I’ve been riding a long time and never used gear inches. I’d sometimes use ratios on the fly to get a feel for what I was riding in what terrain. For me ratios are everything.
With the old 52/42 chainrings. If I was in a 52/21 I’d figure I’m about 2-1/2 so going to a 42, I have a range of 17-28. Didn’t mean much, but if it kept my brain occupied, especially if I were struggling I could do a quick, how much would this gear help.
Now at home I have an excel spreadsheet and I’ve kept nearly every gear change on each bike (decades) and the corresponding speed at crank rpm. I have what-if scenarios.
John
Last edited by 70sSanO; 11-05-20 at 06:52 PM.