65-85+ Thread
#1751
Senior Member
A 10 speed cassette allows a cyclist to have a larger number of choices between the highest and lowest gear ratios. The greater number of incremental steps facilitates finding an optimal ratio for your cadence preferences. I too love classic vintage bikes & drivetrains but technology improvements continue to be made for good reasons and that also appeal to the buying public.
edit: If you disagree you should go to a gear ratio calculator (Sheldon's site has one) and plug in the numbers for a vintage 10 speed bike and a modern 22 speed bike and count the number of different ratios for each. The Truth will be self-evident. As to what will still be on the road in 40 years (question posed by rawly old) - the answer is easy - both, if well maintained. If you are still riding steel wheels, your stopping distance in wet conditions is hazardous to other cyclists around you.
edit: If you disagree you should go to a gear ratio calculator (Sheldon's site has one) and plug in the numbers for a vintage 10 speed bike and a modern 22 speed bike and count the number of different ratios for each. The Truth will be self-evident. As to what will still be on the road in 40 years (question posed by rawly old) - the answer is easy - both, if well maintained. If you are still riding steel wheels, your stopping distance in wet conditions is hazardous to other cyclists around you.
I did that but on an 11-spd not 10 --e.g., what I'd like to have -- say, starting at 15T instead of 11 -- like this:
[TABLE="width: 240"]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"][SUP]Ring[/SUP][SUB]Cog [/SUB][/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]34[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]MPH (75 rpm)[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]50[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]MPH (75 rpm)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]15[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]88[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]19.6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]16[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]83[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]18.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]17[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]78[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]17.3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]18[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]50[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]11.1[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]74[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]16.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]19[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]47[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]10.6[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]70[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]15.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]20[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]45[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]10.0[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]66[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]14.7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]22[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]41[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]9.1[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]60[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]13.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]24[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]38[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]8.4[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]55[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]12.2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]35[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]7.7[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]30[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]30[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]6.7[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]34[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]27[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"]5.9[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
It would be good for 16 fairly evenly spaced gears in a useable range with just a single but major double-shift (15 gears if you don't count the 1:1 just to have in reserve for sh*ts and giggles).
Last edited by McBTC; 10-30-15 at 05:56 PM.
#1752
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If commonly available cogsets don't work for you then chainrings smaller than 50/34 might be the answer.
I'm going to build a vintage 12 or 14 spd bike with 48/32 and a 13-28 cogset. If a 32 front / 28 back isn't tall enough of a gear, maybe I should be walking anyway. 75 rpm would be hard for me to maintain on any steep climb.
SRAM Apex road group handles a big cogset (maybe up to 34) with a compact double up front.
I'm going to build a vintage 12 or 14 spd bike with 48/32 and a 13-28 cogset. If a 32 front / 28 back isn't tall enough of a gear, maybe I should be walking anyway. 75 rpm would be hard for me to maintain on any steep climb.
SRAM Apex road group handles a big cogset (maybe up to 34) with a compact double up front.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
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Last edited by Wildwood; 10-31-15 at 01:14 AM.
#1753
Senior Member
48x13 is 97 gear inches whereas 50x15 is only 88. 32x28 is 30 gear inches. -- same as 34x30. I think of a 1-to-1 gear (27") as a touring gear: it's easier I believe to pedal 1:1 uphill that to walk uphill pushing a bicycle with loaded panniers.
Last edited by McBTC; 10-31-15 at 10:21 AM.
#1754
Road Runner
I also need a really low gear these days in order to tackle the occasional steep hill (or, in the case of a tour I did last summer, a whole day's worth of steep hills!). My old 105 triple with a 30-tooth small ring and 12-27 cassette was pretty good in the past, but since I rarely used the small ring anyway, I replaced it with a 24-tooth gear, giving me less than a 1:1 lowest ratio. I had to be really careful when shifting it and rarely dropped the chain; plus, I always shifted back to the middle ring ASAP since there was too much chain wrap to shift to the smaller cogs when on the small ring. But what I really liked about it was that, in the middle or large ring where I spend 99% of my time, I still had the close ratios of the 12-27 cassette (12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-27).
