Time to ask again how many gears does a bike really need
12-25-17, 02:26 PM
#126
Stevoo
With all this talk about more gears it got me thinking.
While cycling enthusiasts are bantering over the need for more gears I am reminded how a lot of the casual cycling public is just clueless to gears in general. I see many weekend riders walking up mild grades and clearly their bikes not ever shifted to use a lower gear. Also see many of them struggling in a huge gear obviously clueless they could shift to an easier gear. Often see folks totally cross chained, spun out in the small ring obviously not understanding there is a big ring.
I wonder what the ratio is of cycling folks that use and understand gears to the clueless ones who probably never shifted their bikes.
I guess more gears for those who never shift would be useless.
Just me thinking out loud.
Not intending to offend anyone just sharing my observations and thoughts.
While cycling enthusiasts are bantering over the need for more gears I am reminded how a lot of the casual cycling public is just clueless to gears in general. I see many weekend riders walking up mild grades and clearly their bikes not ever shifted to use a lower gear. Also see many of them struggling in a huge gear obviously clueless they could shift to an easier gear. Often see folks totally cross chained, spun out in the small ring obviously not understanding there is a big ring.
I wonder what the ratio is of cycling folks that use and understand gears to the clueless ones who probably never shifted their bikes.
I guess more gears for those who never shift would be useless.
Just me thinking out loud.
Not intending to offend anyone just sharing my observations and thoughts.
12-25-17, 03:34 PM
#127
Old Legs
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With all this talk about more gears it got me thinking.
While cycling enthusiasts are bantering over the need for more gears I am reminded how a lot of the casual cycling public is just clueless to gears in general. I see many weekend riders walking up mild grades and clearly their bikes not ever shifted to use a lower gear. Also see many of them struggling in a huge gear obviously clueless they could shift to an easier gear. Often see folks totally cross chained, spun out in the small ring obviously not understanding there is a big ring.
I wonder what the ratio is of cycling folks that use and understand gears to the clueless ones who probably never shifted their bikes.
I guess more gears for those who never shift would be useless.
Just me thinking out loud.
Not intending to offend anyone just sharing my observations and thoughts.
While cycling enthusiasts are bantering over the need for more gears I am reminded how a lot of the casual cycling public is just clueless to gears in general. I see many weekend riders walking up mild grades and clearly their bikes not ever shifted to use a lower gear. Also see many of them struggling in a huge gear obviously clueless they could shift to an easier gear. Often see folks totally cross chained, spun out in the small ring obviously not understanding there is a big ring.
I wonder what the ratio is of cycling folks that use and understand gears to the clueless ones who probably never shifted their bikes.
I guess more gears for those who never shift would be useless.
Just me thinking out loud.
Not intending to offend anyone just sharing my observations and thoughts.
12-25-17, 04:43 PM
#128
Occam's Rotor
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12-25-17, 05:10 PM
#129
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What about the correct sequence for the re-re-re-etc-repeat Resurrection of the dead-horse threads "Going Fast is Wrong", "Cycling Kit is a Waste of $$", "Diamond Frames are Health Hazards", "Disc Brakes are Absolutely Necessary for Everyone" before "Too Many Gears is Bad"? That's like putting your Assos team kit socks on over your Sidi cycling shoes. 
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Weren't there also a few related to "wedgie-riding comfort-haters?"
12-25-17, 05:16 PM
#130
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I did the same on my Raleigh tourer with Sturmey Archer hub in 1955, but not the triple.
12-25-17, 05:43 PM
#131
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Since the 80s the number of gears on the rear cluster has gone up from the long time 5 to 12. With a triple in the front that gives the rider 36 gears. Do we really need that many?
In my case with the mountain bike, and touring bike I no longer have, and the bent and trike I now have with mountain bike gearing, it does afford one way to shift. The bent bike is a 9 speed in the rear. The way I use it is as a 3 range. Granny is for riding up steep hills. Then center ring is for most riding. The big ring is for down hills and with the wind. I simply then shift across the rear cluster as needed.
But back to the question------------how many gears do bikes really need, and will they go above 12 in the rear.
In my case with the mountain bike, and touring bike I no longer have, and the bent and trike I now have with mountain bike gearing, it does afford one way to shift. The bent bike is a 9 speed in the rear. The way I use it is as a 3 range. Granny is for riding up steep hills. Then center ring is for most riding. The big ring is for down hills and with the wind. I simply then shift across the rear cluster as needed.
But back to the question------------how many gears do bikes really need, and will they go above 12 in the rear.
12-25-17, 07:37 PM
#132
Senior Member
How many gears ?
Depends upon what type of riding you do.
For me, commuting, utility riding and just bumming around - I do very well with a 12-36 9 speed cassette and a single chainring 39 t with 32 mm 622 tires. GI range is from approx 29 to 87, have comfortably ridden thousands of km with this gearing set up.
Depends upon what type of riding you do.
For me, commuting, utility riding and just bumming around - I do very well with a 12-36 9 speed cassette and a single chainring 39 t with 32 mm 622 tires. GI range is from approx 29 to 87, have comfortably ridden thousands of km with this gearing set up.
12-26-17, 12:06 AM
#134
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And the crank-forward concept really has been around a while.
12-26-17, 09:54 AM
#136
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In the past mornings of solidtuding, stewing the idea for a IGH paired with a narrow multi-speed rear cassette w/t der & a 2 sprocket front der system has crossed the mind.
Main purpose would be to keep the chain straight, reduce side wearing of the mating components, lessen the fuss in regards to adjustments, quieter/smoother operation, size reduction overall depending on the ratio needs, may increase the time gap interval between the next typical maintenance/service due.
Then I figured... if I am thinking it, chances are, it has already cycled around in our market..
