Messages

91

Gear Talk / Re: Tour Bike Gearing

« on: July 06, 2012, 08:01:16 am »

"Sorry, I've got to agree with Russ on this one.  Using www.sheldonbrown.com/gears and assuming a "standard" 11-34 cassette, and calculating the speed at 60 rpm (slower than I'd like to climb, but sometimes necessary), I fly up the hill at 3.4 mph using the 24 tooth chainring.  Compare that to crawling up the same hill with a 22.  (/sarcasm off)  Yes, you're talking about one extra gear.  But I'd give up that lower gear before I'd compromise shifting.  I don't know of a way to reliably shift to a 22 chainring using STI shifters, and it's critically important to be certain you can use that lowest gear when you hit the nasty hills.  Besides, we're approaching the speed at which I can walk a loaded touring bike uphill (2.7 mph, verified more times than I want to admit!)."

Compromising shifting is not true, with well planned gear ratios. As mentioned, I do not use or recommend STI shifters for touring (reason given). Walking a hill for me would be very rare (maybe you need lower gears). As I stated, I think 24T is fine for a target, but as I also stated, lower is better, particularly for someone with limited experience as the person who started this thread.  Percentage makes a difference, and it is not to palmed off with comment couple of teeth difference doesn't make a difference for lowest gear. I have experienced the difference using 24T low and 22T low over many thousands of miles.
That experience caused me to remove crank with 24T low on new bike I am building to substitute a crank with 22T low at significant expense.

92

Classifieds / WANTED: 9-Speed Touring 700c Wheelset in Excellent Condition

« on: July 05, 2012, 10:20:39 am »

.

93

Gear Talk / Re: Tour Bike Gearing

« on: July 05, 2012, 09:35:00 am »

"Low gearing:  Lower the better.  Smallest inner chainring possible.  Biggest rear cassette cog possible.  Your crankset seems to be 74mm bcd inner.  So 24 is the smallest.  Mountain bikes seem to use 22 teeth as the smallest.  Not much difference."

A difference that can make a difference. Not much difference in number of teeth, significant difference in percentage, 8 percent. Would you say dropping from 52 teeth to 48 teeth for large chainwheel is not much difference? Same 8 percent.

94

Gear Talk / Re: Tour Bike Gearing

« on: July 04, 2012, 07:08:30 am »

Gearing: I would keep 20 gear inches as target low for you. That is 24x32. Lower can be good. New bike I am currently building will have lower.

Front Derailleur: Probably over concern. I have used racing double derailleurs on triples with  range 53-24T with no problem. If derailleur has sufficient snuggle factor (my term), it will probably work. Snuggle factor: ability to get close enough to seat tube to drop onto small chainring of triple setup.

Shifters: I am taking brifters off my new touring bike and replacing them with bar ends. Too many stories of being unable to repair brifters on road.

Tires: I have toured on tires from 20 to 35mm. I suggest 32mm as target.

Spokes: Stick with 36 spokes. Much easier to get parts if need repairs on road, and should be adequate for your needs. What I use. Certainly 28mm tires and  40 or 48 spoke wheels is a mismatch.

95

Classifieds / Re: WTB: hello, i would like to buy Jamis aurora

« on: June 28, 2012, 12:38:46 pm »

Fuji Tourer is virtually the same.

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-296435.html

96

Classifieds / Re: WTB: hello, i would like to buy Jamis aurora

« on: June 27, 2012, 09:20:06 am »

Bicycle Bananas says they have Jamis Aurora bicycles. When they can deliver is a question. They are located in Reno.

http://www.bicyclebananasstore.com/Articles.asp?ID=142

Reviews of their store are here:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/bicycle-bananas-reno

97

Gear Talk / Re: Gear increments

« on: June 19, 2012, 07:13:37 am »

Buy a copy of Berto's "Upgrading Your Bike"; tell everything you need to know. Out of print, but a few copies new, and number used are available.

98

Gear Talk / Re: free standing?

« on: June 12, 2012, 11:14:04 am »

Not sure I get why you think we might be surprised.  I am also not sure what you mean by the last sentence about it being of little consequence.  Can you elaborate a bit?

I didn't say all of you might be surprised; I said the poster of the inquiry might be surprised, considering his inexperience. Did you read the reference? Don't you understand the industry definition of free-standing may not be what one thinks? I see a number of statements in this thread stating a free standing tent may need staking in strong wind. My free standing tent is useless without staking, wind or no wind, and it takes a lot of stakes. I suspect the inquirer thinks that he can just pick up a free standing tent and put it here or there without doing anything further. Maybe, but the industry definition for free standing says although tent may stand, may need staking to be useful. Free standing, as defined by the industry, is of minor importance in picking a tent.

99

Gear Talk / Re: free standing?

« on: June 11, 2012, 07:59:59 am »

You may be surprised at definition of a free standing tent.

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/gear-guy/What-s-a-freestanding-tent-.html

Whether to have a tent that is free standing as defined is of minor importance.

100

Gear Talk / Re: WANTED: Getting my wife her first touring bike!

« on: May 31, 2012, 06:47:28 am »

You have a wanted listing in Classifieds; I think that is the place.

101

Gear Talk / Re: Bike shorts + chamois cream (Experience)

« on: May 26, 2012, 06:21:43 pm »

I don't use chamois cream; I use Bag Balm. I carry only one extra pr of shorts, and wash shorts every night. I am more concerned with bacteria than greasy feel.

102

Gear Talk / Re: Feedback on this bike please...

« on: May 26, 2012, 06:18:59 pm »

Neither bike is a tourer, but each could do.

Speeder has high gearing for a true touring bike. Nine speed will be more easier to get parts than 8-speed. Presumably, "freewheel" is a cassette.

Marin has lower gearing, but I would swap 28 tooth chainwheel for 24 or 22. Specs say rims are 32 hole, while saying rear hub is 36 hole. Thirtysix hole rims are standard for touring road bikes. 28c tires are on small side for touring (some tires marked 28c actually measure just 24c wide). In a poll, half the riders who tried gel saddles were disappointed.

(Ex rugger.)

103

Gear Talk / Re: Bottom bracket replacement - 118 vs 110

« on: May 21, 2012, 11:13:53 am »

Gear Guru Berto advises that a double BB will work 80 percent of time for triple crankset. You must try to see. If anything hits frame, I suspect it will be inner chainring, not pedals.

104

Gear Talk / Re: Searching for a Bike

« on: May 19, 2012, 03:22:11 pm »

Bikesdirect has been discussed many times; see archives. Also see recent discussion for "Windsor Tourist".

105

Gear Talk / Re: Touring Bikes Under Consideration

« on: May 17, 2012, 07:35:22 am »

Considering your inexperience, I suggest you have the inner chainring changed to smallest possible by the dealer when you buy your Trek 520. You may be glad you did when pedaling up hills fully loaded on tour.