Bucking The Trend:34/34?
#26
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The lowest gear on my old ride was 39-23; just not low enough for me.
#27
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I've done centuries with 10,000 ft , 4 times and one called Breathless Agony, 114 mile with 12,000 ft of gain on a standard 53/39- 12/26 no problem.
I'm not sure I could even get used to a compact crank after using standards for the last 24 years that I have been riding.
But I'm only 58.
I'm not sure I could even get used to a compact crank after using standards for the last 24 years that I have been riding.
But I'm only 58.
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#28
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It depends on whether you have low enough gears for the steepest part of the climb. I've done Haleakala on a 39x27 low gear. Sure it's 10K feet, but it's only 6%, same as your typical freeway overpass. It's a massively long grind, but there aren't any particularly steep pitches.
#29
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For the hills around me I need a 1 to 1 ratio. front 30 rear 30. My bike came with 52/36 spider chainring. I special ordered a 46/30 spider chainring from England.
I am not any faster up the hill but my knees are a lot happier.
I am not any faster up the hill but my knees are a lot happier.

#30
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At 68 years I am still riding my vintage bikes with close to their vintage gearing for shorter rides.
This one with a low gear of 47/28

This one with a low gear of 46/28

But for any ride over 40 or 50 miles or with more than about 4,000 feet of climbing or with grades over 15% I'm on a bike with lower gears or the final miles will be a death march and I'll need half a week to recover.
Something like this with a 36/32 low gear.

If there's lots of dirt or gravel climbing involved I'm down to 28/30.

It's not that I'm experiencing more injuries on the higher gears. It's a matter of strength and endurance. If I push big gears for more than two or three hours I simply run out of gas. Also I no longer have the leg strength to grind my way up a 20% slope in the taller gears that I used even fifteen years ago.
I enjoy long rides, and lower gears allow me to keep enjoying them: I'm comfortable with that.
Brent
This one with a low gear of 47/28

This one with a low gear of 46/28

But for any ride over 40 or 50 miles or with more than about 4,000 feet of climbing or with grades over 15% I'm on a bike with lower gears or the final miles will be a death march and I'll need half a week to recover.
Something like this with a 36/32 low gear.

If there's lots of dirt or gravel climbing involved I'm down to 28/30.

It's not that I'm experiencing more injuries on the higher gears. It's a matter of strength and endurance. If I push big gears for more than two or three hours I simply run out of gas. Also I no longer have the leg strength to grind my way up a 20% slope in the taller gears that I used even fifteen years ago.
I enjoy long rides, and lower gears allow me to keep enjoying them: I'm comfortable with that.
Brent