jfriesne

Hi all,

I've got a Cannondale R500 road bike that I've been using for years to commute 5 miles to and from work. It's an easy commute, so I spend most of my time in the bike's highest gear.

The other day, I let my co-worker borrow the bike to run an errand. When he got back, he told me that he hadn't been able to figure out how to shift gears, and had therefore made the entire trip in high gear, including going up a hill where he had to walk the bike most of the way because it was too hard to pedal in high gear.

Okay, fine... but here's the thing: Ever since that morning, the bike's high gear no longer feels like high gear. Instead, it feels like a mid-gear. For example, on stretches of my commute where I would previously pedal slowly or medium-speed while in the high gear, I now have to pedal like mad to get the bike to the same speed. If I downshift to a lower gear, then I have to pedal faster still.

The bike isn't making any unusual noises, the chain isn't slipping (AFAICT), and the gears don't look any different, it just seems 'too easy to pedal' when I'm in high gear. Does anyone have a theory as to what might have happened? Or am I just becoming delusional in my old age?

Thanks,
Jeremy

10 Wheels

Do you have a triple crank and what cassette range on the back?

jgedwa

One shot in the dark attempt: do you usually not use the left shifter and maybe the coworker did when he was out?

jfriesne

10 Wheels -- it's triple crank (three gear rings at the pedal end). I'm not sure how to determine the cassette range; it's the stock 9-gear cassette that came with the bike when I bought it.

jgedwa -- that's a good thought -- it's true that I don't usually use the left shifter -- but I triple-checked and the left shifter is in the same position I usually have it in (i.e. chain is on the smallest of the three gear rings)

10 Wheels

High Gear is your Big Crank Ring on the front and The Smallest Cog on the rear wheel.

reptilezs

you are crazy

wrk101

I've never met someone who normally rides on the smallest front ring of a triple crankset. And your riding is an "easy commute". That small ring is usually used going up steep hills.

opmanf

delusional

jfriesne

Okay, on second thought, I think jgedwa is right ... my co-worker shifted the front gear to the smallest ring, and I had previously been using the mid-sized ring. I mis-remembered what setting it had previously been in.

Sorry all for the stupidity.... :^P

-Jeremy

ScrubJ

Problem solved

Kimmo 

BTW, you prolly shouldn't be in the smallest cog unless you're on the big ring; it makes for excessive friction if your chain's angled too far.

Chris_W

You need to learn how to use both of your shift levers and all of your gears effectively. It would be best to have a friend give you a few pointers while riding together rather than trying to explain this skill online. If you don't have any friends who know more about it than you then go to the store where you bought it and ask them for some advice.

peugeophile

At Bicycletutor.com, there is a terrific demonstration of how to use the gears in a triple.

Jon Z.

mcgreivey

Ack.

pwdeegan

but really, how is it that your coworker changed the front to the smallest chain ring, and still couldn't make it up the hill? ... (left it in the 11t or 12t on the rear cassette, i guess); nice guy, i'm sure, but it's been a while since he's been on a bike, huh.

Kimmo 

In a nutshell, granny ring for uphills, middle for the flat, and big ring downhill.

thenomad

Is it a NEXT bike with "full suspension"?

rumrunn6

you just feel stronger because you rested.

rest is not over-rated