Gear ratios

Pete Biggs said:

Better is to remove chain and soak in a jar of white spirit.

o Remove chain o place in industrial-size Nescafe tin with quantity of suitable solvent o place tin
in luggage box on bike-carying trailer, drive a hundred and forty miles, OR place tin on top of
washing machine and do weekly laundry

Or find someone who works somewhere where they have an ultrasonic cleaning tank.

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Bob said:

Anyone got any good tips on cleaning rear cassettes and chains...?

Guru Sheldon knows all....

sheldonbrown.comchains.htmlOpen ↗ - the "Sheldon Shake" - most efficient chain cleaning
technique I've ever used.

For cassettes, I use a long bristly brush for a quick clean or strip the thing down completely if
it's really cruddy.

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.comOpen ↗ New!
Improved!! Now with added extra Demon!

In message id <[email hidden]> on Tue, 19 Aug 2003 11:19:39 +0100, Bob
wrote in uk.rec.cycling :

Quoted message said:

I think at the moment I'm running on a 55:12 setup, which is way too hard to pedal for anymore than
100 metres even with the help of a howling gale as a tail wind. What is a common ratio for general
cycling about...?

Hi, I'm another with queries about how this gearing thing works.

Currently on my 23 mile round trip commute (on a cheap hybrid - Trek
200), I have a gradual climb of about 4.5 miles up the North Downs. The steepest stretch runs for
about 0.5m, no idea how high it gets, avg speed up is 5-6mph, 28-30mph coming down. I have been
doing this in the "bottom gear" and am now managing to do it in the 2nd bottom and sometimes
higher. I have hated climbing but feel I am getting stronger.

On the downhill stretch and on the flat I am finding that I am not going as fast as I
can/want. I get into the top gear, pedal furiously, but rarely get above 30mph downhill or
above 22mph on the flat.

For the first 4 weeks it was only cyclists on racing bikes that were passing me which is fair
enough. I am now finding that everyone else passes by on similar looking hybrid type bikes. This has
led me to think about trading in and getting a better piece of kit. Then I read in here and started
thinking it might be the gearing.

The rear cassette was recently replaced and is 14-24 teeth on the smallest 6 rings and I think 37 on
the largest. The number of teeth on the biggest chainring is 48.

Should I still be considering a new bike (lighter weight therefore high power can push it faster) or
should I just consider a bigger big wheel? How much bigger can it get and what improvements to speed
should I expect?

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Just zis Guy, you know? muttered:

Quoted message said:

Bob said:

Anyone got any good tips on cleaning rear cassettes and chains...?

Guru Sheldon knows all....

sheldonbrown.comchains.htmlOpen ↗ - the "Sheldon Shake" - most efficient chain cleaning
technique I've ever used.

I'll have a look when our net connection gets above 0.1Kb per sec...

Quoted message said:

For cassettes, I use a long bristly brush for a quick clean or strip the thing down completely if
it's really cruddy.

I took my rear cassette off last night and was surprised to find it is essentially a 14 - 21 6 speed
black held together with rivets, with two extra loose sprockets (the 12 and 13 teeth ones). Is this
normal...? I would have preferred it to be all loose as I then could have done a better job of
cleaning it...

Cheers,

--
bob [at] bobarnott [dot] com bobarnott.combobarnott.comOpen ↗
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Crash programs fail because they are based on theory that, with nine women pregnant, you can get a
baby in a month."
-- Wernher von Braun

"Bob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I took my rear cassette off last night and was surprised to find it is essentially a 14 - 21 6
speed black held together with rivets, with two extra loose sprockets (the 12 and 13 teeth ones).
Is this normal...? I would have preferred it to be all loose as I then could have done a better
job of cleaning it...

Cheers,

Often the aren't rivets but very small hexagonal or allen bolts. Even if they aren't white spirit
and a bit of string will clean it ok. It doesn't need to be perfect.

"Bob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

sheldonbrown.comchains.htmlOpen ↗ - the "Sheldon Shake" - most efficient chain cleaning
technique I've ever used.

Quoted message said:

I'll have a look when our net connection gets above 0.1Kb per sec...

Think of it as another benefit of Microsoft's world domination plan - every now and then the script
kiddies get to give the whole world a day off internet use.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

For cassettes, I use a long bristly brush for a quick clean or strip the thing down completely
if it's really cruddy.

