Re: bigger chain ring or smaller cog? -- TimeTrial.org Message Board

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Date Posted: 13:35:00 04/20/04 Tue
Author: Scott Godfrey
Subject: Re: bigger chain ring or smaller cog?
In reply to: SteveP 's message, "bigger chain ring or smaller cog?" on 17:28:57 04/10/04 Sat

>On flats, I'm riding a 53/12 and starting to run out
>of gear. I'm looking for a knowledgable opinion on
>gaining more gear inchs. If I just go with an 11-21
>cogset, I gain about nine gears inches between the 12
>and 11. If I go to a 54 or 55 chain ring, I gain some
>gear inches throughout the cog set and may even get a
>more efficient chain angle running something like a
>54/11-21. Any advise?

Honestly, I'd say you need to work on your cadence and your shifting methods. The 11T is almost uselss and serves mostly to put your useful gears into a position with better chain line. It serves for a freak tail wind like can happen in Lancaster or at Tom's Farm. Altering your chainring is going to modify your entire upper range, so coupling a 54 or 55 may make you go from an x-21 to an x-23 as well.
Learning to spin faster (and I'm not advising an anemic spinning only routine like are absurdly popular) will net you higher performance (greater power output) in the end. Target a 90-110 cadence in training. On track typical gearing (flats) is 49x15 or 50x15, fixed, for speeds 23-30MPH. A power meter that feeds back power, speed, and cadence simultaneously will be invaluable.

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