When to pedal using the taller front gear or smaller
08-12-09, 09:04 PM
#1
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When to pedal using the taller front gear or smaller
Hello everyone, this may seem like a very stupid question, however I have noticed that it is very hard to ride with the largest front gear engaged as oposed to the smaller one (I only have 2).
My question is, in what front gear do people spend most time on, and when is it adequate to use one over the other.
- This also applies to the rear gears, I usually engage the most middle one out of the 5 on my cassette.
When do you go lower (small) or higher.
Thanks,
My question is, in what front gear do people spend most time on, and when is it adequate to use one over the other.
- This also applies to the rear gears, I usually engage the most middle one out of the 5 on my cassette.
When do you go lower (small) or higher.
Thanks,
08-12-09, 09:11 PM
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It's not the gear, it's the gear ratio. Spin above 80-90 rpm. The gear ratio that you can do this in and go as fast as possible over a long(ish) distance is the right one for you. Ride more, get stronger. Oh, and HTFU.
08-12-09, 09:13 PM
#5
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Use a gear that feels comfortable. If you are in too high a gear it may be hard on your knees. Better to spin (fast and easy) than mash (slow and hard). If that means mostly small front ring, so be it. As you get fitter and faster you will use the big ring more.
Most of the time you adjust your gears (as the road dips and rises or the wind changes a bit) by moving the chain among the back cogs, and not changing the front very often. However, you should avoid "cross chaining" from the inside front ring to the smallest couple of outside rear rings (or at least the smallest outside one) so if you start to want to use that, switch to the big front ring, and drop the rear gears a couple of steps to compensate.
Most of the time you adjust your gears (as the road dips and rises or the wind changes a bit) by moving the chain among the back cogs, and not changing the front very often. However, you should avoid "cross chaining" from the inside front ring to the smallest couple of outside rear rings (or at least the smallest outside one) so if you start to want to use that, switch to the big front ring, and drop the rear gears a couple of steps to compensate.
Last edited by cooker; 08-12-09 at 09:20 PM.
08-12-09, 09:48 PM
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thanks for the replies. I ask because I can keep 17 mph using the midde cog in the rear and the small gear up front for a bit (longer than I can using the larger gear)
However, let's say that I get tired of spinning quickly 70 cadence... what I have been doing was to go into a smaller cog so that I can transfer more force at a slower cadence and try to maintain the speed, this is all in efforts to stop pedaling...
Also, I have done two group rides, and it seems that everyone is either spinning less rpms than I and going faster, or spinning quicker and traveling faster. Someone told me that it is best to achieve higher speed by higher cadence than by force (taller gear) ? What is be the best pedaling technique.
However, let's say that I get tired of spinning quickly 70 cadence... what I have been doing was to go into a smaller cog so that I can transfer more force at a slower cadence and try to maintain the speed, this is all in efforts to stop pedaling...
Also, I have done two group rides, and it seems that everyone is either spinning less rpms than I and going faster, or spinning quicker and traveling faster. Someone told me that it is best to achieve higher speed by higher cadence than by force (taller gear) ? What is be the best pedaling technique.
08-12-09, 10:13 PM
#8
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Big front gear = faster road speed; small front gear = easier climbing.
For now, choose whatever you need so you can maintain a faster cadence. Think of what tempo you'd use while jogging, which will likely be around 90 rpm on the bike.
You can figure the rest out from there. Just remember to softpedal as you shift gears.
For now, choose whatever you need so you can maintain a faster cadence. Think of what tempo you'd use while jogging, which will likely be around 90 rpm on the bike.
You can figure the rest out from there. Just remember to softpedal as you shift gears.
