Why kms?

[Ming the Merciless]

Your observation also agrees with my experience. However, the inch system is effectively a comparative index and not a true indication of the gear. The inch index is reasonably simple — high=>100, low=<40 — but a so-called 100" gear actually propels the bike forward by about 315", not 100". The equivalent metric usage — high=>8m, low=<4m — has the advantage of giving the real advance of the machine for each complete chainwheel rotation and is, I think, equally intuitive. Each to his or her own; but when the question is 'How many pedal strokes to a particular distance?' metric wins every time.

Why do metric bikes have a smaller gear range?

 

[DaveReading]

And yet aircraft fly at altitudes measured in feet.

Though not in Russia or China.

 

[Sniper68]

Brass, not steel!

I know which is why I didn't understand why you quoted me originally?

 

[figbat]

Though not in Russia or China.

It seems even there it isn't that straightforward. Feet at higher altitudes, metres lower down.

 

[Once a Wheeler]

Why do metric bikes have a smaller gear range?

There is no difference in the gear range, just in the way it is expressed. Similar to the UK practice of expressing vehicle fuel consumption in miles per gallon compared to the continental practice of expressing it in litres per 100 kilometres, the actual consumption is not affected.

 

[Ripple]

Because I'm foreigner and while I adjusted to am/pm timing very quickly, my brain refuses to use miles instead of kilometres.

 

[Ian H]

For precise measurement I'll stick to one system, but it could be either metric or imperial. For general use I'm happy to mix it up: "3m of 4x2"; "60 miles with 1000m climbing". I also organise an imperial century audax event.

 

[classic33]

Because I'm foreigner and while I adjusted to am/pm timing very quickly, my brain refuses to use miles instead of kilometres.

Use the 24 hour clock, for example it is 17:56 at the time of posting this.

Use the metric clock posted earlier!

 

[classic33]

Why do metric bikes have a smaller gear range?

Maybe because that's how they build them.

 

[Ian H]

Gearing is an interesting one I am not anti metric but I always refer to Gearing in inch numbers.

I don't think there's an exact metric equivalent for the 24" gear.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

We kept "imperial" measurement as England refused to meet with continental scientists to agree a universal measurement system. So Brexit has been in the making since 1816!!!

We've always been obstinately different and stuck two fingers up at other nations way of doing things. You'd think the rest of the world, especially the EU, would have come to realise by now a lot of us in the UK have no intention of trying to fit in with what others think of as logical or sensible. Being the awkward squad is nothing new for us.

 

[keithmac]

Already been done, metric time.
View attachment 567061
As for the clocks!
View attachment 567062

They were doing so well until they got to the clock face, if it's 10 hour days you'd never get to 11 o'clock, nevermind 20..

 

[Ian H]

We...us...

Nothing to do with me.

 

[classic33]

They were doing so well until they got to the clock face, if it's 10 hour days you'd never get to 11 o'clock, nevermind 20..

You'll have noticed the 2 just above the centre of the dial. Indicates Version 2, with 20 hours in the day.

The chart is Decimal Time.

 

[tyred]

If we all switched to using binary the telephone dial pad would become much simpler (and phone numbers much longer!).