Another newbie bike question
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Smitty21 posted 33 weeks ago.
If staying in 1 gear feels good then go for it. Mountain biking requires you to shift a lot more because the terrain is constantly changing, but with road riding you can stay in the same gear for miles. I'll shift down on rolling hills to maintain my cadence if I'm going to stay seated or maintain the gear I was using on the flats and stand to stretch out the legs and give my butt a rest every now and then haha.
283
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paganopj posted 33 weeks ago.
I find that I am pretty much in one gear unless I am doing hill work or am doing cadence work (either low or high). Other than that, do what feels comfortable-if you don't already, pick a gear where you can spin at least 85rpms to around 100rpms.
Just keep spinning....spinning, spinning....uh, do I know you?
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TriSooner posted 32 weeks ago.
paganopj wrote:
pick a gear where you can spin at least 85rpms to around 100rpms.
. . . at approximately the same exertion level. For example, 80rpm on a flat road would be big chain ring, middle of the cassette, and you'd be doing 20+mph. 80rpm on a climb could be a seated climb in a granny gear, maybe 10mph. I use the entire range of the cassette, but typically stay in the big chain ring most of the time. If you've got 'em, use 'em.
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paganopj posted 32 weeks ago.
+1 to TriSooner.....forgot that part!
Just keep spinning....spinning, spinning....uh, do I know you?
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Merchant46 posted 32 weeks ago.
The terrain's pretty flat here in MN, so yes, I tend to have a single gear I use more than others. The nice thing has been as you ride your bike more, gain technique and leg strength, your "cruising gear" tends to move down the rear cog, making you faster.
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groovyjen posted 32 weeks ago.
Whatever works for you. I tend to find the opposite is the case for me. I'm huffing up a hill thinking, "Shit! I'm out of gears!"
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
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mtbke15 posted 32 weeks ago.
I also came from a mtn bike background and was used to always shifting up and down on both font and back. Now that I do mostly rode riding I usually stay in a small range of gears and do what feels comfortable for my legs depending on the terrain and how hard I am riding.
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svanedk posted 32 weeks ago.
Thanks for your advice all, it really is appriciated. :)
First of all, thanks alot for taking the time to answer all my newbie questions guys.. it is greatly appriciated.
Second - to the question. I've always owned mountain bikes only, and on them I used to shift gears very often, however on my new tri bike I seem to be very comfortable in just 1 specific gear.. can that be right? Do you guys shift gears alot on flat stretches and small hills?
Any thoughts / comments are appriciated.
Thanks.