...it has... but can be very pricey & the designs are often more than what I was after...
3 speed IGH for short gearing then 6+ tall cogs to act as the overdrive gears, which wouldnt see a lot of torque unless your legs are inhuman for strength!
Main purpose would be to keep the chain straight, reduce side wearing of the mating components, lessen the fuss in regards to adjustments, quieter/smoother operation, size reduction overall depending on the ratio needs, may increase the time gap interval between the next typical maintenance/service due.
Then I figured... if I am thinking it, chances are, it has already cycled around in our market..
...it has... but can be very pricey & the designs are often more than what I was after...
3 speed IGH for short gearing then 6+ tall cogs to act as the overdrive gears, which wouldnt see a lot of torque unless your legs are inhuman for strength!
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12-26-17, 09:56 AM
#137
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Eventually the CVT belt-drive will be perfected and the idea of shifting gears will be forgotten .... and all you three-speed holdouts will be out of luck.
As far as I am concerned ... I will always want one more gear than Mr. Rydabent can tolerate.
Okay ... time for next in the "I'm Not a troll, I'm bent .... " series. Is that "No one should wear cycling-specific gear" or "Disc brakes Rule---the days of the caliper brake are numbered" ? I think I have lost track.
As far as I am concerned ... I will always want one more gear than Mr. Rydabent can tolerate.
Okay ... time for next in the "I'm Not a troll, I'm bent .... " series. Is that "No one should wear cycling-specific gear" or "Disc brakes Rule---the days of the caliper brake are numbered" ? I think I have lost track.
12-26-17, 10:16 AM
#138
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Well, I once had a bike set up with a 3x3x7, for 63 gears. Yes there were a lot of duplicates, but it was impractical to use them that way anyway. More importantly, it had 9 ranges, of which 3 or 4 were useful, and a total range of 17-145 inches. I found that the 71T (equivalent) range was good for flatlands, while the 56T (equivalent) was good for windy days and <8% hills. Only rarely did I need the low range at all, and the lowest gear was tricky to ride because I had a tendency to push too hard and flip the bike. Eventually I converted it to a 3x9 which has plenty of gears, even for a recumbent.
I ride 4x8=32 and at the maximum I had 4x9=36. The downgrading of the number was for more durable chain that was easier to manipulate. Also, I went down from a custom cassette to commercial, for smoother shifting. It is easier to optimize the rings for smoother shifting, by rotating the rings, shaping teeth and building in pins than optimizing a cassette that in addition lasts a shorter time.
In the front I have now 18-26-34-46 and in the rear I have alternate between 11-32 and 12-34 - whatever comes out from the bin. I use the lowest gears in the loose snow, such as to start from a ditch or uphill, and the highest gears in riding downhill. In the Great Lakes region you can have spring weather in the morning and heavy snow in the evening or the other way around, so the big gear range is of a literal advantage. I enjoy being able to cope with whatever is thrown at me.
While I spend few months per year in travel in various climate zones, riding whatever bikes with whatever number of gears they come with, I really feel at home when back on my quad.
12-26-17, 10:28 AM
#139
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That 4-by gearing makes a recumbent sound more inviting ... a trike with an 18-tooth low and a 48-tooth high and also a wide range of Useable gears in between .....
12-26-17, 10:52 AM
#140
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Sounds like an awful large amount of gears to me.
How many gears does a bike really need, indeed.
12-26-17, 11:56 AM
#141
Occam's Rotor
12-26-17, 05:30 PM
#145
Occam's Rotor
12-26-17, 09:22 PM
#146
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Glad to see the threads staying on course. I think my beater commuter for this summer will be a 21 speed and some bar ends when I splurge.
Last edited by GrainBrain; 12-26-17 at 09:25 PM.
12-27-17, 10:41 AM
#148
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A better question might be "What is the purpose of Bike Forums?" Is it information or entertainment? Maybe a little of both. Like it or not, this thread is up to 5 pages already. That means that a bunch of posters have been either informed or entertained or maybe a little of each.
My personal feeling is that as long as the title of the thread is clear and not misleading, anybody who doesn't like it can simply skip over it. What's wrong with that?
My personal feeling is that as long as the title of the thread is clear and not misleading, anybody who doesn't like it can simply skip over it. What's wrong with that?
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12-31-17, 08:42 AM
#149
Junior Member
5 and 6 speed work for me!
My old (and only) bikes have just 5 and 6 cogs in back - 120mm rear triangle, triple crankset - For most riding I have the gears I need. That's rando and touring in non-mountainous Wisconsin.
The only time I wish for more gears is when group riding when at a fast pace or senior racing. At those times I could use some tighter increments in the gearing.
One little advantage to my setup is using thicker chainrings and cogs with 8 spd chains which are a bit more robust so maybe don't wear as fast as the 12s.
My two cents...
The only time I wish for more gears is when group riding when at a fast pace or senior racing. At those times I could use some tighter increments in the gearing.
One little advantage to my setup is using thicker chainrings and cogs with 8 spd chains which are a bit more robust so maybe don't wear as fast as the 12s.
My two cents...
12-31-17, 08:53 AM
#150
Junior Member
Somewhat true -
12-speed is for single chainrings, so 12 gears only. SRAM is very much vested in 1x. Your old 3x8 for example has 24 gears, many of them useless, redundant or extreme cross-chained. So 1x12 is more useful albeit fewer (marketing) gears. If money wasn't an object, i definitely would have 1x12 on my my hybrid. Not sure if it would work on road-bikes, though, but that also seems to be coming (according to a GCN show I saw)
So your wish is coming true, we are going to fewer gears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utw9NzIwhzw
So your wish is coming true, we are going to fewer gears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utw9NzIwhzw
