Am I out of shape or is 46x16 the ultimate test of the human spirit?
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Am I out of shape or is 46x16 the ultimate test of the human spirit?
I did some more riding over the week and what I'm discovering quickly is the trails that I coasted with a 32x16 single speed mountain bike are a bit difficult with my fixie geared at 46x16. Is this going to go away in time or am I using insane gearing?
Most of my riding is on the streets and bike paths (which I am starting to loathe from all the branches and goose crap) with few hills. Still, I couldn't help but walk some of it.
Some might ask, "Why didn't you use less aggressive gearing?" Mostly because my Monocog ticked me off with almost always spinning out on a very slight decline. So as soon as I tried the gearing for the first time I was like, "Oh yeah! No spinning!"
Most of my riding is on the streets and bike paths (which I am starting to loathe from all the branches and goose crap) with few hills. Still, I couldn't help but walk some of it.
Some might ask, "Why didn't you use less aggressive gearing?" Mostly because my Monocog ticked me off with almost always spinning out on a very slight decline. So as soon as I tried the gearing for the first time I was like, "Oh yeah! No spinning!"
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The short answer is it'll go away in time. Out of shape is a bit of a squishy concept, but let's just say that you're not conditioned yet for this specific type of activity at this level of exertion.
I know a lot of people who quite comfortably (myself included) run around a 3:1 ratio without any discomfort. I can even do some small hill climbing (for those who know Boston, Beacon Hill leaves me a little spent by the top). Maybe you shouldn't increase your gearing 44% at a shot.
I know a lot of people who quite comfortably (myself included) run around a 3:1 ratio without any discomfort. I can even do some small hill climbing (for those who know Boston, Beacon Hill leaves me a little spent by the top). Maybe you shouldn't increase your gearing 44% at a shot.
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Originally Posted by qmsdc15
This guy Campynolo (sp?) invented a mechanism that changes gear ratio on the fly.
(and it's Campagnolo)
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I must say that I have been riding my 42x16 in hilly country for about a month now and don't feel like I am getting any stronger. However over Turkey Day, I went on a geared mtb ride with my dad and my sister and though I have ridden all my life and am very used to the route we took I have never felt stronger. It was almost obscene. You may not feel like you are getting stronger but if you can function in the gear that you are using now then go for it.
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Originally Posted by lobo
I did some more riding over the week and what I'm discovering quickly is the trails that I coasted with a 32x16 single speed mountain bike are a bit difficult with my fixie geared at 46x16. Is this going to go away in time or am I using insane gearing?
50x14
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Originally Posted by bostontrevor
Surely you're talking about the quick release hub.
(and it's Campagnolo)
(and it's Campagnolo)
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Originally Posted by qmsdc15
yeah, I guess that's what it's called. I still can't figure out how to flip the wheel around without stopping and getting off...
you are going to have to move pretty fast in order to do it while you are riding.
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Originally Posted by crustedfish
chill out, bro...give it some time...
50x14
50x14
No effin way. I've been riding 48x15 since I got my Langster and I'm aching to get an 18t cog for the rear.
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it depends on where you live, really. you can't ride 50x14 in seattle if you actually want to bike up the hills. but chicago is a different story.
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Originally Posted by qmsdc15
yeah, I guess that's what it's called. I still can't figure out how to flip the wheel around without stopping and getting off...
Originally Posted by nocoins
you are going to have to move pretty fast in order to do it while you are riding.
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Originally Posted by bostontrevor
That's what I figured, 'cause Campy invented the modern parallelogram der, but there were others before him.
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There's a fascinating book out there called the Dancing Chain that covers the development of the derailleur and multispeed bikes. At least, so I hear. I've read excerpts of it online. Pretty cool turn-of-the-century patent war stuff.
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It's not easy. Try it and then you will have proven your human spirit.
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Originally Posted by ultra-g
Do you seriously ride 50x14?
No effin way. I've been riding 48x15 since I got my Langster and I'm aching to get an 18t cog for the rear.
No effin way. I've been riding 48x15 since I got my Langster and I'm aching to get an 18t cog for the rear.
my friend and ex bikeforum member rolls 52x16 year round...he's my inspiration.
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Ex bikeforum member? Why?
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Originally Posted by crustedfish
50x14 in chicago is no big deal. with the wind picking up and my load increasing, I'll be back to my 50x16 winter gear.
my friend and ex bikeforum member rolls 52x16 year round...he's my inspiration.
my friend and ex bikeforum member rolls 52x16 year round...he's my inspiration.
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Originally Posted by qmsdc15
yeah, I guess that's what it's called. I still can't figure out how to flip the wheel around without stopping and getting off...
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46 x 16 is a good gear. it is not too hard or too soft. You can get speed but not kill your knees . It is easy to slow down also. That is my standard gear on all of my track bikes.
S/F,
CEYA!
S/F,
CEYA!
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Originally Posted by ultra-g
How fast can you go on a flat pushing 50x14?? My top speed on a flat section with 48x15 is 27mph. I can only keep it up for about a minute, then I'm shot.
next time im at the velodrome Ill take some lap times and convert it to Kph.
Last edited by crustedfish; 11-29-04 at 01:03 PM. Reason: forgot something
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Originally Posted by lobo
I did some more riding over the week and what I'm discovering quickly is the trails that I coasted with a 32x16 single speed mountain bike are a bit difficult with my fixie geared at 46x16. Is this going to go away in time or am I using insane gearing?
Most of my riding is on the streets and bike paths (which I am starting to loathe from all the branches and goose crap) with few hills. Still, I couldn't help but walk some of it.
Some might ask, "Why didn't you use less aggressive gearing?" Mostly because my Monocog ticked me off with almost always spinning out on a very slight decline. So as soon as I tried the gearing for the first time I was like, "Oh yeah! No spinning!"
Most of my riding is on the streets and bike paths (which I am starting to loathe from all the branches and goose crap) with few hills. Still, I couldn't help but walk some of it.
Some might ask, "Why didn't you use less aggressive gearing?" Mostly because my Monocog ticked me off with almost always spinning out on a very slight decline. So as soon as I tried the gearing for the first time I was like, "Oh yeah! No spinning!"
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Originally Posted by filtersweep
I ride fixed, but it is the same principle. I don't care to get into a pissing contest over what my gear ratio is... frankly, I find it amusing to see someone with a 50X14 and they are churning along with a cadence of 60. Mashing has never gotten me anywhere- and my goals are more on the order of being able to smoothly hold a cadence of 140, for example. A 42 X 14 or 16 meets most of my needs... but if I were on a mtn bike, I'd drop it to a 39 X something...
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Originally Posted by filtersweep
I ride fixed, but it is the same principle. I don't care to get into a pissing contest over what my gear ratio is... frankly, I find it amusing to see someone with a 50X14 and they are churning along with a cadence of 60. Mashing has never gotten me anywhere- and my goals are more on the order of being able to smoothly hold a cadence of 140, for example. A 42 X 14 or 16 meets most of my needs... but if I were on a mtn bike, I'd drop it to a 39 X something...
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Originally Posted by ajkloss42
42x14 isn't exactly what I'd call a spinning gear. It's a lot higher than most of the ratios I see running around. As someone else pointed out though, if you can spin at 140 in 42x14 and I can spin at 140 at 50x14, you're totally screwed. It's my new rule for dropping fixes when riding a multispeed bike: Step 1: find their ratio, step 2: match their cadence, step 3: shift up one, step 4: match their cadence. Unless the person riding fixed is a lot stronger than you, this should always work, especially on declines.
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