M
Mike Jacoubowsky
Guest
> Sure beats being dropped by tandems on downhills from when I only had a
> 13.
Drafting a tandem (or car or fast bike) at high speeds, you'll almost always
be better off *not* pedaling. You'll be more aerodynamic tucked in. It takes
a bit of patience not to *do* anything (as in pedal), but on any grade where
a tandem (or anything else) can hit speeds in excess of 40mph, drafting is
probably the best way to keep up (even if you had monstrously-high gears).
Obviously, this requires a reasonable grade; as things flatten out, gearing
becomes relevant again at high speeds (speeds attainable only by drafting
off a motorized vehicle, since no standard bike/rider can do much better
than 30mph for a significant amount of time on flat land in still air.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Chris Neary" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> >I'm running the largest in front of 52 and the smallest rear is 11. I'm
>>>>finding that I'm now running out of gearing on flat/straights and I'm
>>>>looking for a bit more gearing. My mechanic checked it and suggested
>>>>going
>>>>to a 54 or 55 on the front to get the extra bit I'm needing.
>>>
>>> You routinely ride at 30+ MPH on the flats?
>
>>
>>55/11 is good for a whole lot higher than 30mph.
>
> Ya, I based my calc on 52/11 @ 80 RPM.
>
>>I can still pedal at 44mph if need be (downhill
>>sprint, certainly not on the flats!!!).
>
> Thats around where I top out too - downhill - with my 52/12.
>
> Sure beats being dropped by tandems on downhills from when I only had a
> 13.
>
>
> Chris Neary
> [email protected]
>
> "Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
> you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
> loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh
> 13.
Drafting a tandem (or car or fast bike) at high speeds, you'll almost always
be better off *not* pedaling. You'll be more aerodynamic tucked in. It takes
a bit of patience not to *do* anything (as in pedal), but on any grade where
a tandem (or anything else) can hit speeds in excess of 40mph, drafting is
probably the best way to keep up (even if you had monstrously-high gears).
Obviously, this requires a reasonable grade; as things flatten out, gearing
becomes relevant again at high speeds (speeds attainable only by drafting
off a motorized vehicle, since no standard bike/rider can do much better
than 30mph for a significant amount of time on flat land in still air.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Chris Neary" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> >I'm running the largest in front of 52 and the smallest rear is 11. I'm
>>>>finding that I'm now running out of gearing on flat/straights and I'm
>>>>looking for a bit more gearing. My mechanic checked it and suggested
>>>>going
>>>>to a 54 or 55 on the front to get the extra bit I'm needing.
>>>
>>> You routinely ride at 30+ MPH on the flats?
>
>>
>>55/11 is good for a whole lot higher than 30mph.
>
> Ya, I based my calc on 52/11 @ 80 RPM.
>
>>I can still pedal at 44mph if need be (downhill
>>sprint, certainly not on the flats!!!).
>
> Thats around where I top out too - downhill - with my 52/12.
>
> Sure beats being dropped by tandems on downhills from when I only had a
> 13.
>
>
> Chris Neary
> [email protected]
>
> "Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
> you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
> loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh