Do Cyclists Really Need 18 Or More Gears On A Bike?

[sandyRoe]

Wouldn't 5 gears be enough for pootering about town?

[sandyRoe]

You'd sometimes see kids at Christmas with their new bikes. Until they got the hang of the gears their legs would be whizzing round and they'd not be making much progress.

[Canary42]

No, no more than cars need more than 1500cc engines.

And 850cc would be enough for pootering about town.

Gas guzzlers are destroying the planet.

[ToraToraTora]

most bikes have duplicates through the range anyway. There may be 18 chain positions but in reality there will be duplicates in the ratios when the gearing is calculated. Also most people haven't got a scooby do about gears, I'm always seeing smallest sprocket on the back with the smallest sprocket on the front, this pulls the chain sideways and wears it out. This is usually because both derailleurs have sprung to the end and teh rider has no clue how to sort it, they usually have a rusty chain that squeaks as they go down the road. In reality I use a mid range on the back and flip between middle and outside on the front. For hills middle and maybe up one on the back for normal riding middle on the back and outside on the front, drop one on the back to go faster if necessary, so I'd say at the most I use about 7 different gears.

[ToraToraTora]

However I don't do so much cycling these days. I have a small engined 4ltr V8 for a car to get me about I sold my 6 ltr V12, so I'm doing my bit.

[dannyk13]

TTT,//I'm always seeing smallest sprocket on the back with the smallest sprocket on the front//
?

[retrocop]

I have a small engined 4ltr V8 for a car to get me about// I sold my 6 ltr V12, //
so I'm doing my bit.
What was it a Supermarine Spitfire? :-)

[ToraToraTora]

the front chain wheel has, usually 3 sprockets, the smallest on on the inside. The rear (cassette/block (in old paralance)) has it's smallest sprocket on the ouside. The chain is often on the smallest at the front, over to the left and the smallest on the back which is over to the right. So they have the highest gear (smallest sprocket) on the back and the lowest gear(smallest chain wheel) on the front. Oddly enough this will be pedal-able. So on my bike for example small fron chain wheel with smallest back sprocket = gear ratio of 70, easy to push but chain is sideways. But if I have the chan on the middle chain wheel at the front and sprocket 5 (out of 8) I also have 70 but my chain is in line.

[jno]

I suppose it depends how steep your canal is?

[sandyRoe]

There are only 3 locks on the 11 miles from here to Lisburn. It's fairly flat.

[jno]

I suppose the ease with which you go downhill will be counterbalanced by it being harder to go in the other direction.

[New Judge]

"What was it a Supermarine Spitfire? :-)"

No, retro. Rolls Royce Merlins were 27 litres !!!

[Flonska]

One of those Merlin engines was put in to a car and it was "street legal."

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/john-dodd-and-merlin-engined-monstrosity-infuriated-rolls-royce

[Baldric]

/// a grumpy motorist is a dangerous motorist ///

I'm not a grumpy motorist gness, starters I drive a car that puts a smile on my face, but I am seriously p'eed off with the Lycra clad idiots who seem to believe they own the roads around here despite having cycle routes that they never seem to use.

[emmie]

they all think they are Bradley Wiggins..........

[10ClarionSt]

I wouldn't travel anywhere in this country on two wheels. It's just not safe, especially round here where the majority of streets and roads were constructed when the horse and cart was the main mode of transport.

[gness]

Emmie...I have neither thought I was...nor been mistaken for... Bradley Wiggins.... ;-)

[emmie]

do you have an 18 gear bike?

[ChillDoubt]

For the type of cycling you’re looking to do I’d go for a hybrid with a ‘one-by’ as they’re known within cycling circles i.e. there is only one chain ring at the front.
This will still give you plenty of range with (probably) a ten sprocket cassette at the rear. They’re becoming quite popular and despite misgivings I bought one and it’s been great to be fair. It means less weight, less maintenance and especially as you’re just starting out it’s less confusion.
I like it so much I’m getting another one-by come the January sales.

[ToraToraTora]

When I was a saucepan I had 5 speed (1 by 5) that was adequate most of the time. I wouldn't have minded the old sturmey archer 3 speed TBH if the hub didn't keep finding false neutral and smashing nads on the cross bar!

[Zacs-Master]

21 gears on my Claud Butler hybrid. I’ve often wondered whether they’re duplicated. It’s mainly flat(ish) round these ere parts so I only use 3 or 4.