Gears - do these seem high?
Discussion
I've started riding again after a decade of almost nothing, and perhaps 20 years since I last rode with any regularity - and until I get reasonably fit I'm using a half-decent-for-the-time 80's road bike. A shiny new bike is my incentive to get fit again.
It seems to me though that it's really high-geared. It's 52/42 on the front and 14-24 at the back (5 speed freewheel)
It doesn't help that you can't ride more than a few hundred yards from either my house or work without hitting a hill - last time I rode I lived somewhere a bit flatter so you had a few miles to warm up before hitting anything that required dropping a few gears.
Does it sound high-geared, or is just the combination of the local terrain and my 20-years-older unfit legs that have me struggling?
It seems to me though that it's really high-geared. It's 52/42 on the front and 14-24 at the back (5 speed freewheel)
It doesn't help that you can't ride more than a few hundred yards from either my house or work without hitting a hill - last time I rode I lived somewhere a bit flatter so you had a few miles to warm up before hitting anything that required dropping a few gears.
Does it sound high-geared, or is just the combination of the local terrain and my 20-years-older unfit legs that have me struggling?
I feel a bit better now 
48/42 wouldn't get me anything lower, sadly. I can't change one ring either as they not swappable. The 52 is ok on downhill bits.
Perhaps a new freewheel is in order - can you still get 5 speed freewheels? A frame re-set and a wheel re-build isn't really something I can be bothered with - I'd rather put the cash in the 'shiny new bike' fund.
I'm there with rule 5, but I'm also trying to do whatever rule is 'train properly' Thing is if you are faced with a route profile like this on your commute and you just can't turn the cranks it's hard to imagine it's effective training.
It's day one, though. I guess I'm comparing myself to how I remember riding all those years ago and I should just forget that.
48/42 wouldn't get me anything lower, sadly. I can't change one ring either as they not swappable. The 52 is ok on downhill bits.
Perhaps a new freewheel is in order - can you still get 5 speed freewheels? A frame re-set and a wheel re-build isn't really something I can be bothered with - I'd rather put the cash in the 'shiny new bike' fund.
I'm there with rule 5, but I'm also trying to do whatever rule is 'train properly' Thing is if you are faced with a route profile like this on your commute and you just can't turn the cranks it's hard to imagine it's effective training.
It's day one, though. I guess I'm comparing myself to how I remember riding all those years ago and I should just forget that.
geordieracer said:
Yup, you can still get 'screw on' free wheels; I'm 99% sure my last one came from flea-bay for my rebuild. Which will be a thread in itself soon.
Thanks for that - they only seem to be 14-24 (which I have) or 14-28 which doesn't seem much lower - or would those 4 teeth make a big difference?Yours is the Peugeot? Perfectly normal gearing from 25 years ago, probably put loads of folk of cycling forever.
No doubt yours still comes with Huret derailleurs like these.
In which case you can just about manage a 28 tooth block such as
5 speed block
and a new chain. Not much of a change for not much money.
Without a fairly comprehensive change of components this is about as good as it will get without far exceeding the worth of the bike. Far better spending your money on something more modern.
No doubt yours still comes with Huret derailleurs like these.
In which case you can just about manage a 28 tooth block such as
5 speed block
and a new chain. Not much of a change for not much money.
Without a fairly comprehensive change of components this is about as good as it will get without far exceeding the worth of the bike. Far better spending your money on something more modern.
Knew I had a link somewhere; have a gander at this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=109...
As for archaic 10 speeds, some of us have to persevere. It's three years since my road bike when AWOL, and I can't afford to replace it, so I ride the 10spd I inherited yonks ago; as I said its just undergone an overhaul and many bits have been replaced with bargain bits, so if you're keen it can be done
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=109...
As for archaic 10 speeds, some of us have to persevere. It's three years since my road bike when AWOL, and I can't afford to replace it, so I ride the 10spd I inherited yonks ago; as I said its just undergone an overhaul and many bits have been replaced with bargain bits, so if you're keen it can be done
My apologies; I clearly can't read...
Rule 5 then.
I admit, it took me a loooong while to get used to 10spd; and its retro-ness, but I do enjoy having a steel frame and simplistic gearing.
(Though I'd love a pair of campy ergo shifter/brake levers over my downtube shifters, they did take some getting used to, but campys seem to go out of my price range on ebay)
Rule 5 then.
I admit, it took me a loooong while to get used to 10spd; and its retro-ness, but I do enjoy having a steel frame and simplistic gearing.
(Though I'd love a pair of campy ergo shifter/brake levers over my downtube shifters, they did take some getting used to, but campys seem to go out of my price range on ebay)
gazza285 said:
Yours is the Peugeot? Perfectly normal gearing from 25 years ago, probably put loads of folk of cycling forever.
No doubt yours still comes with Huret derailleurs like these.
In which case you can just about manage a 28 tooth block such as
5 speed block
and a new chain. Not much of a change for not much money.
Without a fairly comprehensive change of components this is about as good as it will get without far exceeding the worth of the bike. Far better spending your money on something more modern.
It's a Simplex on mine (with new red cable - woo hoo) but yes, it's like that. Like this, in fact:No doubt yours still comes with Huret derailleurs like these.
In which case you can just about manage a 28 tooth block such as
5 speed block
and a new chain. Not much of a change for not much money.
Without a fairly comprehensive change of components this is about as good as it will get without far exceeding the worth of the bike. Far better spending your money on something more modern.
I can't change the rings at the front, so to go lower that way I'd need new cranks and bottom bracket/bearings.
As you say, 28 teeth is as big as 5 speed blocks seem to get now, although surely touring bikes in the 80s went lower?
I guess my other option would be to put a six speed block on and get the wheel re-dished. I could re-space the frame, or I could just not bother and deal with having to spring it when I get punctures.
<Goes off to see how low geared you can get 6 speed freewheels>
EDIT TO ADD - I have oiled it since this picture was taken
Edited by blugnu on Monday 26th August 22:08
You can get 34-T in six speed
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Shimano-MF-HG40-6-M...
This is basically my freewheel with a 34 teeth cog bolted on.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Shimano-MF-HG40-6-M...
This is basically my freewheel with a 34 teeth cog bolted on.
47p2 said:
I've got one bike that is 42/53 and 11/19 and another that is 42/52 and 12/21 so no your gears aren't high in comparison but compared to modern compact gearing yes
The fact that you have two bikes suggests you cycle rather more regularly than me though 42/19 gives 10mph at 60rpm which doesn't sound ridiculous for the gradients I see around here - but being as unfit as I have become and the fact that there are hardly any flat bits to warm up on it's just not going to happen.
I guess my frustration is that lack of flat bits to train on - everywhere around here seems to have at least a slight gradient.
I wonder why older bikes are higher geared? Presumably the freewheels were as they were because until mountain bikes came along, the dérailleur cages weren't long enough to cope with a wider range, but I don't understand why (seemingly) all bikes came with 52/42 at the front!
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff