Bad gear combinations - fao supersonic

KnightofCydonia

A while back a question was asked about gear combinations which weren't good on the chain or something along those lines. I remember the thread but can't find it using the search as I can't think of any terms that are specific enough to bring it up.

Wondering if you could tell me which aren't good on wear, I think there were 1 or 2 per each ring on the front? Cheers sir.

alomac

It's obviously not the thread you were after, but this should still help.

Cheers,
Adam.

supersonic

Basically:

When in the small ring, use the largest 4 or 5 rear cogs.

When in the middle you can use all the rear cogs.

When in the big ring, use the smallest 4 or 5 rear cogs.

KnightofCydonia

Middle is good then, I do the majority of my riding in that, if we're counting (27 speed) I'll use 18, 17, 16, 15 & 14 the most, sometimes down to 13/12/11 for long climbs, rarely go down to 1-9 unless I have no choice and only go upto the top ring (whichever one is 19-27) in which case I tend to use 24-27. Trying to work out if they're the ones I shouldn't be using on that? All the small/big/ cog things confuses me, I try not to look down when im riding & just let it do what it does. I'm already very considerate when shifting but just curious on this technique to allow me to just be in the know some more

Thanks Adam too. It's english but doesn't read as such to someone as thick as me in this case

.blitz

KnightofCydonia wrote:

All the small/big/ cog things confuses me, I try not to look down when im riding & just let it do what it does.

Best way to think about it is that you are trying to move the chain from side-to-side without changing the chain line too much. Outer ring at the front, outer cogs at the back; inner ring at the front, inner cogs at the back.

supersonic

It sort of becomes second nature and you just get a feel for it.

Daz555

Ghost Busters - do not cross the streams.
Bicycle - do not cross the chain (too much).

In general of course it eventually becomes second nature to shift around to keep yourself out of the dodgy gears but knowing that you need to is the first point.

I'd like to have a go on one of the spangly new setups with only 2 rings up front but 10 at the rear meaning you can use all 20 gears without needing to shift about.

SiLanc

The advice so far is generally correct, however, you can get away with using the so called bad combinations for short periods of time. Ned Overend (multiple World and National mountain bike champion) advocates the use of big ring\big rear cog for climbing on short sharp climbs.

Having said that he would be doing that on a bike which would be serviced every few hours so could not get away with it.

I wouldn't do it all the time, but if I'm trying to beat a personal best or are in a race then maybe I'd do it.

Si

supersonic

If you do that, make sure your chain is long enough - or you'll cause a LOT of damage.

It is quicker and easier to drop down to the middle cog than go through all the gears to the big rear cog.

elPedro666

Just to add; there's no 'wrong' gears as such (so long as your chain is long enough!), it's just that using big/big or small/small combinations run the chain at more acute angles in relation to the rings, which causes much faster wear-rates.

There's so much overlap in gear ratios though, that I've switched to 2x9 and find it much simpler/quicker/lighter. Currently 24/38 & 11-32, although a 22t granny & 12-34 block have just arrived for experimentation...

Would love an XX set up though :shock: