Gearing!

Headhuunter
Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
edited June 2009 in Commuting chat
Does anyone else find it funny that so many of our fellow commuters seem to have no understanding of how to use the gearing on their bikes?

If it's not some woman done up in hi viz spinning away in an incredibly low granny gear going nowhere fast, it's a similar hi viz clad bloke at the lights in the sort of gear usually reserved for descent in the Alps who, as soon as the lights change, has to literally stand on the pedals to start to get the bike moving.

Anyone offering basic safety cycling lessons should offer some lessons on understanding of gearing too! Surely some of these people know how to use gears having driven a car?
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Comments

  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    *keeps head below the parapet*
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    I'm not sure it's funny per se, just a bit sad that no one has ever told em what to do (ie shop they bought from) or that they've never bothered to look into it themselves. Don't forget that for huge numbers of cyclo-commuters, the bike is just a mode of transport, they 'aint bothered about gearing etc etc and may never be.

    My missus pointed said that without my help she'd have been totally lost on almost every aspect of her bike, most people aren't lucky enough to have a partner/friend etc on hand to dispense advice - I wish I'd had that when I started. Luckily I discovered Sheldon Brown and the old C+ forum...
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    Are you sure you want a hybrid? Perhaps a road bike might suit you better.
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
    Blog (incl. bikes)
  • R_T_A
    R_T_A Posts: 488
    biondino wrote:
    Are you sure you want a hybrid? Perhaps a road bike might suit you better.

    :lol::lol::lol:

    Feels a bit like that everywhere at the moment, doesn't it?
    Giant Escape R1
    FCN 8
    "Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
    - Terry Pratchett.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    biondino wrote:
    Are you sure you want a hybrid? Perhaps a road bike might suit you better.

    No, because drops are for gays and mean you have to have brakes that don't actually stop the bike and mean you can't actually see around you because you can only look at your own axle.

    What's more, because I weigh 13 stone, I'll crush it under my weight. Also, if I hit a pothole it'll disintegrate into a million tiny pieces.

    Also, everyone knows that wide tyres roll better than thin ones.

    Do you people know nothing?
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    Perhaps I should start dispensing gearing advice at red lights to those around me. I seriously think some commuters leave their bikes in the same gear for every journey they make. My advice would be, get a fixed gear and do away with the unnecessary weight of mechs, cassettes and chainrings!
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    *ducks head even further*
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    On a hybrid you don't need gears. You need a road bike.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • R_T_A
    R_T_A Posts: 488
    Oh, and I have a budget of £12.
    Giant Escape R1
    FCN 8
    "Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
    - Terry Pratchett.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    to be honest i can see the attaction of FG/SS around london, as i do sometimes end up if i've been hooning along having to pull off in far too high gearing.
  • Stuey01
    Stuey01 Posts: 1,273
    When I go mountain biking with my gf I have to shout directions for the gears, and I'm not talking about change down now, change up now I am shouting:

    "right hand finger", "right hand thumb", "left hand finger", "left hand thumb"

    No joke.

    Love her to bits. She is really trying and growing in confidence so much.
    Not climber, not sprinter, not rouleur
  • oscarbudgie
    oscarbudgie Posts: 850
    Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer?
    Cannondale Supersix / CAAD9 / Boardman 9.0 / Benotto 3000
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    Calm down Desgrange but yes, yes it is ;) Not changed gear this year*



    * on my commute bike
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • oscarbudgie
    oscarbudgie Posts: 850
    Remember that every year 1000's of people (women) take their driving tests in automatic cars and CARS HAVE LESS GEARS!!!
    Cannondale Supersix / CAAD9 / Boardman 9.0 / Benotto 3000
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    Fewer gears.
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
    Blog (incl. bikes)
  • oscarbudgie
    oscarbudgie Posts: 850
    I know
    Cannondale Supersix / CAAD9 / Boardman 9.0 / Benotto 3000
  • soy_sauce
    soy_sauce Posts: 987
    what are gears?? do i have that on my bike? :roll:
    "It is not impossible, its just improbable"

    Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 08
  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    What's wrong with the gear I have on?




    Did you see what I did there?
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
    2011 Trek Madone 4.5
    2012 Felt F65X
    Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    I have all the gears.
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    Ah, so that's where mine went.
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    biondino wrote:
    Are you sure you want a hybrid? Perhaps a road bike might suit you better.

    No, because drops are for gays and mean you have to have brakes that don't actually stop the bike and mean you can't actually see around you because you can only look at your own axle.

    What's more, because I weigh 13 stone, I'll crush it under my weight. Also, if I hit a pothole it'll disintegrate into a million tiny pieces.

    Also, everyone knows that wide tyres roll better than thin ones.

    Do you people know nothing?

    +1

    Interesting today - we had a Bike Week free breakfast and bike check - I was amazed at the number of people who

    Didn't use their gears at all

    Couldn't use their gears because they didn't work

    Had either no brakes or one working brake (not counting fixies) :shock:
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    AllTheGear wrote:
    I have all the gears.

    Yeah but you don't need gears in the depths of the Fens :)
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    Jay dubbleU wrote:
    AllTheGear wrote:
    I have all the gears.

    Yeah but you don't need gears in the depths of the Fens :)

    Actually you'd be surprised. I have a 50/34 compact with 11-23, and I use the full range on some of my runs. Don't need a triple though ;-)
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    gears! what's that then? :twisted:
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    All your gears are belong to us
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    Confession - I have a triple but have never used my tiny ring*


    *Oh sh*t I'm going to regret that statement
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    All your gears are belong to us

    Nice try :D , but I think you read that somewhere.
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    Jay dubbleU wrote:
    Confession - I have a triple but have never used my tiny ring*


    *Oh sh*t I'm going to regret that statement

    Yeah some days I'm stuck in the big ring all the time.

    There are the odd times where I have to push very hard in the little ring though.
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    oscarbudgie wrote:
    Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer?

    Not if you're trying to accelerate through a gap in traffic and get ahead of white van man!
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    oscarbudgie wrote:
    Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer?

    Hear hear! Derailleurs were only allowed to be used in the Tour de France from 1937. Before then, the riders were on fixed gears*. An incredible achievement.




    * and other, erm....gear

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