Gear mystery

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22point8

Senior Member
Location
London, SE28
Trying to improve my Strava time on a hill I was looking at sheldon browns gear calculator to find the next highest gear.

So my bike is as follows:

700x35c wheel
175mm crank
48/36/26
11/13/15/17/19/21/24/28/32

According to the calculator 48/21 has a gain ratio of 4.5 and 36/15 is 4.7.

So, why does 36/15 feel easier than 48/21 when its a higher gear?
 

S-Express

Guest
Trying to improve my Strava time on a hill I was looking at sheldon browns gear calculator to find the next highest gear.

The next highest gear is one click away - just pedal harder.
 

raleighnut

Legendary Member
Trying to improve my Strava time on a hill I was looking at sheldon browns gear calculator to find the next highest gear.

So my bike is as follows:

700x35c wheel
175mm crank
48/36/26
11/13/15/17/19/21/24/28/32

According to the calculator 48/21 has a gain ratio of 4.5 and 36/15 is 4.7.

So, why does 36/15 feel easier than 48/21 when its a higher gear?
Torque exerted by you through the crankarms onto the smaller chainring.
 
Location
Loch side.
Trying to improve my Strava time on a hill I was looking at sheldon browns gear calculator to find the next highest gear.

So my bike is as follows:

700x35c wheel
175mm crank
48/36/26
11/13/15/17/19/21/24/28/32

According to the calculator 48/21 has a gain ratio of 4.5 and 36/15 is 4.7.

So, why does 36/15 feel easier than 48/21 when its a higher gear?


Faulty neurons firing in the wrong region of your brain. These neurons are exactly the same ones that misfire when you buy new wheels and think you are going faster.
 

Dogtrousers

Kilometre nibbler
Itth a mythtery.

If the higher gear feels easier, and you're trying to go faster then use the higher gear and don't ask too many questions - you might break the spell.
 

mjr

Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
So, why does 36/15 feel easier than 48/21 when its a higher gear?
Straighter chainline? Less tension from the rear derailleur?
 
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