Road bikes: What's your lowest gearing?

[Gren]

jmb88 said:

0.94...

34/50 chainring, 11-speed 11-32 on the back. Does me fine for living in the Lake District (and riding across the edge of it when I cycle to work).

To be honest I don't use the 32 on the back that often, rarely that I go below the 25 at the moment (as that was as low as the old bike went).

Same gearing here. Hardly ever use the 32 out back or even the next one down. Then again, every now and then when I hit Barhatch lane or the like and it hits 25% I definitely need it. Don't see a problem with slightly wider spaced cogs, it's 11 speed anyway and I certainly don't spin out with 50/11 so it's nice to have the ultimate bail-out gear if I need it.

Nothing compared to the 22-36 I have on the mtb though!

[47p2]

I fitted 34/32 on one of my bikes for the 3piste sportive and it was still a tough 102 miles in the saddle, might have to go lower next year when I do it again

[Gruffy]

52/36 and 11-32T on the quick bike (probably go back to 11-28T once the audax bike is in service)
50/34 and 12-32T planned for the audax/Transcontinental bike

My knees are the weak link so preventing those from flaring up is ultimately faster than mashing a big manly gear.

[anonymous-user]

34 x 25 on winter bike (50 x 12)

36 x 25 on summer bike (53 x 12)

rarely use the extremes

[jmb88]

Gren said:

jmb88 said:

0.94...

34/50 chainring, 11-speed 11-32 on the back. Does me fine for living in the Lake District (and riding across the edge of it when I cycle to work).

To be honest I don't use the 32 on the back that often, rarely that I go below the 25 at the moment (as that was as low as the old bike went).

Same gearing here. Hardly ever use the 32 out back or even the next one down. Then again, every now and then when I hit Barhatch lane or the like and it hits 25% I definitely need it. Don't see a problem with slightly wider spaced cogs, it's 11 speed anyway and I certainly don't spin out with 50/11 so it's nice to have the ultimate bail-out gear if I need it.

Nothing compared to the 22-36 I have on the mtb though!

The 32 might get a bit of use on the Fred Whitton next year though! (Guaranteed a place as I was a marshal this year).

[sherbertdip]

Years ago everybody i know used to ride 52/42 and 12/21 to 12/25 (including me) when i moved to Bath I changed to a 39 small chainring cos there's some bd climbs round there.

Now I'm more of a recumbent kind of rider and have 61/39 up front and 11/36 cassette, gives me a useful speed range of about 5 - 50 mph and try and avoid anything steeper than 12% unless it's short and I can have a run up.

[yellowjack]

sherbertdip said:

Years ago everybody i know used to ride 52/42 and 12/21 to 12/25 (including me) when i moved to Bath I changed to a 39 small chainring cos there's some bd climbs round there.

Now I'm more of a recumbent kind of rider and have 61/39 up front and 11/36 cassette, gives me a useful speed range of about 5 - 50 mph and try and avoid anything steeper than 12% unless it's short and I can have a run up.

Recumbent? WTF?