Quoted message said:

I took my rear cassette off last night and was surprised to find it is essentially a 14 - 21 6
speed black held together with rivets, with two extra loose sprockets (the 12 and 13 teeth ones).
Is this normal...? I would have preferred it to be all loose as I then could have done a better
job of cleaning it...

Yes, it's normal. Those rivets might be allen screws, though, if it's a quality cassette. One of
mine is, anyway.

--
Guy
===

WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.comOpen ↗

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I took my rear cassette off last night and was surprised to find it is essentially a 14 - 21 6
speed black held together with rivets, with two extra loose sprockets (the 12 and 13 teeth
ones). Is this normal...? I would have preferred it to be all loose as I then could have done a

better

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

job of cleaning it...

Yes, it's normal. Those rivets might be allen screws, though, if it's a quality cassette. One of
mine is, anyway.

8 spd HG50 12-21 uses 2mm allen screws, and I think that's the lowest quality 12-21 you can get.

(I get them as they make a jolly fine 7 speed block with the 21 chopped off).

cheers, clive

Bob said:

I took my rear cassette off last night and was surprised to find it is essentially a 14 - 21 6
speed black held together with rivets, with two extra loose sprockets (the 12 and 13 teeth ones).
Is this normal...?

It is indeed. It's a cunning ploy to make it even more difficult to assemble custom cassettes. Or
something. Though I believe that in principle there is no reason why one cannot drill out the
rivets, thereby gaining access to the rest of the cogs.

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
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John Blake said:

Currently on my 23 mile round trip commute (on a cheap hybrid - Trek
200), I have a gradual climb of about 4.5 miles up the North Downs. The steepest stretch runs for
about 0.5m, no idea how high it gets, avg speed up is 5-6mph, 28-30mph coming down. I have
been doing this in the "bottom gear" and am now managing to do it in the 2nd bottom and
sometimes higher. I have hated climbing but feel I am getting stronger.

On the downhill stretch and on the flat I am finding that I am not going as fast as I can/want.
I get into the top gear, pedal furiously, but rarely get above 30mph downhill or above 22mph on
the flat.

For the first 4 weeks it was only cyclists on racing bikes that were passing me which is fair
enough. I am now finding that everyone else passes by on similar looking hybrid type bikes. This
has led me to think about trading in and getting a better piece of kit. Then I read in here and
started thinking it might be the gearing.

The rear cassette was recently replaced and is 14-24 teeth on the smallest 6 rings and I think 37
on the largest. The number of teeth on the biggest chainring is 48.

Should I still be considering a new bike (lighter weight therefore high power can push it faster)

Reducing weight generally makes a bike faster but won't down the hills where a heavier bike will
have more momentum. However, road race bikes will be faster for various other reasons, mainly
because they are more aerodynamic. As well as possibly being more leant forward with a flatter back,
the rider will usually be nearer the ground altogether. Better tyres (and ensuring they are well
inflated) will speed you up a little bit as well.

Quoted message said:

or should I just consider a bigger big wheel?

No, that won't be practical or necessary.

I suggest changing the outer chainring and/or the freewheel/cassette. If have a freewheel* then the
smallest top-sprocket available is likely to be 13-teeth; 12 or 11T for cassette. I suggest first
trying a 13 in either case - one tooth does make a considerable difference right at the top end. A
50T chainring would help as well - a larger one than that may generally hinder more than help on
your bike.

Then get a road bike in addition if you fancy one!

* Freewheel or cassette? : www.sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html

~PB

Dave Larrington <[email hidden]> wrote:
:> Better is to remove chain and soak in a jar of white spirit.

: o Remove chain

The trouble for me is that it's a choice between a 30sec swipe with a chain cleaning widget, wipe
with rag, lube (total elapsed time about 1 min) or well, not doing it at all if I have to take the
chain off the bike.

Also, for those of us without sheds/garages keeping jars of white spirit around is a right PITA

Arthur

Arthur Clune said:

The trouble for me is that it's a choice between a 30sec swipe with a chain cleaning widget, wipe
with rag, lube (total elapsed time about 1 min) or well, not doing it at all if I have to take the
chain off the bike.

That resonates to quite a degree... However, it's not nearly such a faff if you've got a Powerlink
in there (I have, but still tend to use the widgets).

