Originally Posted by librarian
Let me say right up front that buying a bike with disk was not a sudden decision. remember that disks have been stopping tandems for at least ten years. As to the aluminum vs steel debate I have had two steel touring bikes and this will be my second aluminum touring bike. With over 10,000 miles of loaded touring I would never go back to steel. I do think that the gearing on the giant is probably too high but I think that they probably sell many more touring bikes to the credit card set than the loaded bunch.
I probably will change at least one chainring. (I'm still living in the 10 speed half step plus granny world.)
Anyway the bike was impressive enough for me to order one. And when I put my purple Madden Buzzards and Baby Buzzards on it, it will be even better looking than Roo's.
I think you are right about why they gear these bike so high. Gearing is discussed often in this forum, the rule of thumb has historically been a gear / inch range of 20-100 with a triple chain ring. One way of approaching this issue that I think is helpful, is to ask, how often do you use your highest 3 or 4 gears while touring fully loaded? The answer will most likely be never or rarely. Ask the same question about your lowest 3 or 4 gears and your answer will most likely be hundreds, and time wise, hours upon hours while climbing 20-30 mile hills in the Rockies. I vote for a few extra low end gears in lieu of a few extra high end gears. The exact gear range will be different for the type of tour (credit card vs expedition) and the strength of the rider. The three front chainrings are not difficult to switch around, so I suggest that you load your bike up to as heavy as you expect to tour with and then find the steepest, longest hill you can find and test her out. If your are planning a cross country, the worst hills are not the Rockies, they are the steep hills of the Ozarks and the Appalachians.
Greg