My new approach to gearing and shifting
06-29-17, 06:33 PM
#76
Senior Member
Also, it's not just distance and elevation. How fast you're going at which times probably gets taken into account.
06-29-17, 06:52 PM
#77
Senior Member
06-29-17, 08:57 PM
#78
Senior Member
You're giving too much credit to Garmin's programmers. Owning a VivoActive HR, I can tell you these guys sucks. Every update breaks more stuff than it fixes...
07-04-17, 03:28 PM
#79
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So....more than a week after my original post that somehow gathered 3+ pages of replies...I'm back with an update. First of all, thanks to all those who chimed in, I appreciate it. I'm much more interested in the original question(s) than quasi-philosophical debates but I am grateful for all of the responses. Here's what I consider to the most important things I learned since my initial post:
1. As stated in one of the early responses there are a LOT of overlapping gears among the 20 available on my compact double (50t/34t in front, 11-28t in rear). I did some research on the speed generated by cadence for each gear and it basically comes down to this: the easiest three gears and the hardest four gears available to me are 'unique' in the distribution (no overlap in speed with any other gear when I pedal at 90 rpm) while the others all have close analogues on the 'other' front ring. So I think it comes down to my individual comfort in each situation. If I feel like spinning I can generate the speed desired most of the time and if I feel like mashing I can do the same. It's not really about the big front ring vs. the smaller one.
2. As noted in several responses, external conditions (ie. weather) have a lot of impact on comfort and performance while riding. There is a skill to knowing when and how to shift and pedal efficiently but since each rider is unique it's up to him or her to become familiar with their riding style, which will vary based on the conditions outside. Obviously, dressing well for the conditions positions riders to maximize performance.
3. Another thing I learned recently that is obvious to many but not to me is that keeping your bike's engine (chain, derailleur(s), rear cassette, front chainrings) clean and running smoothly is a big deal. I love to ride but I have a busy professional job, my wife has an even busier professional job, and we have 3 busy kids. Needless to say, riding trumps cleaning my bike(s) every day of the week. I wash my bikes after particularly dirty rides, lube the chain every few rides, and try to stay on a reasonable tune-up schedule at my LBS. Howeva, that wasn't nearly enough. Cleaning the engine (at a minimum) and lubing the chain should of course be done after every 1-2 rides and any time the chain is slipping/having trouble staying in gear or making much noise at all it should be attended to. I recently bought a bike stand and have started to be much more diligent. I can already tell it makes a major difference in my riding experience.
4. A couple of days ago my business partner recommended a book she found on nutrition/hydration for cyclists:Nutrition for Cyclists: Eating and Drinking Before, During, and After the Ride by Kevin Murnane.
It's a quick and interesting read that covers the fundamentals without getting lost in the proverbial weeds. Today I rode my favorite local route and really focused on drinking (Skratch or Gatorade mixed with water) and eating (simple high carb snacks that rapidly fuel cyclists in motion, e.g. fig newtons) much more than usual. After doing this only once I obviously can't vouch for it but I will say, 'So far so good.' The book is $4.99 on Kindle or free if you happen to have Amazon Prime. I recommend you consider checking it out. And I'd be interested in anyone else's recommendations for books on cycling nutrition.
5. One last thing (for now at least) that I didn't know: pressing down on your heels while pedaling can provide a more even, balanced, and efficient distribution of power while riding. I think I have always pedaled with my toes pushed forward and while this is 'fine' to a point, pressing down on my heels seems to use different muscles. On my 43 mile ride today which includes a nice combination of open flats and medium-sized hills (nothing too long or steep) I used this approach the whole way and really liked it! I also happened to break the 15 mph barrier for the first time this season today--I finished my ride in 2'46" for 15.5 mph average overall. Now the weather is PERFECT outside today--essentially no wind (~6 mph), air temp in the 70's, and moderate humidity--so I'm certain those conditions had a LOT to do with my riding experience. But I plan to keep working on this approach to pedaling and see how it goes during future rides.
Thanks again to all who read and responded. Happy summer, happy birthday USA, and happy (and safe) riding to all!
1. As stated in one of the early responses there are a LOT of overlapping gears among the 20 available on my compact double (50t/34t in front, 11-28t in rear). I did some research on the speed generated by cadence for each gear and it basically comes down to this: the easiest three gears and the hardest four gears available to me are 'unique' in the distribution (no overlap in speed with any other gear when I pedal at 90 rpm) while the others all have close analogues on the 'other' front ring. So I think it comes down to my individual comfort in each situation. If I feel like spinning I can generate the speed desired most of the time and if I feel like mashing I can do the same. It's not really about the big front ring vs. the smaller one.
2. As noted in several responses, external conditions (ie. weather) have a lot of impact on comfort and performance while riding. There is a skill to knowing when and how to shift and pedal efficiently but since each rider is unique it's up to him or her to become familiar with their riding style, which will vary based on the conditions outside. Obviously, dressing well for the conditions positions riders to maximize performance.
3. Another thing I learned recently that is obvious to many but not to me is that keeping your bike's engine (chain, derailleur(s), rear cassette, front chainrings) clean and running smoothly is a big deal. I love to ride but I have a busy professional job, my wife has an even busier professional job, and we have 3 busy kids. Needless to say, riding trumps cleaning my bike(s) every day of the week. I wash my bikes after particularly dirty rides, lube the chain every few rides, and try to stay on a reasonable tune-up schedule at my LBS. Howeva, that wasn't nearly enough. Cleaning the engine (at a minimum) and lubing the chain should of course be done after every 1-2 rides and any time the chain is slipping/having trouble staying in gear or making much noise at all it should be attended to. I recently bought a bike stand and have started to be much more diligent. I can already tell it makes a major difference in my riding experience.
4. A couple of days ago my business partner recommended a book she found on nutrition/hydration for cyclists:Nutrition for Cyclists: Eating and Drinking Before, During, and After the Ride by Kevin Murnane.
It's a quick and interesting read that covers the fundamentals without getting lost in the proverbial weeds. Today I rode my favorite local route and really focused on drinking (Skratch or Gatorade mixed with water) and eating (simple high carb snacks that rapidly fuel cyclists in motion, e.g. fig newtons) much more than usual. After doing this only once I obviously can't vouch for it but I will say, 'So far so good.' The book is $4.99 on Kindle or free if you happen to have Amazon Prime. I recommend you consider checking it out. And I'd be interested in anyone else's recommendations for books on cycling nutrition.
5. One last thing (for now at least) that I didn't know: pressing down on your heels while pedaling can provide a more even, balanced, and efficient distribution of power while riding. I think I have always pedaled with my toes pushed forward and while this is 'fine' to a point, pressing down on my heels seems to use different muscles. On my 43 mile ride today which includes a nice combination of open flats and medium-sized hills (nothing too long or steep) I used this approach the whole way and really liked it! I also happened to break the 15 mph barrier for the first time this season today--I finished my ride in 2'46" for 15.5 mph average overall. Now the weather is PERFECT outside today--essentially no wind (~6 mph), air temp in the 70's, and moderate humidity--so I'm certain those conditions had a LOT to do with my riding experience. But I plan to keep working on this approach to pedaling and see how it goes during future rides.
Thanks again to all who read and responded. Happy summer, happy birthday USA, and happy (and safe) riding to all!
