lowest gear they have at the start of a climb, even when that is the approriate gear to maintian the best cadence given the grade and their power output because they psychologically need a "bailout gear"
If you just forget the whole concept, and ride in whatever gear is right for the grade and your fitness, you'll ultimately climb faster.
In other words you're better off riding in your lowest gear to start, than riding in a too high of gear, just to preserve a "bailout gear."
Very good point. But the whole bailout idea was to have one gear left when you were at this ideal "normal" point. For say a slight bonk, windy day, ect.
Im sure we have all been halfway up a hill, out of gas, trying to shift down and there is nothing left but the stop on the rear deraillure.
