CheGiantForLife

I keep left gear on 2 (out of 1-2-3)
I have a hill that I can either ride up with right gear switch at 1 2 or 3
At 1, it's easy, but move revs for my legs. At 3, harder, but less revs.
Which is ideal? Is min/max vertex parabola?

Mods please lock this thread. It has been solved.
The answer appears to be 80
https://www.bicycling.com/health-nut...cadence-ideal/

tomato coupe

Interesting hospital interpreting description extreme encounter.

badger1

With or without a golf club?

phughes

Is there a way to stop these obvious trolling threads? They serve absolutely no purpose other than relieving the obvious boredom of the OP. He should probably simply go outside and ride a bike.

m.c. 

The optimum gear is always dependent upon the amount of dumpster vodka consumed and the thickness of the sponge pad in your cycling pants.

Iride01 

Use the gear ratio and cadence that doesn't leave you tuckered out at the top of the hill. What's good for me might not be good for you. And over time what is good for you now probably won't be good for you later.

That said, I'd use a gear ratio that let me comfortably spin at 80 - 90 rpm while seated. If you prefer a lower cadence, then you might also prefer and do better standing.

Riding a bike is not supposed to be hard. So don't use gear ratios that are hard to push. Unless it's for that last little bit before you can't do any more.

CAT7RDR

Somebody's Daddy did not give him any attention in his formative years.

CheGiantForLife

Yes, the implication was seated hill climb.
So, there is no conventional wisdom on gear choice?

I might do an A/B experiment.
A: Do entire hill in gear 1
B: Do entire hill in gear 3

Compare heart rate and time elapsed.

CheGiantForLife

Username checks out

Just rode. Hence questions. I ask questions.
If you don't like it, learn to use the ignore feature, instead of whining like an embarrassing little child.

Keep trying. Maybe one day you'll actually be clever and/or funny or whatever you're going for.
Keep doing you, Elmer.

If you don't like it, learn to use the ignore feature, instead of whining like an embarrassing little child.

genejockey 

Optimum depends on the rider. Some folks like to mash, some like to spin. Personally, I find myself most comfortable doing long seated climbs in the 80s. If I find myself wanting to shift to a smaller gear, (larger cog in back), it's usually because my cadence has dropped below 80. If I find myself wanting to shift to a larger gear (smaller cog in back), it's gone over 90. That's me. YMMV.

seypat

The answer is 42.

Iride01 

Not as far as what specific gears. And that choice will depend on whether it's a easy grade where a steady speed can be maintained all the way up the hill or whether it's a steep grade and speed will diminish from the entry speed for the climb.

And many other factors that we just don't know about your climb or you.


Sounds like a plan. Nothing like trying things out to see what you think works best for you. Data to back it up always helps too.

wolfchild

I use non-optimal gear ratios for hills, has worked great for me so far and made me a better stronger climber.

wolfchild

No there isn't... The choice of gear ratio varies depending who you ask ...Some people like smaller gears and prefer climbing seated, while others prefer standing on the pedals and riding out of the saddle and pushing bigger gears.

phughes

Direct to the insults. Shows your intent, and your personality, or lack thereof.

I do know how to use the ignore function thank you. Sometimes however, people enjoy watching train wrecks. Yours though have become more frequent, and tend to serve no real purpose.

As for an answer to your "question," use the gear that allows you to pedal efficiently without mashing, thereby damaging your knees.

Okay, thread over, unless you need the proper gear ratio for hopping curbs carrying the extra weight of a golf club.

ofajen

For me, the answer is 42/16, which is the gear I’ve basically ridden in for the last two years.

Otto

indyfabz

Or maybe too much attention, if you know what I mean.

indyfabz

Funny. I was thinking the same damn thing.

indyfabz

Not even close.

datlas 

Hi! What’s this thread about?

79pmooney

Actually 42-24. The nice symmetry. Lowest gear you can get with time honored classic 144 BCD crankset, 1/8" chain and proper fix gear cogs. (Of course, there are hills where your legs will scream for 42 gear inches. not chainring teeth. Don't listen to them. They're just legs and not very smart.)

wolfchild

Threads such as these are just toilet bowls where everybody just comes to relieve themselves.

livedarklions

Try different gears and see what is most comfortable for you. Conventional wisdom is meaningless, no one else is on the bike with you. You aren't going to blow your knees out, you'll know very quickly if you're uncomfortable.

Seriously, do you suffer from some of an anxiety disorder that prevents you from trying things for yourself without someone telling you that you won't hurt yourself? This incessant asking of questions we can't answer for you because they're obviously personal preference is not normal. 1 or 2, maybe, but this was going on all last year, stopped for awhile, and is ramping up again. I'm not asking for smartass reasons, I'm just thinking you've lost any reasonable perspective.

livedarklions

It's about to get shut down if I'm not mistaken.

m.c. 

If this is legitimate I would be a bit concerned that he doesn't know how to get on in life by himself.

The post about an uncomfortable saddle in which he referred to "sperm tubes" leads me to think there is some trolling taking place.