Caught between gears

Rykard

Hi,

what's the best way to sort the following... I am getting caught between gears on the flat. I can't really pedal any quicker in '4th' but '5th' seems to laboured....

Ale

Learn to pedal faster, should just take practice, or buy a bike with more gears.

RedGT

Skinnier tyres should help.

manick0de

Get a new cassette.

baudman

What are you pedalling on? Clipless? Toe cages? Just straight pedals?

If you are using something which keeps your feet attached to your pedals, it is much easier to spin at a higher cadence.

Rykard

clipless, road block on a rigid mtb, 22/32/42 up front 11-21(23?) on the back...

I am trying to pedal faster, but I tend to bounce...

lost-time

Try a few more psi in the tyres...

I was in the same boat a few months back. I would stand up on the pedals for a few meters to increase my speed and hope I could keep that increase up as I sat back on the saddle. I tend to 'push' big gears anyway and only ride in the outer front ring on my std MTB for commuting. I soon built up more strength and now keep in that 'harder' gear more often than not. Most of my commute is off road on gravel woodland track so I dont go for slicks but instead have some skinny XC tyres pumped up to the max. With the forks on lock-out its like riding rigid.

The other thing I do is tend to have 'hack' days where I'll go flat out for most of the ride (usually on the way home) and then 'normal' days where a less beserk pace is set but still quick. This built up my strength and stamina quickly indeed.

Rykard

tyres are at the max specified on the side wall (65psi)

I can't hack too much as the panniers get a mind of their own....but I will give it a go. I have an old 14sp racer in the garage that I think may have to be brought in to play at some point, gearings a bit iffy though 39/53 x 11/21...should be fun up the hills on the way home...

baudman

If you have some decent weight in the panniers (and the plural there exacerbates it) then that will surely have an effect.

My next suggestion... do you truly spin when you are pedalling? Most people don't. If you can get that rotational movement all the way around your pedal stroke (errr... pedal cycle?) I find it makes a huge difference and gives you a broader range of cadence where you are comfortable pedaling.

dondare

1)Work out all your gear ratios, find where the gap is, and buy a cassette that fills it.

2)Spin faster in 4th.

3)Push harder in 5th.

toontra

Rykard wrote:

I am trying to pedal faster, but I tend to bounce...

Bouncing when pedalling fast may indicate the saddle is at the wrong height (which would also account for other problems like not feeling comfortable in any particular gear).

If your ride position is correct and the bike is set up properly then you should be able to spin very quickly whilst keeping your body (from the waist up!) almost completely still.

Not saying that this is the problem with you, but definatelly something worth checking.