themosquitoking
Guru
- Location
- Spain
If you get to the third largest cog in your big ring time to change to the small one. If you get to the third smallest cog on the small ring time to change to the big one.
Using a double, coming from a triple
- Thread starter Kookas
- Start date
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Stonechat
Guru
- Location
- Staines, Middlesex
depends if you know which gear you are in, I don't always(!). Much simpler to use big ring except in uphill areas
Stonechat
Guru
- Location
- Staines, Middlesex
It's just a matter of using the gears
I originally years ago had a 10 speed road bike - gearing not dissimilar to what is now called a compact
When I came back to cycling, I got a hybrid, a triple amd got used to using middle ring mostly
Now got a road bike and as I said use the large ring except for uphill
I have a 32 on the rear so I have nearly the same range of gears as the triple, but 2 rings and 9 cogs on the back instead of 8.
It's not hard to get used to
I originally years ago had a 10 speed road bike - gearing not dissimilar to what is now called a compact
When I came back to cycling, I got a hybrid, a triple amd got used to using middle ring mostly
Now got a road bike and as I said use the large ring except for uphill
I have a 32 on the rear so I have nearly the same range of gears as the triple, but 2 rings and 9 cogs on the back instead of 8.
It's not hard to get used to
First commute today. I'm already better than I was yesterday, but without a doubt it's far more involved than a triple. I tried a couple of techniques from a standstill:
Big ring, gear 4, gradually just moving up the rear, felt like a grind. A lower gear meant cross chaining.
Small ring, gear 4, gradually moving up to about gear 6 before moving to the big ring and then carrying on at the back.
Generally, I struggled to get moving because I kept selecting too low a sprocket, so had to pull off an absurd cadence for a low speed so I could upshift.
It's just going to be a matter of learning the best sequence of shifts to get moving.
As for once I was moving, I had no issues with the gears then - generally I kept in the big ring unless I was doing below about 15mph. I could definitely keep the speed up with that 20mph tailwind coming home.
Actually, I felt like I must've set PRs both ways, but that could just be me being hopeful.
Big ring, gear 4, gradually just moving up the rear, felt like a grind. A lower gear meant cross chaining.
Small ring, gear 4, gradually moving up to about gear 6 before moving to the big ring and then carrying on at the back.
Generally, I struggled to get moving because I kept selecting too low a sprocket, so had to pull off an absurd cadence for a low speed so I could upshift.
It's just going to be a matter of learning the best sequence of shifts to get moving.
As for once I was moving, I had no issues with the gears then - generally I kept in the big ring unless I was doing below about 15mph. I could definitely keep the speed up with that 20mph tailwind coming home.
Actually, I felt like I must've set PRs both ways, but that could just be me being hopeful.
What gearing does your current bike have up front?
Stonechat
Guru
- Location
- Staines, Middlesex
I have 50/34 on the fron and 11-32 at the back so even a tough hill should be OK
Oh right, that's pretty similar to mine then.
Stonechat
Guru
- Location
- Staines, Middlesex
When I cycled years ago (road bike) had downtube shifters (i.e. non indexed)
The hybrid had levers for shifting
Now on Sora with the normal brake lever in operation and the smaller lever for shifting up
I have trouble remembering how to change rings and often try the wrong one first.
No trouble actually choosing gears, even the change to clipless wasn't too bad - apart from one ride where I got tired and kept nearly forgetting to unclip - so I just adapt
Sure you can adapt and not sure a chainring change is needed either
The hybrid had levers for shifting
Now on Sora with the normal brake lever in operation and the smaller lever for shifting up
I have trouble remembering how to change rings and often try the wrong one first.
No trouble actually choosing gears, even the change to clipless wasn't too bad - apart from one ride where I got tired and kept nearly forgetting to unclip - so I just adapt
Sure you can adapt and not sure a chainring change is needed either
Dusty Bin
Guest
It's a mystery how track riders manage a standing start with only one gear.....
vickster
Squire
very big thighs if sir Chris is anything to go by!
Not having to worry about traffic when setting off from traffic lights helps. For safety's sake, I don't want to take 10 seconds to get to 20mph.
Last edited:
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
I was quite fancying a 55 or a 57t, only for vanity mind!
Dusty Bin
Guest
Which you will do, if you use the bike's gears like a car.
What, you mean starting in a low gear and then shifting up? That's not 'using them like a car', that's just using them effectively.
