question regarding gearing

[digit]

Hi all,

I currently ride a hybrid (since March) normally 10-25 miles a trip with a couple of 30 milers done with now an average speed of 12Mph. I don't aim on being a speedster but would like to get up to 14Mph and also increase distance to 50-60 miles.
current gearing is 18 speed 28-36-48 front and 14-28 rear. All of my riding has been on 36-48 on front up to 12% climbs (only short ones).

Question is how does my current gear usage compare to say 34-50 front and 12-32 rear? would I find climbing easier with the 34/32 combination?

Hope you didn't get bored with my ramblings!!

Cheers
Digit

 

[Sharky]

Try studying gear tables http://www.bikecalc.com/gear_inches
The 28/28 will be a lower ratio than the 34/32, so your current set up is the easiest gear, but not much in it. But they are very low gears and if you have to drop down to these, you won't be going more than about 1-2 mph.

Cheers Keith

 

[Pale Rider]

You are not currently using the smallest cog on the front, so you have all the gear range you need for your current technique.

To climb a bit faster, you could try the smallest ring at the front and see if you can spin up hills at a higher cadence.

A lightweight road bike would probably get you an extra couple of mph overall.

Again no need to worry about gearing.

A compact double on such a bike would have all the range you need.

Extra speed from a road bike is a change you could only make once.

After that, it's down to you to get fitter.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Quickest, easiest, cheapest option:

You could fit a racier cassette 12-25, or down to 11 as fastest gear maybe, along with making use of the smallest chainring on the front for the climbs you may struggle a bit more on.

 

[Citius]

If going faster was simply a matter of bolting on some new gears, then everyone would do it. Sustainable higher speed on a bicycle only comes from improved fitness. My suggestion is to keep the gears you have and ride more.

 

[cyberknight]

If going faster was simply a matter of bolting on some new gears, then everyone would do it. Sustainable higher speed on a bicycle only comes from improved fitness. My suggestion is to keep the gears you have and ride more.

I was going to say similar , what cadence is the OP using on the gears ?, i have a subway MTB with a similar gear range and its only maybe 3-4 mins slower over 10 miles than my road bike , so for that ride maybe 17 mph average .

 

[digit]

Thanks for the replies but my ramblings did sway you off course sorry.
I meant to say is if I use my current setup ie 48/28 front with 14-28 rear only ... not using the 28 up front,
would I find a 34 front and 32 rear easier to peddle? if I looked to change to a road bike.
My main concern is hill climbing and not necessary speed.

Cheers
Digit

 

[13 rider]

I have just changed from a hybrid triple 12_32 cassette to a road bike with a compact 50_34 11_28 cassette and find getting up hills no problem with this set up .but after riding the hybrid for 5 months I found I had stopped using the smallest ring at the front and rarely used the 32 cog on the back .My average mph on the hybrid got up to 14 mph but then plateaued .road bike straight to 16 mph . I was also concerned about climbing but have done every hill Ive come across no problems on the roadie

 

[DEFENDER01]

I think i have achieved something by just getting there whatever speed i am doing.
Which is currently 7 / 8 mph

 

[digit]

Thanks for the replies guys, rider that's what I wanted to hear.

Cheers
Digit