philbob57

I'm 73 and overweight. I ride a C & V bike with 45/42 chain rings and a 14-16-18-20-23-26 freewheel in Chicago's northern suburbs. I'm usually in the 42-20 gear going 13-14 mph for 25 miles. The routes I ride are pretty flat. I plan to travel East for 2 weeks next month, and I'd like to ride while I'm there. I'll be staying in Washington Heights in NYC for a large part of the trip, and I've looked at a topographical map of Central Park. It's not at all as flat as it is here. My memory of Manhattan is that it's uphill from South to North. I'm also told I can cross the GW Bridge and get on the Palisades Parkway bike path. 'Palisades' doesn't sound flat.

I'm considering a new 7-speed freewheel (126 OLD read triangle). Any recommendations on gearing? 28, 30, or 32 for the largest cog? (I really like half-step gearing, but if I switch freewheels, I'm unlikely to go back.)

Thanks in advance.

VegasTriker

The Palisades is a reference to the cliffs on the west side of the Hudson River in NJ. I haven't lived in the area in decades and see they have improved the bike routes significantly. Here's a description of the route you were mentioning: Manhattan + GWB to Nyack. Probably not a great choice for a flatlander. I remember a group of cyclists from North Dakota who showed up for a WI race from Madison to Blue Mounds State Park where the last mile into the park was a major hill. Some ended walking. Their practice hill was to use one of the overpasses for the local interstate.

I haven't come across a bike with as limited gear range as the one you list. If you had a 700c rear wheel the range in gear inches is 43.9-87.3 gear inches 27" wheel 43.7-87 gear inches or 26" 43-79.9 gear inches These are rough values as I don't know the exact wheel size and assumes 170 mm cranks. You don't really have any good low gears or high gears either. My recumbent trike has a gear range of 21.9 to 124.2 with a 700C drive wheel. Much better for an area with hills.

You can see the elevation for various parts of Manhattan Island here:Manhattan NYC- Elevation (in meters above sea level) The highest point in Manhattan is just 265 feet above sea level so there can't be any significant hills anywhere on the island.

Bob Ross

First of all, if you'll be staying in Washington Heights, forget about Central Park. You'll be right near the George Washington Bridge, which you can ride across in <15 minutes and get to much less crowded roads. What the locals call "River Road" (actually named Henry Hudson Drive) goes from just south of the GWB north for ~8 miles through a gorgeous deciduous paradise. Out & back is usually 21-22 miles from Washington Heights. Rolling roads. If I wasn't in a hurry and/or didn't mind a little hard work I would do River Road with a 42/26 as my smallest gear...but it is most definitely not flat, so you might want some gears that are a bit more forgiving.

bikemig 

If you get a chance, you should head up to Harriman state park. There is some fine, fine riding there, https://parks.ny.gov/parks/145

But yeah bring some low gearing if you go there!

philbob57

Ah ... gearing is tight because it's really flat where I ride. I started looking at freewheels, but the numbers say I'll get a bigger bang from going to, say, a 30 tooth chain ring and being willing to walk. I am happy I bought a TA Cyclotourist when I put my bike together in 1981.

Thanks for the links.

sch

Considering chain rings, been a long time since I had my TA crankset triple, but changing your setup to a 42/30 using your existing
42t might solve your problem for the cost of a 30t ring, assuming the 42 could be moved to the outside. That would get you to ~30"
gear with the existing freewheel. About 15yrs ago I rode from downtown to the south of the proposed Obama park and then back north to
Northwestern, it is dead flat, with only the wind to contend with on the Lakeshore walkway. Chicagoans were going nuts at 70F in late
March.

philbob57

I bought a NOS TA 28T chainring. The TA inner rings connect to an outer ring. The outers connect to the crank, so it will be 45/28, 14-26. I'll be in Providence before NYC. I know some hills near relatively flat roads there, and I hope to do some riding there.

You'd think ability to ride hills should translate to ability in wind, and vice versa, but it just doesn't in my experience.

John E

I'm almost 68. I ride a C & V bike with 45/42 chain rings and a 13-15-17-20-23-26 freewheel in San Diego's northern coastal suburbs. I often use the 42/20, but shift somewhat frequently.

With a 144mm BCD crank spider and a short-cage SunTour Cyclone II rear derailleur, 42/26 is about as low as I can go, and it currently works for me.

The day I need to go lower, I plan to keep the half-step and the chainrings, but change to a 7-speed 13-15-17-20-23-26-30 or possibly ...-32.

noglider 

Yes, it's hillier here than there. Definitely get as low gears as you can put on your bike.

NewATBikeComute

Check out the East Bay Bike Path. The biggest hill is the bridge, but a nice view nonetheless.

big chainring 

Hey, I am in Wilmette. I ride an old Viking with sew ups. What kinda bike you ride? Maybe I have seen you out on the road.