Gear advice

negativelycra

Hi forum,

I'm currently riding a mountain bike on commuter tyres. For a few local hills, I have to use the small front ring. Rear is (i think) 11-32, front is 42/32/22. 26x1.5 tyres.

I want to get a roadie, and the bloke in the shop says i'll be fine with a normal double - but those front cogs look mahoooosive, and 700c will also give longer gearing.

So, since i like stretching myself on nasty hills, should i:

Get a triple, accept that people will assume i am gay.
Get a compact.
Rule 5

ShutUpLegs

cOMPACT

desweller

Yowzer. That is some short gearing, especially on 26" wheels.

Triples are only used by discerning cognoscenti; anyone who sneers at you for using one is a chavvy, witless half-wit who probably spends his/her spare time molesting the local goat population.

g00se

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Get a compact.

negativelycra

Thanks chaps..
Now tomorrows ride needs to include _tat_ hill without te little ring. That will seriously hurt, but at least i'll know if i can survive a compact!

t4tomo

Yes a road bike is higher geared, but then it's way way lighter and on narrow slick tyres you have far less restistance so you should fly up the hills

But yes man up and climb in the big ring

negativelycra

Managed it, my favourite nemesis hill in middle ring, didn't even go to biggest at the back. Set a personal best, but still got skinned alive by some evil bastard that can see his own jawbone.
One day, I'll have my revenge!