[ebonho]

Originally Posted by shipnil

I explored various websites and a general opinion was the cog shifts should be 1.1 to 1.15 ratio. 21-18 is 1.16 hence that issue of spinning fast or harder gear. Also, for me 14-12 jump not optimum as it is also 1.16. After couple of years, I am able to stay mostly in 16-18 so that issue of spinning fast is not there.

Thanks Shipnil!

I recall we had a decent discussion on gearing some time last year and I remember you mentioning this ratio but I could not find the post where you spoke about it, so really appreciate you repeating it here. (exhausted my quota of smilies for this one!)

The only caveat I would like to add here about this jump ratio is that it is not such an issue at the lower end of your gear range (your past 2-3 climbing gears) because the gradient changes are such (more drastic than the subtle ones on the flats/rolling) that bigger jumps between cogs are not felt as much.

Yup, as I said, Bopdev can be done in 26. Katraj and Dive even higher. But Sinhagad, Bhor and Lavasa are much steeper, and longer. Body weight also makes a big difference.

Cheers, Doc

[Mi10]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Thanks Mi10!

Yeah, the SRAM PG-830 11-30 is on my radar as well. Been suggested by a pro racer friend of mine as the best of both worlds between the 11-32 and the 11-28.

11 13 15 17 20 23 26 30

I doesn't however have the 16t cog, and I've been reading on many forums that the 15 to 17 gap tends to leave riders in no-man's land in the meat of the cassette's mid range (the operating core for 90% riding). What are your thoughts on that?

I don't know about this no-man's land gearing, but i am guessing it cannot be made as a statement without knowing the specs of the Crank.

I am facing the exact gears in both my bikes, which is missing the 16T cog.

One has 11-12-13-14-15-17-... (Dura Ace- 9100) and the other 11-12-13-14-15-17-... (105-5800)

But the gear transitions are just perfect for me in 105 because it is running 52T. The Dura Ace i am finding it hard to get that perfect sweet spot between cruising speed - cadence and Load (indirectly effort -> HR) as it is on 54T.

Also that sweetspot differs from person to person. I have seen few who are very comfortable at 78-82 RPM and still make excellent progress (speed).
i started off very high (98-105 RPM) before settling down to 88-92 as sweet spot.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Mi10

I don't know about this no-man's land gearing, but i am guessing it cannot be made as a statement without knowing the specs of the Crank.

I am facing the exact gears in both my bikes, which is missing the 16T cog.

One has 11-12-13-14-15-17-... (Dura Ace- 9100) and the other 11-12-13-14-15-17-... (105-5800)

But the gear transitions are just perfect for me in 105 because it is running 52T. The Dura Ace i am finding it hard to get that perfect sweet spot between cruising speed - cadence and Load (indirectly effort -> HR) as it is on 54T.

Also that sweetspot differs from person to person. I have seen few who are very comfortable at 78-82 RPM and still make excellent progress (speed).
i started off very high (98-105 RPM) before settling down to 88-92 as sweet spot.

I believe most international forums discussing this were on standard cranks.

53-39.

For me personally, running a 50-34, I'm simply used to having the 16, and the 16 and 18 see a lot of work on the trainer as well.

Then again, I'm running an 8 speed. And most are running 11. Though that should not make a difference to an individual ratio per se.

Cheers, Doc

P.S. The 16t is the darling of the older generation racers here as well. The ones racing 5 and 6 speed freewheels. Friction shifters on the downtube. And 52/42 cranks. Heard this more than once.

[ebonho]

Bombay - Poona and the trails right now!

Courtesy: Bombay Boy Who Pedals

https://youtu.be/uMqTDew97SI

Cheers, Doc

[ebonho]

https://youtu.be/rj2sxICzVAo

https://youtu.be/2ENBCUjvXB4

Surreal man. Bikes and riders being picked out from the tops of trees!

It's a wonder no one broke their neck.

Cheers, Doc

[condor]

Wanted advice on stem risers. I have a Decathlon Trailman, and wanted to try a stem riser for a more comfortable handle bar height. Has anybody tried this ? How does it affect handling ?

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by condor

Wanted advice on stem risers. I have a Decathlon Trailman, and wanted to try a stem riser for a more comfortable handle bar height. Has anybody tried this ? How does it affect handling ?

