Originally Posted by
davidad
a 52-14 is a 99 inch gear. At 85 rpm you are going 25 mph and at 105 you are doing 31 mph. How fast do you want to go?
I'm over 60 and weigh 245, and (using the principle of Aerodynamic Geriatric Spandexed Bulkitude) I spin out my 53-11 and get up to around 43mph when going downhill. And that's with legs that are pretty clapped out. I don't doubt that a lot of riders out there could push the higher gear. If the OP is spinning out 53-14, I can see why he'd want 53-12 or 11.
For me, now, I worry about getting lower gears. I remember when I could run that corncob and go up hills no problem. Sigh.