Commute, What gears are you in?

canada16

Hey

I have had a revelation after 4 years.... Its not good to be in the low gear on the low ring, as my new mech rubs and my old one didnt.

Well have been told. yes this is normal :oops:

Anyway, if you are on the road, on a straight line what gear ratio are you on.

I am on the top ring and middle casstte ring?

Does that sound about right

Thanks

Mr Wu

Big ring up front second or third from bottom at back, about 25th 26th gear.

It always makes me laugth when you see cyclists spinning out on flat roads, my legs rotate really slow but my bike moves really quick if that makes sense.

canada16

I have learnt the way of the XT now..

I feel dumb now after 4 years as like I said my old one never rubbed.

Went from an LX to XT

Steve_F

Mr Wu wrote:

Big ring up front second or third from bottom at back, about 25th 26th gear.

It always makes me laugth when you see cyclists spinning out on flat roads, my legs rotate really slow but my bike moves really quick if that makes sense.

That approach does put more strain on your legs though. The current thinking is that a higher cadence is better for cycling. Think around the 100rpm is advised for road bikes but not sure how that would work on the mtb.

Still, that should be in a gear that doesn't over stretch the frame. Avoid big up front to big out back and small up front to small out back if that makes sense.

Daz555

I like to much the miles on the middle ring on my commuter as it is steel rather than some feeble alloy.

supersonic

As Steve says, cadence is key. I choose a gear that I can spin at 90-100rpm when seated. There is no ideal gears the speed of the bike varies with terrain.

A bike has a theoretical 27 or 24 gears (for the majority). Many are replicated though - simple maths. Using the 22 chainring and 11 rear cog (22/11) is the same as using 32/16. But using the 22/11 puts the chain at an extreme angle so there is no point in using it.

canada16

So I am looking at middle ring and then middle cassette?

or more towards the bottom of the cassette

supersonic

Whatver gives you comfortable pedalling. But if you have a choice of gears to do that, use the one that has the straightest chainline (as in my example).

With the middle ring you can use all the rear cogs.

With the small ring stick to the 4 largest.

With the large ring stick to the 4 smallest.

This way you won't have any gear overlap and decent chainlines. Change gear to suit conditions. I change many many times during a ride.

Kiblams

When commuting I only have minor gradiants, or short hills. So I use the middle chainring as this is the only one I have (32T) and usually stay on the smaller end of the cassette (11T-14T)

Si78

Hi,

I mostly use middle ring up front, 6-9 on the rear. It keeps the chain quite straight, drive train runs smoothly, and I can deal with all the hills on the way to work....and the bloody gale force wind in my face, like it has been for the last week :x lol

so im mostly using 15, 16, 17, 18.... except when I go up to the big ring (ooh errr missus...) to blast down hill.

Seems to work well enough. Better to keep my legs spinning than to strain them in too higher gear.... wouldnt want to spend 8 hours on my feet at work after that lol

Maybe things will change as my fitness improves?

Si

Anonymous

supersonic wrote:

Whatver gives you comfortable pedalling. But if you have a choice of gears to do that, use the one that has the straightest chainline (as in my example).

With the middle ring you can use all the rear cogs.

With the small ring stick to the 4 largest.

With the large ring stick to the 4 smallest.

This way you won't have any gear overlap and decent chainlines. Change gear to suit conditions. I change many many times during a ride.

I find gears and conversations about gears the most confusing thing ever. :oops:

You just simplified everything in one go. Awesome. I can now concentrate on my rides instead of worrying about my gears.

Thank you Supersonic

dunker

i prefer a high cadence, anything over about 17mph i go into the big ring and the first three gears on the cassette i try to remember to use them only with the granny ring. chains, cassettes and rings have been lasting longer since doing this

on free wheel downhill bumby bits i stay in the big ring and about third gear on the cassette to keep the chain well tensioned as it stops the rear mech clattering about.

deadliest

Its a slight gradient to work so I use Mid ring Mid Cassette on the way there and Big Ring Small cog on the way back but it really does depend on how Im feeling . . . Some mornings I smash it all the way to work on the Big Ring and some nights pootle home in the Middle ring . . . Its only 3 miles each way though so not much time for changing really.

canada16

Thanks supersonic, that last one was more for me.

Thanks mate, understand now, stay in the middle on a straight.

Thanks guys for your help.

papasmurf.

44/11 on the way to work (its down hill) 34/11 back (its up hill)

hucking_fell

16T sprocket, 36T chainring.

Everywhere.

Gears? I Don't need no stinking gears!

Captain Turok

I use my fixed road bike ( :roll: ) for the occasional sunny commute 8)
(44t chainring and 16t sprocket)

I think if I had to do it everyday I'd have gears!

hucking_fell

Captain Turok wrote:

I think if I had to do it everyday I'd have gears!

Yeah, I was only on about commuting as that was the title of this thread. No way I'd not have a bike with gears for other stuff.

Northwind

I'm always in the highest gear I can mash on the way to work, my commute's only 3 miles so it's a sprint really, plus I'm always late