30mph but no gears left

"Tumbleweed" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
@news.aaisp.net.uk...

Quoted message said:

You're right, the guy in my LBS must have been talking [censored]! (that would

be

Quoted message said:

unusual wouldnt it :-)
I have got a saracen brochure in front of me, this year 2004 models, and

the

Quoted message said:

'Tour' model with drops has shifters on the tube using 'Shimano DT

shifters'

Quoted message said:

(Down Tube I suppose).

I have been looking at a lot of bikes recently these are the first with DT
shifters I've seen.

Ah well, you see there are always exceptions to the rule. Yep, that £300
Saracen Tour has, according to the catalogue - wow, wait for it - 14-speed
gears and downtube shifters. I would have said you probably wouldn't find
any new bikes with a seven speed block on the back either, but I'd have been
wrong there too. Still, I suspect the only buyers for that model will be
those who are after something a bit 'retro' - old fogeys coming back to
cycling looking for something like they had in their youth 😉.

Rich

Quoted message said:

George Hauxwell said:

The thing that puts me off buying a road bike is the gear changing.
I'm so used to using finger and thumb to change gear that bending
down to the frame to change gear puts me off slightly, or is it the
case that I wouldn't be changing gear so often with a road bike?

surely in this day and age road bike gears can also be changed from
the handlebar .

Don't most bikes now use a system combined with the brake lever?
On the one I looked at in Halfords, you could move the brake levers sideways
giving gear control. A normal squeeze would pull the brakes.

--

Burning_Ranger

To email: [email hidden]

"George Hauxwell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I currently use an MTB on the road with slik tyres, now and again reach
speeds of 30mph, but with no gears left I find my legs are going
ten-to-the-dozen. I have an outer Chainring 42T and a rear cassette

11-28.

Quoted message said:

Could somebody possibly advice me of a better chainring/cassette

combination

Quoted message said:

for MTB road riding.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/viewproduct.asp?category=Cranksets&ModelI
D=4427 are currently showing Shimano Deore 26-36-48 sets in stock at 50
squid. For taper bottom brackets which I'm guessing you have.
Fit an 11-19 cassette on the back (also available from Chainreaction) and
hey presto all the gears, and the right gears, for road use (this is what I
use on my roadised mtb in the winter). This is cheaper than a new road bike
and if you like your mtb set-up why replace it?

BTW road shifters are now generally built into the brake levers on road
bikes (as already pointed out).

Rgds,
Pete

In article <[email hidden]>,

George Hauxwell said:

ten-to-the-dozen. I have an outer Chainring 42T

What's the use of that? That was the size of the smaller chainring on
both my first tourers. And the second in particular took me over far
more challenging terrain than most MTBs ever see.

--
Nick Kew

Simon Brooke <[email hidden]> wrote:

: That's why you don't want an MTB for road riding, frankly. The gears are
: all wrong. Road chainsets typically have a 53 tooth big ring, which
: allows you to get quite a bit more at the top end. But if you're doing
: that you'll want to get down into an aerodynamic tuck, which means you
: need drop bars...

I find a 53 too big really. I prefer a 48, then I can leave it in the
big ring all day. Which is what the big ring is for. 48x12 = 52x13 so
it's still a big enough big gear for racing.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune http://www.clune.org
"Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

Nick Kew said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

George Hauxwell said:

ten-to-the-dozen. I have an outer Chainring 42T

What's the use of that? That was the size of the smaller chainring on
both my first tourers.

And did they have 11T top sprockets? Probably more like 14T.

A 99" top gear really isn't that bad.

~PB

Tumbleweed said:

I have been looking at a lot of bikes recently these are the first with DT
shifters I've seen.

Lance Armstrong uses downtube-mounted /front/ shifters on his time trial
bike - they're lighter, less prone to mechanical failure, and for
changing between two chainrings there's only two lever positions to
worry about so changing gear is a brain-free operation.

d.

Richard Goodman said:

Still, I suspect the only buyers for that model will be
those who are after something a bit 'retro' - old fogeys coming back to
cycling looking for something like they had in their youth 😉.

My dad is thinking of taking up cycling again because his knees are no
longer up to running. I reckon that Saracen bike might be right up his
street.

d.

davek said:

Tumbleweed said:

I have been looking at a lot of bikes recently these are the first
with DT shifters I've seen.

Lance Armstrong uses downtube-mounted /front/ shifters on his time
trial bike - they're lighter, less prone to mechanical failure, and
for changing between two chainrings there's only two lever positions
to worry about so changing gear is a brain-free operation.

Plus, they are much better for trimming the front mech.

Pete Biggs said:

And did they have 11T top sprockets? Probably more like 14T.

A 99" top gear really isn't that bad.

The Streetmachine has too wide a gear range for its own good as it is,
with 52->11 (26" wheel) at the top (30 -> 34 at the bottom, so it'll
still get up most things). I've never managed to spin it out yet, and
that bike has gone down some /big/ hills with me /trying/ to spin it out!
Top is 119" according to K-gear, and you'd need to be going like a bat
out of hell and then some to spin it out. The Streetmachine isn't
/that/ quick a bike normally, but it's not slow down hills. 99" sounds
plenty big enough to me, and when I've worn out the chainwheels I'll
replace the 52 with something smaller and will still be fine on big
descents where I want to go faster than gravity alone dictates. Of
course, with a 26" rear I'm slightly lower than you'd be with the same
teeth on a 700c racer.

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 hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On 17/8/04 10:52 am, in article [email hidden], "Peter

Clinch said:

you'd need to be going like a bat
out of hell and then some to spin it out.

