I guess I have to admit I'm a weak cyclist. Whenever I uses the large flywheel (53) with the smaller cassette (12), I can't seems to pedal for long even on flat roads . Currently using a 23 front and 25 rear training tyres. Does that really affect the performance?

Pushing a 53/12 in the flats isn't exactly easy... I don't whip out my 53/11 unless I'm descending. That doesn't make you a weak cyclist.

I would recommend picking up a cyclocomputer with a cadence function, and focus on keeping your cadence around 80-90 rpm. I think you're just burning your legs out turning a much higher gear than you need to. Focusing on your cadence will help keep you in a more efficient gear.

DrPete

Did someone call you weak or did you assume? If the earlier, punch him in the face. If the later, it's perfectly normal unless you're some kind of machine.

I just feel weak today maybe. My usual gearing will be somewhere near 3th or 4th smallest with large chainring. Had been using that set up for most of my mileage so I try something different, which is 53-12, and I find myself getting slower and slower.

Guess I should just train more. Thanks for the feed back guys!

Cheers

Definitely agree with the cadence comment...for the past few weeks (after almost a year of not riding) I started focusing on keeping my cadence in the 80's. Its helped me A LOT, I'd like to say I'm a stronger rider now after only a few weeks, than I was back then with several months under my belt (obviously not training properly). Everyone is different of course, but that technique definitely helped me.

Wow. Cyclists seem to have become a lot more vitriolic during the time I spent away from the sport.

Just wow.

But it's nice to know that cycling has become a blood sport. I shall ride a lot more defensively now.

You are out there, you are riding, and therefore are not weak. Anyone who says otherwise is not worth your time, your consideration, or your effort.

T

You shouldn't be in 53/12 until you're riding at about 30 MPH or so. That should take about 600 watts to sustain in the flats.

If you can do that, I'd like to be your agent. I'll sign you now and give you some money to hold you over until your pro deal becomes final.

Pushing a 53/12 on the flats for extended periods of time is a surefire way of getting knee problems too.

That's 119 gear inches!!! No wonder you can't pedal for long! I'd suggest you should be riding something like 80 (53X18) to 84 inches (53x17) on the flat. Better to spin the pedals than to struggle like you appear to be doing.

I usually use 52/15~52/19 on the flats. I think the problem with using a max gear ratio like 53/12 (is that your max) is that you've no more room to accelerate other than to put more force on the pedals to get the cadence up. It's much easier to spool up your cadence when your cadence is already high and you're changing to higher gear ratios as you gain speed. If you stay in that gear, most other cyclists will be passing you very quickly as you fatigued out your legs. It's like you're driving your car in 5th gear when you're driving at slow speeds-->lugging the engine...and similarly it'll be bad for your knees as others have said.

Unless your name is Jan.... you're not weak.

If you want to be strong in that gearing you have to train with that gear specificly and not use it as part of your riding when pacing with others or by yourself. You'll get there in time if you train with those gears on your off days. That's how I got use to it.

I use all the gears on my bike. I try to stay off the smallest crang sprocket(ive got a triple) but other than that theres no shame in not being able to mash the big gears. Im faster spinning 95-110 in the lower gears than mashing in the higher gears.

I'm an even weaker cyclist because I recently swapped my cranket to a compact.

a flywheel is a large heavy wheel shaped object used to store energy... your front gears are chainrings. 53-12 is unrealistic on the flats at a fast cadence for anybody who isn't named tom boonen. even then, you'll see cat1 pros using a gear like 53-16 and spinning at a faster cadence. I spend a lot of time in the 52-15 to 52-17 range.

I am a weak cyclist because I can not push the big ring right now