Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,974
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
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I've got one triple, two doubles and one 1x.
My triple (3x7) has the the highest and lowest gearing of my bikes and there's always a "right gear".
My doubles (2x6 and 2x8) have a large front cog for higher gearing and a much smaller cog for much lower gearing. While the wide ratio spread is nice, I sometimes can't find the "right gear".
This year I bought a 1x7 20" folding bike. I bought a very wide gear set for the back (11x48). The eleven was absolutely necessary for the hills out here in Colorado. The other six gears are more closely spaced, so I usually have a "right gear" for hi-speed to mid speed cruising. But going up hills, there is a big gap between the Granny gear and the next lowest gear.
Based on my personal experience, I think I would be happy with a 1x13, 1x12, or possibly even a 1x11 if there was a wide enough spread of ratios, with some closeness of the highest two or three ratios, and some closeness of the lowest two or three ratios.
What I thing would be really great is a wide-ratio CVT (Continuouslky Variable Transmission), like the NuVinci, but with equal or higher mechanical efficiency than current conventional bicycle transmissions, and equal or lower weight.