And some.. I don't even spin out the MTB at 40mph .. (that's getting close
though, a cadence of 115ish on 48x11, 135 on 48x13). Coming off the Law
though I'm usually more concerned about slowing enough in time for the turn.

40mph on 42x11 would be something like 133rpm so that is fast but doable
with practise (I can sprint to that cadence on the flat but not in that
gear. My real name is not Erik)

...d

"Tumbleweed" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In fact you cant put it anywhere else, I was told its now illegal to put
the changer on the downtube on new bikes as sold in shops*.

Are you sure about this? I've seen (current) budget models from
Raleigh and Falcon which still have downtube gear levers.

David E. Belcher

"Tumbleweed" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In fact you cant put it anywhere else, I was told its now illegal to put
the changer on the downtube on new bikes as sold in shops*.

Are you sure about this? I've seen (current) budget models from
Raleigh and Falcon which still have downtube gear levers.

David E. Belcher

Simonb <[email hidden]> wrote:

: Plus, they are much better for trimming the front mech.

Not than Campag Ergos which are basically a friction front
shifter. Much better design.

--
Arthur Clune http://www.clune.org
"Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

"George Hauxwell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I currently use an MTB on the road with slik tyres, now and again reach
speeds of 30mph, but with no gears left I find my legs are going
ten-to-the-dozen. I have an outer Chainring 42T and a rear cassette 11-28.
Could somebody possibly advice me of a better chainring/cassette combination
for MTB road riding.

Many thanks

George Hauxwell

George,
in summary,

a) bigger chainset - but this will depend upon your bottom bracket
type. A road triple would be a good start, or, if you have an
expensive (ish) bike, you may be able to change just the outer
chainring to something larger. This, as people have said, may
necessitate a new front mech, and/or an new rear mech. Definately a
new chain.

b) pedal faster, and enjoy it - it's better for your knees, and for
clearing the lactic acid, and for burning fat.

c) if you really want to go fast, buy a road bike. Nearly all
roadbikes, at whatever price point, have intergrated brake/gear
levers. As a returner to cycling I cannot praise them enough. They
are very very good and transform riding, even with the very cheapest
set up.

d) flat barred road bikes - like a road bike, but with flat bars, and
mtb style shifters. I've never actually riden one, but lots of people
like them.

Personally I'd go for c), but I think everyone should experience going
fast on a nice road bike at least once. Others, as you will have
noticed, have other opinions. Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy
it.
SteveP

in message <[email hidden]>, davek ([email hidden]'😉

Quoted message said:

Tumbleweed said:

I have been looking at a lot of bikes recently these are the first
with DT shifters I've seen.

Lance Armstrong uses downtube-mounted /front/ shifters on his time
trial bike - they're lighter, less prone to mechanical failure, and
for changing between two chainrings there's only two lever positions
to worry about so changing gear is a brain-free operation.

I have just ordered - not yet received - my first ergo levers; my road
bike has downtube shifters, even though it's got a brand new 2004 model
campag front deraileur. So I'm going to be making the change very soon,
and I'm certain I'll be blindly groping around on the downtube for the
levers for at least several weeks to come. Damn it, I still do that on
my hill bikes!

One other benefit of downtube shifters for Lance is that with STIs you
can't trim the front deraileur (allegedly with ergos you can but we
shall see). If you want to go fast, being able to trim the front
deraileur seems to me at least as important as saving a few hundred
grammes.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Copyright (c) Simon Brooke; All rights reserved. Permission is
granted to transfer this message via UUCP or NNTP and to store it
for the purpose of achiving or further transfer. Permission is
explicitly denied to use this message as part of a 'Web Forum', or
to transfer it by HTTP.

Arthur Clune said:

Simonb said:

Plus, they are much better for trimming the front mech.

Not than Campag Ergos which are basically a friction front
shifter. Much better design.

Yebbut, Lance has no choice in the matter.

"Richard Goodman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Ah well, you see there are always exceptions to the rule. Yep, that £300
Saracen Tour has, according to the catalogue - wow, wait for it - 14-speed
gears and downtube shifters. I would have said you probably wouldn't find
any new bikes with a seven speed block on the back either, but I'd have been
wrong there too. Still, I suspect the only buyers for that model will be
those who are after something a bit 'retro' - old fogeys coming back to
cycling looking for something like they had in their youth 😉.

Seven sprocket block? Three would be enough for anybody, surely?

--
Dave...

"David E. Belcher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Tumbleweed" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In fact you cant put it anywhere else, I was told its now illegal to

put

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the changer on the downtube on new bikes as sold in shops*.

Are you sure about this? I've seen (current) budget models from
Raleigh and Falcon which still have downtube gear levers.

David E. Belcher

I was misinformed by LBS see upwards messages in the thread.

--
Tumbleweed

email replies not necessary but to contact use;
tumbleweednews at hotmail dot com

"George Hauxwell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I don't know, you tell me. The only road bike I've ridden was some 20

years

Quoted message said:

ago, and I changed gear via the two changers attached to the frame. If I
can buy a road bike and change gear via the handle-bars like an MTB, then
Yippee!!

George

Yes. I'm mainly a MTB rider but I had the same problem that you have. So I
went to Halesowen cycles and for £270 bought a flat bar, finger and thumb,
24 speed Dawes with skinny tyres and high gears. It's a road bike for
mountain bike riders - the gears and stuff are obviously not made to XT
standards but who cares, the bike is never subjected to mud and rubbish. I
love it, I only use it for 20 to 40 mile road rides from home - it performs
brilliantly, considering it cost less than the brakes and hubs on my MTB.

The only drawback might apply to pure fitness riders. It's so much more
efficient than an MTB that it doesn't give you the same workout unless you
pile on the effort.

John