vernon wrote:
> I currently have a 22 tooth granny ring and a 28 tooth rear sproket on my
> Dawes Galaxy giving a bottom gear of around 21 inches. Is there any point
> in investing in a cassette with a 32 tooth sprocket to get an 18" bottom
> gear?
> What bottom gears do the tourers use here on u.r.c. ?
Mine's just under 23" on the Streetmachine (30 -> 34 driving a 26"
wheel). It's got me up everything I've ever tried short of some
silly off-road on gravel, with full camping gear. It's a heavy
bike to start with, and 4 panniers full makes it quite a tank, and
I'm not exactly a bean-pole either. When I re-gear it, though,
I'll take it down to about 19", but do bear in mind it *is* a fair
bit heavier than the Galaxy and I can't stand up on the pedals even
if I want to.
Roos has just geared her Fiero down with the front chainmwheel
going from 52 to 42 before it hits the DualDrive 11-34 and 20"
wheel, which gives about 18-19" at the bottom IIRC. However, that
hasn't completely solve her problems with hills to the extent she'd
hoped because you've still got to do the work, and she's had most
of her cycling career in a country with no hills. The fact remains
that the best way to get good at hills is do lots of hills :-(
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net
[email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/