Proves the point about everyone having their own natural cadence.
Why oh why did I bother with 11 speed?
- Thread starter Racing roadkill
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
If you believe this thread, they used to race on single speed, when 3 speed was available. Who needs more than 1 gear anyway?
winjim
Smash the cistern
<Yorkshire> 3 speed? You were lucky. </Yorkshire>
Last edited:
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
ITYM “difference”
I wouldn’t normally pick up on this, it’s a common enough usage, but in a thread about gearing it seems important to make the distinction.
Exactly!
Apollonius
Veteran
- Location
- South Staffordshire
One or two random points:
Yes, people still use Campagnolo. I have nothing else, since my cycling experience goes back to the days when there was a choice between "stuff that broke" and Campagnolo. It particularly suits people with small hands. I know one or two women riders who struggle to shift on to the big ring of Shimano systems because of the awkwardness of the swinging brake lever.
I have not found 11 speed chains to be fragile or quick-wearing. I have passed 6000km on a Campagnolo 11 speed chain and it still shows no wear on the gauge. Admittedly, this is on a fair-weather "best bike".
I have 9, 10 and 11 speed bikes. The 11 speed is without doubt the slickest, lightest and the most pleasurable to use. Justification enough, since I ride for pleasure.
Yes, people still use Campagnolo. I have nothing else, since my cycling experience goes back to the days when there was a choice between "stuff that broke" and Campagnolo. It particularly suits people with small hands. I know one or two women riders who struggle to shift on to the big ring of Shimano systems because of the awkwardness of the swinging brake lever.
I have not found 11 speed chains to be fragile or quick-wearing. I have passed 6000km on a Campagnolo 11 speed chain and it still shows no wear on the gauge. Admittedly, this is on a fair-weather "best bike".
I have 9, 10 and 11 speed bikes. The 11 speed is without doubt the slickest, lightest and the most pleasurable to use. Justification enough, since I ride for pleasure.
Smokin Joe
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
And the very best that was available too. Were the likes of Burton, Engers, Simpson and the other greats riding today they'd all be on carbon framed bikes with electronic shifting and all the other high tech kit.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Actually, it just shows that she was very determined and powerful; for all we know, she might have been even quicker with a different setup. Just look at her position on the bike, for instance. That was how top riders rode then but no top riders do it like that now.
Smokin Joe
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Yes, but based on the knowledge we had at the time that was seen as the most efficient riding style for speed. Had someone demonstrated a better method to those riders they'd have been on it like a shot.
Pale Rider
Legendary Member
I read somewhere it was Lance Armstrong who popularised high cadence riding, inasmuch as other riders saw him winning doing it - and other things, but that's not important right now.
The pic of Beryl Burton shows her riding what appears to be a very highly geared bike, particularly for a lady.
Spinning that top gear would be some effort for a fit male rider.
The pic of Beryl Burton shows her riding what appears to be a very highly geared bike, particularly for a lady.
Spinning that top gear would be some effort for a fit male rider.
That’s fair enough, unless someone can chime in with information we don’t know.
Personally, I find it hard to believe that she didn’t try any other gearing and just rode solely with what is shown.
He might have re-popularised it, but I remember high cadence being touted as the thing to do back when Lance was still only on aspirin. For example, my 1979 edition of Richard's says "Generally, novices run from 60 to 85 strokes per minute, experienced tourists approach 100, and racers run 120-30 and up. Most people gear too high and pedal too slowly."
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
It would be interesting to know such things but unless somebody has meticulously documented the details of such experiments we are unlikely to ever find out.
If I had been a serious rider, I would have experimented with everything.
Smokin Joe
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
I think that like most of us she grew up copying what the top riders of the day did. You tend to think that if they are all doing it then it must be the right way.
Interestingly enough, it was purely a time trial thing. Even TT riders reverted to standard gearing when they competed in road races (Although there was not much crossover in men's cycling back then) as they were held on hillier courses.
