53-17

london-red

I'm currently commuting on a standard road bike but stay in 53-17 at all times. Does this make me hardcore or run of the mill?

It's a London commute through Richmond Park, so has a couple of hills - although Galibier they aren't...

dialforclown

You live somewhere flat.

lost_in_thought

That's about what Jash rides, slightly lower than what I ride... do-able in London!

Eau Rouge

London-Red wrote:

I'm currently commuting on a standard road bike but stay in 53-17 at all times. Does this make me hardcore or run of the mill?

It's a London commute through Richmond Park, so has a couple of hills - although Galibier they aren't...

Ahm..aren't you just combining the disadvantages of both (geared and single speed) without the benefit of either?
You still have the weight and lots of bits to mind and maintain from the gears, yet you're not using them to make your cycling more efficient.

greg66_tri_v2.0

I roll in London on 53x16 at all times.

So that makes you just the slightest bit like a little girl

With braids.

And a basket. :P

downfader

...took me a second to realise you were talking about teeth. :oops:

london-red

Nice. What's Jash?

As for efficiencies, pah. The more weight the better. It makes the weekend riding seem like you're floating. And I use my commuter as my winter weekend bike as well...

So, if 53-17 is a tad run of the mill - what's hardcore? And should I wear a hat rather than a helmet?

downfader

London-Red wrote:

Nice. What's Jash?

As for efficiencies, pah. The more weight the better. It makes the weekend riding seem like you're floating. And I use my commuter as my winter weekend bike as well...

So, if 53-17 is a tad run of the mill - what's hardcore? And should I wear a hat rather than a helmet?

Jash is one of our regulars, here on the forum.

I thought 55-12 might be pretty mad, LOL! Never been on an adult SS or fixie myslef

always_tyred

So are you seriously saying you cycle around on a 20 speed road bike without changing gear?

Choice of gear ratio aside, that's just a little strange.

london-red

18-speed, actually. And yes, but only when I commute. At weekends I go wild for gear changing.

Why is that strange? Seems to make complete sense to me - I get the benefits of a SS (which I see as impriving fitness and strength, by the way) without having to buy a new bike.

always_tyred

London-Red wrote:

18-speed, actually. And yes, but only when I commute. At weekends I go wild for gear changing.

Why is that strange? Seems to make complete sense to me - I get the benefits of a SS (which I see as impriving fitness and strength, by the way) without having to buy a new bike.

Why can't you tread hard on the pedals in, say, a 39x15? And then carry on treading really hard in a 53x19, and so on? Does your chain skip on those rings now?

whyamihere

Always Tyred wrote:

London-Red wrote:

18-speed, actually. And yes, but only when I commute. At weekends I go wild for gear changing.

Why is that strange? Seems to make complete sense to me - I get the benefits of a SS (which I see as impriving fitness and strength, by the way) without having to buy a new bike.

Why can't you tread hard on the pedals in, say, a 39x15? And then carry on treading really hard in a 52x19, and so on? Does your chain skip on those rings now?

Well, he has a 53 outside ring, so that one might be a bit difficult unless he's running a really strange triple.

london-red

Okay, well here goes.

The idea is to benefit from the high cadence when on the flat/going downhill and build up strength when climbing.

Beat that.

always_tyred

whyamihere wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

London-Red wrote:

18-speed, actually. And yes, but only when I commute. At weekends I go wild for gear changing.

Why is that strange? Seems to make complete sense to me - I get the benefits of a SS (which I see as impriving fitness and strength, by the way) without having to buy a new bike.

Why can't you tread hard on the pedals in, say, a 39x15? And then carry on treading really hard in a 52x19, and so on? Does your chain skip on those rings now?

Well, he has a 53 outside ring, so that one might be a bit difficult unless he's running a really strange triple.

Got to love the edit function.

always_tyred

London-Red wrote:

Okay, well here goes.

The idea is to benefit from the high cadence when on the flat/going downhill and build up strength when climbing.

Beat that.

I am familiar with the concept. Much over stated (if not entirely) but if it works for you, go nuts.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Always Tyred wrote:

So are you seriously saying you cycle around on a 20 speed road bike without changing gear?

Choice of gear ratio aside, that's just a little strange.

But central London is pretty much pancake flat. Yes, you could use your gears for pulling away from lights, but frankly, why bother? The lights are often sufficiently frequent that you'd be all over the cassette like, um, an inappropriate analogy.

What fcuks me off about this is having to get a new cassette when 9/10s of the old one is just fine.

el_presidente

Perhaps the 16 speed singlespeed is what you seek

this cyclocross rig has 2*39 up front and 8*16 at the rear

http://www.flickr.com/photos/natearm/3023113649/

AllTheGear

You can also get a single sprocket and a bunch of spacers to fill up the freewheel hub. You can get the chainline straight regardless of which sprocket you want so chain etc. will last a bit longer too.



http://www.velosolo.co.uk/shopsingle.html

roger_merriman

Greg66 wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

So are you seriously saying you cycle around on a 20 speed road bike without changing gear?

Choice of gear ratio aside, that's just a little strange.

But central London is pretty much pancake flat. Yes, you could use your gears for pulling away from lights, but frankly, why bother? The lights are often sufficiently frequent that you'd be all over the cassette like, um, an inappropriate analogy.

What fcuks me off about this is having to get a new cassette when 9/10s of the old one is just fine.

indeed i find i end up changing very rarely gears once into central or even north london. I can see the attraction for single speed for commute.

lost_in_thought

Greg66 wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

So are you seriously saying you cycle around on a 20 speed road bike without changing gear?

Choice of gear ratio aside, that's just a little strange.

But central London is pretty much pancake flat. Yes, you could use your gears for pulling away from lights, but frankly, why bother? The lights are often sufficiently frequent that you'd be all over the cassette like, um, an inappropriate analogy.

What fcuks me off about this is having to get a new cassette when 9/10s of the old one is just fine.

Why did you need a new cassette?

Yeah, I ride 46/14 (usually) and I'm a girl. And I have panniers.

So that makes you even more of a girl.

london-red

Hmmm.

In my defence, I carry a full change of clothes, a laptop, homemade butties and a can of diet coke (most days).

I figure that adds an extra few lbs, meaning my effective ratio is more likely 53/16.

The defence stands.

greg66_tri_v2.0

lost_in_thought wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

So are you seriously saying you cycle around on a 20 speed road bike without changing gear?

Choice of gear ratio aside, that's just a little strange.

But central London is pretty much pancake flat. Yes, you could use your gears for pulling away from lights, but frankly, why bother? The lights are often sufficiently frequent that you'd be all over the cassette like, um, an inappropriate analogy.

What fcuks me off about this is having to get a new cassette when 9/10s of the old one is just fine.

Why did you need a new cassette?

Yeah, I ride 46/14 (usually) and I'm a girl. And I have panniers.

So that makes you even more of a girl.

46x14 is easier than 53x16. :P

Panniers = choice of dumbass. :P :P

You're no girl. I've seen you. More than once. :P :P :P

[I only need a new cassette when the 16 wears out and starts skipping. It's then that 9/10s of the cassette is pretty much pristine].