My newer, lighter carbon road bike of course came with a compact double and the same 12-27 (10 speed) cassette. Great on the flats and most hills, but again I like to have plenty in reserve. So I changed to a longer rear derailleur and went to a 12-32 cassette. This gives me plenty for hills in most cases, but at the expense of the close ratios, meaning that in some conditions one gear seems a bit too low and the next feels a bit too high. What's more, I am thinking this winter of putting on a 12-36 cassette to gain that super-low gear for those short-but-steep climbs. With only 10 cogs, I'll again pay for this in gear spacing, but it'll give me a bit more confidence if I ever do a tour like last year's again.
I do agree that it would be nice to be able to custom-design a cassette. To be honest, I don't ride a bike fast enough even downhill to need that 50-12 high gear, and would gladly trade the smaller couple of cogs for a set with closer spacing in the normal riding range.
My newer, lighter carbon road bike of course came with a compact double and the same 12-27 (10 speed) cassette. Great on the flats and most hills, but again I like to have plenty in reserve. So I changed to a longer rear derailleur and went to a 12-32 cassette. This gives me plenty for hills in most cases, but at the expense of the close ratios, meaning that in some conditions one gear seems a bit too low and the next feels a bit too high. What's more, I am thinking this winter of putting on a 12-36 cassette to gain that super-low gear for those short-but-steep climbs. With only 10 cogs, I'll again pay for this in gear spacing, but it'll give me a bit more confidence if I ever do a tour like last year's again.
I do agree that it would be nice to be able to custom-design a cassette. To be honest, I don't ride a bike fast enough even downhill to need that 50-12 high gear, and would gladly trade the smaller couple of cogs for a set with closer spacing in the normal riding range.
#1755
Junior Member
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Ok, I'm in (65ish). Just rode my first Gran Fondo in Asheville, NC, and really enjoyed. Only did the 60ish mileage. Enjoyed the TT aspect. What was best was that a riding buddy was there. We kinda fed off each other's energy (and electrolyte pills). WE were able to keep cramping away until the six miler hill climb. Recovered and finished ok.
It's been 40 years since my dip into competitive riding. I'm stoked now to keep up the training mileage to go for the 100 in the next couple of years.
It's been 40 years since my dip into competitive riding. I'm stoked now to keep up the training mileage to go for the 100 in the next couple of years.
#1756
Road Runner
I was just reminded this week (as if I needed to be) about the joys of being retired. We had a run of several record-warmth days in a row, with temps in the mid-70s (normal highs are mid-50s) and the kind of cloudless skies that we rarely see at any time of year. My only decisions were what to do: run, ride a rail-trail with my wife, get the road bike out, etc., so I managed to do all three. I'm not a cold-weather rider and had thought that I was done for the year, but believe me it was worth it.
I was actually somewhat glad for a cool, rainy day yesterday so that I could recover from the unexpected late-season workouts!
I was actually somewhat glad for a cool, rainy day yesterday so that I could recover from the unexpected late-season workouts!
#1757
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I just cannot remember how I got to ride so much when I was working...... oh yeah... riding in the rain & at night. No more.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#1760
Senior Member
Happy for you. I suspect it is years, BUT even km is quite admirable. I turned 67 in June and for 30 days did a 2700 km self-supported tour in Australia. More trips planned pretty well every year - including the 1000 km Munda Biddi "end-to-end" in 3 years...
Retirement? Nope - enjoying the interaction at work too much to stop it.
Retirement? Nope - enjoying the interaction at work too much to stop it.
#1761
Senior Member
#1762
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Congrats on 50 years and still doing well (I hope).
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#1763
Life is good
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Hopefully I'll be wearing one of these sometime after Christmas - as a survivor. Surgery in December. Got my fingers crossed.
