Thinking about changing to a smaller cog
11-12-09, 03:50 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 59
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thinking about changing to a smaller cog
Hello everyone. Right now i am running a 46x16t, 76.9 gear inches, 2.9 gear ratio. If i ran a higher gear ratio i would use my front brake so skid patches aren't important. The type of riding i'm doing is mostly commuting from home to school and back. The route is about 1.5 miles and maybe one small but decent hill. Occasionally i do a 15mi roundtrip (to hawaii kai and back). For those of you in Hawaii, i live in palolo and commute to UH manoa. I would like a bigger gear ratio b/c i find myself spinning quite fast and since i've gotten my bike, i feel that i have gotten stronger.
Therefore, I'm thinking of running a 15t cog which would yield 82.1 gear inches or 3.1 gear ratio.
Would you guys recommend 15 or possibly smaller?
Therefore, I'm thinking of running a 15t cog which would yield 82.1 gear inches or 3.1 gear ratio.
Would you guys recommend 15 or possibly smaller?
11-12-09, 04:01 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 163
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
1.5 miles is so short it doesn't even really matter. i guess for the 15 mile roundtrip you might want to stick with your current ratio. or change it. whatever. personally i'd stay stick with what you have and spin faster. i meani mean, 1.5 miles is so short it's just kind of a moot point anyways. besides, if your cadence is about 120 at a 76 GI ratio you're going about 27mph which is a fine pace.
anything > 85 or so gear inches sucks balls though. (in my opinion). so don't go lower than 15t.
anything > 85 or so gear inches sucks balls though. (in my opinion). so don't go lower than 15t.
11-12-09, 06:59 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,676
Bikes: Too many bikes, too little time to ride
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 425 Post(s)
Liked 454 Times
in
313 Posts
ride what works for you. personally i think 75GI is more street-friendly than 80+GI but if you're a really strong rider you can make it work. or it could be you think you are stronger than you really are, and as soon as you go on a fast group ride you realize the benefits of being able to spin a lower gear.
11-12-09, 03:47 PM
#7
a.k.a. QUADZILLA
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,505
Bikes: Super Pista, Basso, Big Dummy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm faster on my 17 tooth cog than I ever was on my 16 or 15. Spin = win. Gear inches ≠ dick inches.
11-12-09, 07:09 PM
#9
a.k.a. QUADZILLA
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,505
Bikes: Super Pista, Basso, Big Dummy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Adriano, I don't believe anything you say if it isn't backed up in pictures.
11-12-09, 08:47 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: RI
Posts: 415
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Personally I ride 79.1 GI, and I'd go up a tiny bit if it weren't for a few steep &/or long climbs that I have to deal with.
If you find your hill easy, and feel like you're spinning as fast as you can in the flats/downhill, then feel free to try going down a T in the rear. At $22 for a DA cog, it's not a huge investment.
If you find your hill easy, and feel like you're spinning as fast as you can in the flats/downhill, then feel free to try going down a T in the rear. At $22 for a DA cog, it's not a huge investment.
11-12-09, 09:21 PM
#11
Fresh Garbage
How fast are you spinning? You'll get more speed from spinning quickly than mashing slowly.
11-13-09, 01:16 AM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 59
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-13-09, 01:17 AM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 59
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Personally I ride 79.1 GI, and I'd go up a tiny bit if it weren't for a few steep &/or long climbs that I have to deal with.
If you find your hill easy, and feel like you're spinning as fast as you can in the flats/downhill, then feel free to try going down a T in the rear. At $22 for a DA cog, it's not a huge investment.
If you find your hill easy, and feel like you're spinning as fast as you can in the flats/downhill, then feel free to try going down a T in the rear. At $22 for a DA cog, it's not a huge investment.
11-13-09, 01:18 AM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 59
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-13-09, 01:29 AM
#15
The bus, Gus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 976
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-13-09, 02:02 AM
#17
The bus, Gus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 976
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Well you could try recording video of you riding and literally count the number of times the pedals go around per second.
Or if there are any of those "what's my speed" boxes on the roads, you can ride past one of those and get some idea of how fast you're going.
Bottom line is, without a computer it's rather difficult.
Or if there are any of those "what's my speed" boxes on the roads, you can ride past one of those and get some idea of how fast you're going.
Bottom line is, without a computer it's rather difficult.
11-13-09, 02:59 AM
#19
a.k.a. QUADZILLA
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,505
Bikes: Super Pista, Basso, Big Dummy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That camera thing is pretty ridiculous. You're better off trying yourself by keeping up with traffic. Find a street with a 20mph speed limit or something, try to keep up with them, and then make a guestimation from there. Or better yet pick up a cheap computer. You can get one for cheap, and they're nice to have. Check Nashbar or Amazon for really cheap stuff, or maybe you can find a deal at your LBS. You shouldn't have to spend more than $15-20 bucks for a decent wired computer.
11-13-09, 03:08 AM
#20
The bus, Gus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 976
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah I picked up some Cateye computer from our local sports supply store for like $15. Doesn't do much but it at least tells me my speed and distance. I don't currently have it installed on my bike and I'm hesitant to do so because sometimes having a computer is pretty damn discouraging, since all it does is tell me how slow I'm going.
11-13-09, 09:16 AM
#21
11-13-09, 10:02 AM
#22
who's yer daddy?
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 261
Bikes: '13 Parlee Z5 SLi, '12 Cervelo S5, '11 Cervelo Norwegian S3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i'm running 48x15 (~87GI) and can't even imagine running anything lower!? if yer riding around town, i can maybe see that, but any kind of distance and you'll spin yourself out of steam.
11-14-09, 11:07 AM
#23
Fresh Garbage
11-14-09, 11:14 AM
#24
*
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 6,876
Bikes: https://velospace.org/node/18951
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
lance something or other started that spin to win idea, and you know what happened? he lost this year!
__________________
α
α
11-19-09, 01:51 AM
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 59
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts