steveindenmark
Legendary Member
I may get shot down for this.
What I believe they are talking about is the teeth on the crank rings. The number of teeth on the crank rings and also the rear cassette make a huge difference to the bike.
What's the point of having lots of gears? (21, 24, 27, etc)
- Thread starter Thursday guy
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
I may get shot down for this.
What I believe they are talking about is the teeth on the crank rings. The number of teeth on the crank rings and also the rear cassette make a huge difference to the bike.
Nigelnaturist
Guru
- Location
- Pontefract
ok I was 22/7 wrong distance wise,
Some riders are easily seduced by the 'more gears, the more impressive the bike'. I don't buy into this idea although it appears to be the way some manufacturers are going. If you are using the bike in question for local riding, then you need a range, range not number, of gears to suit. If you're likely to travel and use said bike in different areas, e.g., Bath or the Peak District are very different to York or Cambridgeshire, then you'll need a wider range of gears. A lot also depends on the bike and its setup; light frame & fast tyres will obviously need fewer gears than mountain bike with 1.5" nobbies. And just to muddy the waters even further, there are some who prefer to push big ratios and others who prefer spinning smaller ratios. It's a very personal thing.
Andy_R
Hard of hearing..I said Herd of Herring..oh FFS..
- Location
- County Durham
Wind...ohhhhh...colour me hateful.....I barstwead hate the furcoupling wind...here in County Durham I've been known on several occasions to have to use my gears to pedal DOWNHILL, cos of the buttocktruffilng cherfing wind. Think yourself lucky if you've only had to use gears to go uphill.....
Hill. Come on you are going to have to remind me what they look like, all flat around here, well part from the Wolds that is, most people forget about them though.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
You probably don't want massively different gear ranges depending on terrain... what flat lands lack in hills they gain in headwinds...
Last edited:
Is that talking from 26 years experience of cycling and racing in Lincolnshire. I like the fact I have a good range of gears on all my bikes. The more gears the more efficient the engine can be, in variable conditions
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
You've misunderstood. I've edited my post to clarify. Sorry.. 15 years in Norfolk, comparing with 6 in Somerset at the foot of a 25% ifit matters.
The reason as I have said before a big selection I'd useful, is if like me you ate best at say 88rpm, but you speed varies from 8mph up to say 35mph without a good selection there will be times when you are over or under geared
Your post is clearer now, close ratio but large range, is I feel best with.
Your post is clearer now, close ratio but large range, is I feel best with.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Ha - I have done nearly 60 mph downhill round here, and been reduced to sub-2 mph on a few very steep climbs! I have triples on all my bikes and use all the 27 or 30 gears, and could do with a few more ...
Ha - I have done nearly 60 mph downhill round here, and been reduced to sub-2 mph on a few very steep climbs! I have triples on all my bikes and use all the 27 or 30 gears, and could do with a few more ...
But if you read some of the posts you only need a 3 speed, you and I must have it wrong.
I suppose at then end of the day we or at least a lot of us use our bikes in different ways. If I jot poodles to the shop I would use maybe a 3 speed, but seeing as my cycling is, how do I put it, sporting style then I will use what I consider the best tool for that job.
I shouldn't worry about it! I don't have a clue about 'cadence', 'gear ratios' or any of that stuff! I get on my bike and if it's too hard, I change down a gear, too easy, I change up a gear. I don't eat the right stuff, drink the right stuff, wear the right stuff...and I certainly don't do 'Strava' or any of that bullshit...but I do ride one hell of a lot of miles and I really enjoy it!!
I shouldn't worry about it! I don't have a clue about 'cadence', 'gear ratios' or any of that stuff! I get on my bike and if it's too hard, I change down a gear, too easy, I change up a gear. I don't eat the right stuff, drink the right stuff, wear the right stuff...and I certainly don't do 'Strava' or any of that bullshit...but I do ride one hell of a lot of miles and I really enjoy it!!
I like a post like that, the only little thing that troubles me is, how do you know you would not enjoy it more with the added bits?
