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lower gearing for touring

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Old 07-22-09, 12:35 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by BengeBoy
...
Many stock "touring" bikes are stupidly overgeared - the lows aren't low enough, and the highs are so high that few people are going to use them unless they enjoy pedaling at over 30 to 35 mph downhill (and on a touring bike, why bother?). ...
Very true. Even for recreational cycling without a touring load I have no use for any gear above the mid to upper 90s. 47/13 or 50/14 on a road bike and an equivalent 48/13 on the mountain bike work just fine for me.
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Old 07-22-09, 10:51 PM
  #27  
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I toured cross country with a 28x28 low on a 55+ pound bike, (not camping). I've also used a 28x30 on the tourer the last time I rode it 2 years ago. It's an old mtb crank, 80 something Deore, and with friction shifters I can use different wheels/cassettes from 7-9 speed.
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Old 07-23-09, 08:45 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by big john
I toured cross country with a 28x28 low on a 55+ pound bike, (not camping). I've also used a 28x30 on the tourer the last time I rode it 2 years ago. It's an old mtb crank, 80 something Deore, and with friction shifters I can use different wheels/cassettes from 7-9 speed.
That sounds reasonable to me.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
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Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
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Old 07-24-09, 12:37 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by BengeBoy
Many stock "touring" bikes are stupidly overgeared - the lows aren't low enough, and the highs are so high that few people are going to use them unless they enjoy pedaling at over 30 to 35 mph downhill (and on a touring bike, why bother?).
I agree. It's nice to have a wide range of gears available, but if you can't have both a really high high and a really low low, go for a really low low, for touring anyway. I'd much rather sacrifice some top-end speed for the ability to climb steep hills easily, than the other way around.
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