Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
I was going to post about changes I made to my bike, but it got caught in the spam filter again, so I won't bother. This is starting to be a real bore.
Lower seat angle and Chain Stop
- Thread starter Charles.Plager
- Start date
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
Since the (#$&ing spam filter
Since the (#$&ing spam filter doesn't seem to mind me posting just an http address, you can read more here:
http://recumbentquant.blogspot.com/2012/06/how-low-can-i-go-part-ii.html
Since the (#$&ing spam filter doesn't seem to mind me posting just an http address, you can read more here:
http://recumbentquant.blogspot.com/2012/06/how-low-can-i-go-part-ii.html
Anonsequitur
Member
Jump Stop chain guide
Charles,
I used to experience the same problem with the chain jumping off my stock inner ring until I fully screwed in the limit screw. I also avoid an extreme downshift directly to the small inner chainring, and largest cog on the cassette (1-1), or (34x32). So far so good.
The "Jump Stop guide" you used may be useful for me too at some point, although I probably won't go to a 22T granny ring straight away if I upgrade to a triple ring crankset. I'll probably give the stock 28t "granny ring" on the Shimano 411 crankset a try on my steepest hills to see how that feels.
Charles,
I used to experience the same problem with the chain jumping off my stock inner ring until I fully screwed in the limit screw. I also avoid an extreme downshift directly to the small inner chainring, and largest cog on the cassette (1-1), or (34x32). So far so good.
The "Jump Stop guide" you used may be useful for me too at some point, although I probably won't go to a 22T granny ring straight away if I upgrade to a triple ring crankset. I'll probably give the stock 28t "granny ring" on the Shimano 411 crankset a try on my steepest hills to see how that feels.
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
Hi,
I found with the
Hi,
I found with the original gears that were on triple I bought, I was able to alleviate the problem by adjusting the front derailleur. I probably could have made the problem go away with the original double crankset as well with the same method, but I knew I was upgrading to the triple, so I never bothered much.
As far as the tiny granny gear goes, I think you are exactly right. Try the default triple on your hills and if that works for you, then you're golden.
There is also the issue of balance. It can be hard to balance these bikes moving slowly and for some people, they would never get any use out of the very low gears (this is largely a practice thing that could be overcome in most cases, I think). And, of course, you could very easily be in better shape than I am and have an easier time on the hills.
I'm currently vacationing in Vermont at my inlaws and I brought my bike along. There are real hills here. They (unfortuntely for me) live on top of a large hill, so in order to get back home, I have to ride the last two plus miles up hill. The average grade for this part is above 4% with several 8% sections.
With the old setup, I've been able to climb very short, very steep (18% according to my bike computer) hills. But for long, sustained steep sections, I spent a lot of time in my tiny granny yesterday at the end of the ride and I was very glad I had it. For several sections I was averaging under 4.5 mph and my gps track says I hit as low as 3.6 while I was still moving. It also seems to me (but I can imagine that this is just some bias I have) that it is easier to start on big hills with the lower granny.
Cheers,
Charles
I found with the
Hi,
I found with the original gears that were on triple I bought, I was able to alleviate the problem by adjusting the front derailleur. I probably could have made the problem go away with the original double crankset as well with the same method, but I knew I was upgrading to the triple, so I never bothered much.
As far as the tiny granny gear goes, I think you are exactly right. Try the default triple on your hills and if that works for you, then you're golden.
There is also the issue of balance. It can be hard to balance these bikes moving slowly and for some people, they would never get any use out of the very low gears (this is largely a practice thing that could be overcome in most cases, I think). And, of course, you could very easily be in better shape than I am and have an easier time on the hills.
I'm currently vacationing in Vermont at my inlaws and I brought my bike along. There are real hills here. They (unfortuntely for me) live on top of a large hill, so in order to get back home, I have to ride the last two plus miles up hill. The average grade for this part is above 4% with several 8% sections.
With the old setup, I've been able to climb very short, very steep (18% according to my bike computer) hills. But for long, sustained steep sections, I spent a lot of time in my tiny granny yesterday at the end of the ride and I was very glad I had it. For several sections I was averaging under 4.5 mph and my gps track says I hit as low as 3.6 while I was still moving. It also seems to me (but I can imagine that this is just some bias I have) that it is easier to start on big hills with the lower granny.
Cheers,
Charles
CruzinSusan
New Member
Using a 14-34T Super Low "MegaRange" on a heavy 24D Townie
I agree with you Charles -- I expect I'll need to fit the same gearing to 'CruzinSusan' -- either that or an eMotor.
Sometimes hauling 50 pounds of groceries, up hills, I depend on the "Super Low" 1st gear. And from what you all Cruzers are saying about hills, I assume the Cruz convert will benefit from the same "MegaRange". As Sheldon Brown once wrote about ideal gears -- they would be infinite, so each user's ideal cadence at their ideal pedal pressure could be comfortably sustained for the maximum distance. Only bike speed would vary.
I agree with you Charles -- I expect I'll need to fit the same gearing to 'CruzinSusan' -- either that or an eMotor.
Sometimes hauling 50 pounds of groceries, up hills, I depend on the "Super Low" 1st gear. And from what you all Cruzers are saying about hills, I assume the Cruz convert will benefit from the same "MegaRange". As Sheldon Brown once wrote about ideal gears -- they would be infinite, so each user's ideal cadence at their ideal pedal pressure could be comfortably sustained for the maximum distance. Only bike speed would vary.
