On 2017-05-26 06:53, wrote:
On Friday, May 26, 2017 at 12:29:19 AM UTC-7, Ned Mantei wrote:
On 25-05-17 16:26, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-05-24 15:46, Theodore Heise wrote:
On Wed, 24 May 2017 07:06:22 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:
On Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 6:37:49 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-05-23 13:09, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 3:47:02 PM UTC-4, Duane
wrote:
On 23/05/2017 3:32 PM, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 1:48:12 AM UTC-4, Sir
Ridesalot wrote:
So what do you people think?

On a steep hill would there be a noticeable
difference between 20.3 gear inches and 25.3 gear
inches?

Like Andrew said, I think the difference would be
big enough to be noticeable although the 30- 32 is
25.3 gear inches and the 24-32 is 20.3 gear inches.
I switched from a 53/39 chain ring to a 52/36. With
an 11-28T on both, I can notice the difference on a
steep enough climb. How much it matters is hard to
quantify.
I'm tsaking the guy out for a 60 km ride soon and there
are a few pretty steep hills in that area. I figure the
24 teeth chainring bike would be the better choice for
him as he's not all that used to steep hills.

It also depends on his age. I used to climb steep hills in
Eastern Belgium using a corncob cassette because that's
all that was available back then. 42-21 was the lowest
gear. No problem. Fast forward 35 years, similar hills in
California and I had to walk some of them. Then I hacked an
MTB cassette and that got me down to 42-28. Still huffing
and puffing on some hills and after installing 42-32 it's
now very manageable. The difference between the 28 and 32
sprockets in the back can be a profuse sweat versus easy
spinning.

A friend of mine had a 24 on her triple and used it often on
steep sections. But I've had trouble with my 30 because you
are going so slow that you are more tired when you get to the
top than if you use a 39-29.

A friend and I did Ride the Rockies a couple of times, and
were struck with how very slowly a few tandem teams climbed the
passes. Our standard quip to each other was, "How do they keep
from falling over when they go that slow!?"


It is a matter of training and what you grew up with. I grew up
biking offroad a lot since the days when mountain bikes didn't
exist yet. On my ride yesterday I tried it on a short road up to
a state park entrance station since I was early and the pub
wouldn't be open before 3:00pm anyhow. I was on the MTB, shifted
way down into the granny range and went up at the speed of an
ant. No problem.


My excuse for having and often using a low gear of 24/42 on my new
mountain bike is that tomorrow I will be 73 years old and my knees
hurt all too often.


Not sure where you live and whether tomorrow is already today: Happy
Birthday!


I see no problems with that Ned. And since I'm approaching 73 myself
and ride with people a lot older than me I end up using what to me is
a low gear of 39-29. But in a couple of case on really hot days (and
it's very humid in this area) I've been forced down into a 30-29
since the sweat was pouring into my eyes and I couldn't see, trying
to make an 11% climb.


I used to have that problem a lot until I started using a sweat band
around my head, right below the helmet. My sister uses them partially
under the helmet but I find that uncomfortable. Walmart has them for
under $2/piece, they can be washed and they last at least 30 rides each
until they begin to look too funky.

On 100F plus days I have to stop every 5-10mi depending on terrain and
speed, take it off and squeeze the sweat out. Quite disgusting and I try
to find a spot for that where nobody see it. When it is super hot and
humid I carry a 2nd sweat band and alternate, hanging one on the baggage
rack to air out. Then I probably leave a stench trail behind me :-)


All the other guys have more or less given up riding hard stuff but I
have to in order to get in shape for a friend coming here in
September and doing a dozen rides up in Santa Rosa.


It's also good for your overall health. Since my hill rides became
longer I found that I can climb stairs in tall buildings pretty much as
fast as I could when I was 30. Without huffing and puffing on the 4th
floor. Many 30 year olds these days can't ...

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/