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#1765
Senior Member
#1766
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My financial guy says we'll run out of money when I'm ~110 years old. So I hope to live for a few more years.
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#1767
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Currently I consider myself a prostate cancer liv-iver. First focal cryo ablation was May 26th for G10 right side and Dec. 10th will be minor focal cryo for G6 left with immunotherapy injection following. Healthy diet, plenty of exercise, a humorous mental attitude regarding my cancer and an outstanding doctor will keep me bicycling on down the road.
#1768
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Sorry to intrude in the 65+ realm, but I want to say that you guys that are fighting Prostate cancer are amazing! Your attitudes serve to make me, and I am sure others as well, feel like I can easily make it past my minor issues. Thanks, and prayers for each of you to conquer this disease.
Bill
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Last edited by qcpmsame; 11-23-15 at 07:46 AM. Reason: dyslexic fingers
#1769
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Best of luck with your surgery.
Currently I consider myself a prostate cancer liv-iver. First focal cryo ablation was May 26th for G10 right side and Dec. 10th will be minor focal cryo for G6 left with immunotherapy injection following. Healthy diet, plenty of exercise, a humorous mental attitude regarding my cancer and an outstanding doctor will keep me bicycling on down the road.
Currently I consider myself a prostate cancer liv-iver. First focal cryo ablation was May 26th for G10 right side and Dec. 10th will be minor focal cryo for G6 left with immunotherapy injection following. Healthy diet, plenty of exercise, a humorous mental attitude regarding my cancer and an outstanding doctor will keep me bicycling on down the road.
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#1770
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My urologist told me the various options and we asked all the questions. My wife and I both have 30+ years working in healthcare so we try to stay on top of health related things. Don't want radiation because of all the side effects. We both worked in radiology and radiation therapy. He said freezing was not a good option. We decided on surgery (da Vinci robotics). Clean and simple and if the cancer has not spread into the lymph system then the cancer will be completely gone.
We each have to be comfortable with our choice of treatment.
Again, the best to you and your wife.
#1771
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Sorry to intrude in the 66+ realm, but I want to say that you guys that are fighting Prostate cancer are amazing! Your attitudes serve to make me, and I am sure others as well, feel like I can easily make it past my minor issues. Thanks, and prayers for each of you to conquer this disease.
Bill
Bill
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#1772
Senior Member
Fyi-- I took the opportunity last night to install the latest doohickey: a stem extender for a threadless headset that provides up to an additional up to 70mm of height, of which I took full advantage as the brake and gear cables were long enough to accommodate the mod. It may be something worth looking into for anyone interested in raising the handlebars ~2.75 inches. Some stem risers are longer and I saw one that came is several sizes including a smaller size.
As it is now, riding on the brake hoods puts my hands at saddle-height. To check it out, Google words like, "stem extender riser adapter handlebar raiser," etc. Some are pricey considering the sub-$10 prices you see on eBay. I ordered one as on Amazon (OUTERDO Bicycle Bike Handlebar Fork Stem Extender Riser Head Up Adapter).
Several YouTube videos are available for viewing. Installation was easy and in my case went without a snag.
As it is now, riding on the brake hoods puts my hands at saddle-height. To check it out, Google words like, "stem extender riser adapter handlebar raiser," etc. Some are pricey considering the sub-$10 prices you see on eBay. I ordered one as on Amazon (OUTERDO Bicycle Bike Handlebar Fork Stem Extender Riser Head Up Adapter).
Several YouTube videos are available for viewing. Installation was easy and in my case went without a snag.
#1773
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I'm chalking it up to old age and senility/sentimentality -- but, I prefer the classic bike frame styles. Here are my 2 latest bikes to build as vintage with friction shifting.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#1774
Life is good
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^^^
Nice looking frames but the older I get the less I want to even stand next to an old style downtube friction shift bike.
Nice looking frames but the older I get the less I want to even stand next to an old style downtube friction shift bike.
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#1775
Senior Member