What gear do you leave the bike in when you get home?

[the_mikey]

Whichever gear it's in when I dismount.

 

[oldwheels]

As your LBS does. Takes tension off any springs. Easy enough to lift wheel and put into reasonable starting gear before setting off.

 

[ianrauk]

I have no idea and it matters not.

 

[Profpointy]

The idea that springs somehow deteriorate if left under tension is bollocks.

I will stand corrected only if a materials scientist / metallurgist tells.me different.

 

[MontyVeda]

the gear that enables me to get back up the slight incline that i ride down to my house.

 

[Shaun]

I usually drop it down to a lower gear so that it's easier to get started the next time I set off. Just one of those things I do without thinking too much about it.

 

[BrynCP]

Small chain ring, big sprocket on rear. Always, it's just habit.

First derailleur lasted over 10K miles before it had to be replaced due to unrelated failure so I'll carry on.

Pedals are always horizontal too, because I lean one bike against the other on the pedal.

 

[midlife]

The idea that springs somehow deteriorate if left under tension is bollocks.

I will stand corrected only if a materials scientist / metallurgist tells.me different.

I have a recollection from A levels back in the 70's that springs undergo creep / relaxation under load, even below the elastic limit.

Shaun

 

[mikeymustard]

I don't care whether springs deteriorate under tension or not, I live at the bottom of a hill. Once, when I either forgot to change down as i returned or forgot after servicing the bike, I sprained my thigh and couldn't cycle for weeks!

 

[Profpointy]

[QUOTE 4761806, member: 9609"]road springs as coils and leaf on vans and cars both definitely loose height and springiness over time. but the spring that tensions the deraieur is a twisting action thingy, I would guess over time they to would loose their effectiveness?
but as I said earlier my bike is 26ish years old will mostly be left in first and the deraileur tension still seems excellent.[/QUOTE]

Well leaf springs wear and get thinner from the leaves rubbing each other. Bit that's cyclic loading rather than merely being sat there under load.

 

[Dayvo]

The last one I was using.

 

[Tenacious Sloth]

Whenever I park my bike, I always make sure it's in the big ring and middle of the cassette, so the derailleur cage is vertical (draw an imaginary line through the centre of the jockey wheels).

I also ensure both tyre valves are at 6 o'clock and the cranks parallel to the ground, right crank pointing forward.

It's important to get these things right in case any passer-by stops to look at my bike - can't have them thinking I'm an amateur.

You should make sure your chain joining link is hidden behind your crank arm, in case one of the passers-by can't resist taking a photo.

Graham

 

[EltonFrog]

A nice floral shirt, red corduroys and matching beret.

 

[simongt]

The idea that springs somehow deteriorate if left under tension is bollocks.

Yes and no to that one. The spring is only likely to lose tension or become 'set' if it is left idle for a VERY long time, i.e., years. So for any real cyclist, it just ain't going to happen - ! For the record, I always 'zero' the shifter whenever I leave my hub gear bikes for more than an hour or so. But derailleur bikes, I don't see the point as the drive train is always under some tension.

 

[Stevec047]

Always leave it small ring big cog as I have a nasty hill to climb out of as soon as I start my ride and the drive way is full of gravel so don't even get a chance of a run up before hand.