Originally Posted by
Wildwood
I'm riding my vintage bikes a lot. Smallest cog on many of the freewheels is a 14. Easier to push than an 11 or 12 tooth cog.
My off-roader with CX tires has a 46/30 chainring.
At 68yo, speed is (generally speaking) not my friend.
Oh yeah - Most of my tires have gotten plumper - 25s/28s/30mm, only a couple of roadies with 22/23mm, none are 19/20mm any longer.
I am you age (turning 69 this summer). I agree with you on the wider tires, which is why I am building up my project bikes with wider rims that can take 32 or even 35mm tires. You do not lose much efficiency (peak efficiency rolling efficiency reportedly comes at about 15 percent vertical deflection), although the increased rotational inertia does compromise your acceleration.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069