Low Gears and Internet Shaming

[El Chaba]

Low gearing is nothing new at all. There was an entire sub-industry within the cycling industry in France dedicated to that very category. It existed pretty much until the demise of most of the French cycling industry in the late 80s. See also Specialites TA Pro 5 vis, Huret Duopar, Simplex GT…

[XXtwindad]

A*Train. Geared 32/36.

Don’t “sexy shame” me!

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

A*Train. Geared 32/36.

Don’t “sexy shame” me!

Thread Drift: What brand frame is that? "A-Train"? "A1Rain"?

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Thread Drift: What brand frame is that? "A-Train"? "A1Rain"?

A*Train stainless.

[NHAero]

In 1975 I showed up to ride the Mt Washington Hillclimb in NH on the aluminum fixed gear bike I'd built in '74 at MIT. I'd calculated my likely watts over the 7.6 mile, 4,725 foot elevation climb, and estimated I could ride the route in about 75 minutes. That led me to a 1:1 gear ratio. I had a 20T fixed cog on the rear so I made a 20T front cog for the 50.4 BCD TA Cyclotouriste crankset on the bike.

The bike was of course very unusual looking so many folks came to take a look, and most laughed at the gearing (I didn't feel at all shamed, I mean, the whole bike was mega-weird at the time and people were really interested). Meanwhile, I walked around and looked at other people's gearing. The person closest to what I was running was 3 time Olympian John Allis, who'd won the race in '73 and '74, amongst his other palmares. That made me think my math was reasonable!

The organizers wouldn't let me enter a fixed gear (despite telling me I could do so when I inquired ahead of time) so I left 1/2 hour before the race began and rode alone, finishing without standing up in 1:13:30. That time that year would have been top ten.

You may be able to ride heroic gearing but biomechanics will rule and we all have optimum ranges of cadence and power so ride what gearing works for you.

[El Chaba]

Originally Posted by NHAero

In 1975 I showed up to ride the Mt Washington Hillclimb in NH on the aluminum fixed gear bike I'd built in '74 at MIT. I'd calculated my likely watts over the 7.6 mile, 4,725 foot elevation climb, and estimated I could ride the route in about 75 minutes. That led me to a 1:1 gear ratio. I had a 20T fixed cog on the rear so I made a 20T front cog for the 50.4 BCD TA Cyclotouriste crankset on the bike.

The bike was of course very unusual looking so many folks came to take a look, and most laughed at the gearing (I didn't feel at all shamed, I mean, the whole bike was mega-weird at the time and people were really interested). Meanwhile, I walked around and looked at other people's gearing. The person closest to what I was running was 3 time Olympian John Allis, who'd won the race in '73 and '74, amongst his other palmares. That made me think my math was reasonable!

The organizers wouldn't let me enter a fixed gear (despite telling me I could do so when I inquired ahead of time) so I left 1/2 hour before the race began and rode alone, finishing without standing up in 1:13:30. That time that year would have been top ten.

You may be able to ride heroic gearing but biomechanics will rule and we all have optimum ranges of cadence and power so ride what gearing works for you.

GREAT story…..

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

A*Train. Geared 32/36.

Don’t “sexy shame” me!

What's up with all the spacers?

[nmrt]

Have we moved on from low gear shaming...
to spacer shaming?

Originally Posted by charliedid

What's up with all the spacers?

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by nmrt

Have we moved on from low gear shaming...
to spacer shaming?

[5oakterrace]

Originally Posted by NHAero

In 1975 I showed up to ride the Mt Washington Hillclimb in NH on the aluminum fixed gear bike I'd built in '74 at MIT. I'd calculated my likely watts over the 7.6 mile, 4,725 foot elevation climb, and estimated I could ride the route in about 75 minutes. That led me to a 1:1 gear ratio. I had a 20T fixed cog on the rear so I made a 20T front cog for the 50.4 BCD TA Cyclotouriste crankset on the bike.

The bike was of course very unusual looking so many folks came to take a look, and most laughed at the gearing (I didn't feel at all shamed, I mean, the whole bike was mega-weird at the time and people were really interested). Meanwhile, I walked around and looked at other people's gearing. The person closest to what I was running was 3 time Olympian John Allis, who'd won the race in '73 and '74, amongst his other palmares. That made me think my math was reasonable!

The organizers wouldn't let me enter a fixed gear (despite telling me I could do so when I inquired ahead of time) so I left 1/2 hour before the race began and rode alone, finishing without standing up in 1:13:30. That time that year would have been top ten.

You may be able to ride heroic gearing but biomechanics will rule and we all have optimum ranges of cadence and power so ride what gearing works for you.

Wonderful story. My sense at Washington is that there is deep mutual respect among the riders. Everyone knows you are at your limit and no one cares what your gears are.
This whole discussion is fascinating to me as it speaks to the way in which we are so conscious of what others think. Frankly, it may at least partially explain why folks tend to jump onto the latest trends in bikes, despite what I think is there prohibitive cost. But if you have the funds, spend as you like, I guess. And it does not simply apply to cycling, Throw in fashion, cars, clothing, you name it - we seem to be so concerned with the impression we perceive we make. Very little peace in that, in my view. But we are all affected to some extent. No one is an island