Would advise you strongly against one. It's simply not safe. Okay for recreational slow speed riding in the society max.

[condor]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Would advise you strongly against one. It's simply not safe. Okay for recreational slow speed riding in the society max.

Doc, not into serious riding. It's a size L.

I first thought the spacers may help increase the height by an inch or so. The service guy at decathlon said that wont fit - and I would have to go for a stem riser.

So what do you say - a road bike ?

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by condor

Doc, not into serious riding. It's a size L.

I first thought the spacers may help increase the height by an inch or so. The service guy at decathlon said that wont fit - and I would have to go for a stem riser.

So what do you say - a road bike ?

L is pretty big. I'm 180 cm and a M in most major brands. How tall are you? Which model is it? Did you check the size chart. I suspect it's more to do with your lack of saddle time and flexibility, core strength.

If the spacers are all below the stem

AND

The stem is angled upward (all stems have a slight angle, so you can fit them in two positions, facing down or pointed up)

You could either try a riser bar ( a curved bar)

OR

A different stem with a much more acute angle/length

OR

Try an adjustable stem that you can swivel upward for comfort.

A stem riser is very scary. It's your only steering contact with the bike. Don't mess with that.

[splitsecond]

Originally Posted by amvj

Today I rode 31+ KM. My longest ride so far.
Previously, I get very tired even for a 10 KM ride. Now my body is slowly getting used to this. Although the speed is very very less, especially it is basically a flat terrain.

I have one question:
For today's ride, I have used Apple watch and Strava + Chest heart rate strap. I find the calorie count difference between the two is quite huge. Any one find similar issue ?

I have heard that calorie burn differs between apps and the most accurate way to measure it is to use a power meter. However, I still find this difference quite huge.

Apple watch: 878 Cal (total)
Strava: 1560 Cal

Attachment 2121472

Attachment 2121473

What was your average heart rate in starva? May be the difference in heart may have caused this variation.

[ebonho]

Nothing more soul uplifting (especially on Monday morning) than a ride to one of the wet green rolling pretty ghats in and around Poona during the monsoons!

Alandi (Chakan) ghat. 2.3 km long. A very gentle 3.1% average gradient. Beautiful road surface. Sparse traffic. Me and my old faithful Hercules ACT 110. Perfect combination.





Cheers, Doc

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Nothing more soul uplifting (especially on Monday morning)…

Totally agree! Was off the bike for the past one week – as recommended after the vaccine shot. It was good to be back on the bike, did just around 40 kms round trip on the usual track.



20kms ride for a coffee – Monday motivation!

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by vb-san

It was good to be back on the bike

Totally! Honestly with the global warming in front of our eyes in our own lifetime, winter has all but disappeared.

Funnily, though the Covid second wave kept us preoccupied and largely indoors, this year we barely had a summer as well. Both in terms of months as well as temperature highs.

So honestly the monsoons are the best time of the year now for us. Can't waste it indoors.

I like the fact that you have kept your bike "undecorated" without even a saddlebag.

Cheers, Doc

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Nothing more soul uplifting (especially on Monday morning) than a ride to one of the wet green rolling pretty ghats in and around Poona during the monsoons!

Alandi (Chakan) ghat. 2.3 km long. A very gentle 3.1% average gradient. Beautiful road surface. Sparse traffic. Me and my old faithful Hercules ACT 110. Perfect combination.

Lucky you, doc! The only single reason I'm ruing on a daily basis, having done the shift from Mumbai to Bangalore just before the monsoons. Loads of fun for you for the next 3 months up ahead for sure.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

Lucky you, doc! The only single reason I'm ruing on a daily basis, having done the shift from Mumbai to Bangalore just before the monsoons. Loads of fun for you for the next 3 months up ahead for sure.

Completely man. Though there's been a little bit of a lull for now. But you know how it is. When it comes down, 2-3 weeks it will be non stop waterfalls.

Looking forward to photos of your rides in Bangalore once you start exploring the place. I know traffic is bad. But weather is very good. And while not many hills really close by (Nandi is the only real hill) there are many really nice 2-3 day rides around the city. Loads of climbing.

Both Tour de Nilgiris and the iconic Gates of Heaven 1200 km BRM (by invitation only for the chosen elite from around the country) are both Bangalore based.

Settle in first. The rest will follow.

Cheers, Doc