John, I agree with you. Some will, some won't. Like you, I have little need for real small gearing
when riding in my regular riding area. On the AERO I run a 52/42/26 with a 11/23. If say, I go to a
rolling hill ride I may elect to go to an 11/27 but also have a 25. I also can go to a 32 if needed.
In my case I tailor the cassette to the ride terrain and purpose. This only makes sense...a well to
me anyway. I believe that, for me, effective riding involves using eveything the terrrain and
conditions will give you. I also pedal downhill, but keep safety in mind when I do so. Then use my
momentum to best advantage for the next climb maintaining my cadence within a range that is
effective for me (90+). I attempt to stay within this range in all gears whether it bombing down a
hill, climbing or going 15 mph or less into a killer headwind.
There is no real gearing scheme that appeals to everyone. If stock bents came with lower gearing the
complaints would still be there. So they try to cover as best they can, both ends.
Sooo..."Each to their own, one persons gearing makes the others groan" There are masher, tourers,
racers and spinners. Competitive speedsters and recreational grinners. Sloggers that find frequent
stops that are winners. The minimilast, maximist and learning beginner. Some will ride centuries at
5 hours or less...some will take 10 on a bike thats a mess. It can be loaded touring and end with a
tent or an all out butt busting competitive event. Each one has their type of pleasure with aches
and pains but memories to treasure. For the occaisional rider what does it matter? For the tourer,
commuter or those who crave speed... fit the steed to the deed and you might just succeed.
Jude....///Bacchetta AERO St. Michaels and Tilghman Island.. Maryland Wheel Doctor Cycle and Sports,
Inc 1-800-586-6645 "John Foltz" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> GeoB wrote:
> >
> > I have a Vision R40, 20" in front, 26" in the rear. I crashed and smashed my front chainrings
> > and replaced them with Cannondale Coda mtn bike gearing. I now have 22/36/46 or maybe it is
> > 22/34/44, with an 11-32 cassette. This yields 17.9" - 108.7" gear/inches
> >
> You're not going to get 108.7 inches unless you're running a 26x1.95 rear tire (559 rim with a 50c
> wide tire.) For reference, with a
> 26x1.25 tire, you'd be getting 102 inches, using the 46T chainring.
>
> I'm in the minority, but I hate to run out of high end gears. As a corollary, I hate to make a
> habit of cruising in my highest gear. So the highest gear isn't as important to me as the next
> two. I like to have at least one in the 90s and one in the low 100s, and a sprint gear around
> 125-135 inches. There's no major hills over 5% where I ride, so the only reason I have a triple is
> for when I go on trips - a 40" low would be fine otherwise. For touring with a load, I'd want
> about a 20" low gear, and having a gear over 110" wouldn't matter as much. I had a 17" low on my
> V-Rex for years and never used it.
>
> Before anyone asks, I don't coast on downhills if I can see the bottom. I don't take chances on
> curves, but recumbents are made to be powered down hills, and anyone who doesn't ride their
> recumbent like a recumbent is doing things the hard way.
> --
>
> John Foltz --- O _ Baron --- _O _ V-Rex 24/63 --- _\\/\-%)
> _________(_)`=()___________________(_)= (_)_____