Originally Posted by
livedarklions
How do you know you're in a good gear combination if you can't match that feeling in your legs and lungs with changes in your speed?
How could you not know unless your legs and lungs are numb? If I want a lower gear, I shift down. If I want a higher gear, I shift up. If I can't shift either direction, then I know I'm in my lowest or highest gear. I don't need a visual indicator to explain the obvious to me.
When I'm on a MTB trail there is no time to check the chosen gear (risk of crashing) and it is mostly irrelevant to have the gear displayed. There is only one chainring so just shift the gears for the given riding conditions...by feeling
When I'm on a road bike there is no time to check gears either cruising along at 18-22 mph. Again...it's easy to feel if you are in the right gear.