Changing Gears - Page 2

MSA wrote:

>> plus I find it easy and fun to rapidly accelerate the (lightweight) bike from a high gear
>> (compared to what you'd probably use). I blast past all the mountain bikers with just a couple of
>> pedals!
>
> Bloody show off, people like you give roadies a bad name!!!!!!!!!!
> :-)

Since I've just got the one trumpet, I blow it hard! :-)

~PB

> Roll on variable ratio gearing systems. A cyclist friend of mine is keen on that idea but I can't
> see how it could be done.

I remember seeing one on Tomorrow's World some years ago, with a chainwheel that automatically
expanded and contracted. Must have been belt drive, but I can't recall the details.

~PB

On Sun, 30 Mar 2003 11:27:42 +0100, contributor Christopher Mahon had scribed:
> A lot of other people on bikes though seen to stick to the high range or high gears all the time
> (necessitating a somewhat slow initial acceleration). I am wondering, am I using my gears
> incorrectly, I mean is it possible I might 'wear them out' before time by shifting so often?
>
> Sorry if this sounds like a silly question, but I keep wondering about it!
>

If is flat or flattish you don't need a lot of gear changes. I don't change gear often but remain on
the middle chainring (38T) with third smallest sprocket (17T) when starting and remain there until I
am either descending significantly (move to 15T or 13T or with good tail wind/burst of adrenaline
then hit the big chainring, 48T) or ascending significantly (where shift is needed to ease the work
on the knees).

Gary

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