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Arthur Clune said:

Also, for those of us without sheds/garages keeping jars of white spirit around is a right PITA

Wot! No shed? I have not the words...

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================
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Dave Larrington said:

Wot! No shed? I have not the words...

Welcome to the magical world of tenements and similar dwelling spaces! I must admit my chances
of wanting to own a Streetmachine if I still lived up a flight of stairs would be somewhere
around 0%...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Peter Clinch said:

Welcome to the magical world of tenements and similar dwelling spaces! I must admit my chances
of wanting to own a Streetmachine if I still lived up a flight of stairs would be somewhere
around 0%...

That was one of the more important criteria when seeking out my current abode. "Must have shed or
garage accessible without having to drag bicycles through the house" I said. This confuses estate
agents no end.

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================

Dave Larrington said:

That was one of the more important criteria when seeking out my current abode. "Must have shed or
garage accessible without having to drag bicycles through the house" I said. This confuses estate
agents no end.

"Spacious garden utility facility combined with superior road access to outdoor recreational area"
would probably have been near enough Total Bollocks to mean something to them... ;-/

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Dave Larrington <[email hidden]> wrote:

: Wot! No shed? I have not the words...

And I have not the money.

Arthur

Frank X wrote:

[snipped...]

Quoted message said:

Often the aren't rivets but very small hexagonal or allen bolts. Even if they aren't white spirit
and a bit of string will clean it ok. It doesn't need to be perfect.

Upon closer inspection they are indeed 2mm alen bolts, couldn't tell under all the [censored]... The
casette has now been dismanteled, cleaned, lubed and is awiting reassembly.

Cheers,

P.S. All I need to do now is finish the chain (it's in white spirit as we speak) and clean the fly
wheels on the rear deraileier and I've got a sparkingly clean drive train. :-)

--
bob [at] bobarnott [dot] com bobarnott.combobarnott.comOpen ↗
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Crash programs fail because they are based on theory that, with nine women pregnant, you can get a
baby in a month."
-- Wernher von Braun

Peter Clinch said:

Arthur Clune said:

The trouble for me is that it's a choice between a 30sec swipe with a chain cleaning widget, wipe
with rag, lube (total elapsed time about 1 min) or well, not doing it at all if I have to take
the chain off the bike.

That resonates to quite a degree... However, it's not nearly such a faff if you've got a Powerlink
in there (I have, but still tend to use the widgets).

Pete.

I had a widget, which clean the chain splendidly. Unfortunately the widget was then full of foul
gritty muck the next time and took 10 mins an a sink full of suds to get clean. It was lovely
and clean but when it was time to do the dishes I had to get the vim out t clean the grey slime
off the sink.

I've got a large jar and a load of lemony chain cleaner now.

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

Love this: Put an end to Outlook Express's messy quotes
home.in.tum.deoe quotefixOpen ↗

Bob said:

All I need to do now is finish the chain (it's in white spirit as we speak) and clean the fly
wheels on the rear deraileier and I've got a sparkingly clean drive train. :-)

Just in time to allow the gales and downpours of ColdRain to cover it in [censored] again...

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
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In message id <[email hidden]> on Thu, 21 Aug 2003 11:39:20 +0100, Pete
Biggs wrote in uk.rec.cycling :

Quoted message said:

Reducing weight generally makes a bike faster

I've been doing this commute for about 6 weeks now and haven't shed a pound! I am eating better and
slightly more. If anything there might be too many carbohydrates. But I can't cut back too much or
I'll just pass out. My legs feel stronger so they might have more muscle which I know is heavier
than fat but........

Quoted message said:

but won't down the hills where a heavier bike will have more momentum.

Oh - you meant the bike? :-) I suppose the carbs in these beers aren't helping either. :-)

Quoted message said:

However, road race bikes will be faster for various other reasons, mainly because they are more
aerodynamic. As well as possibly being more leant forward with a flatter back, the rider will
usually be nearer the ground altogether. Better tyres (and ensuring they are well inflated) will
speed you up a little bit as well.

I have tried gradually upping the pressure in the tyres and have noticed a more comfortable ride and
slight speed improvement. Changing tyres was something that crossed my mind.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

or should I just consider a bigger big wheel?

No, that won't be practical or necessary.

I suggest changing the outer chainring and/or the freewheel/cassette. If have a freewheel* then the
smallest top-sprocket available is likely to be 13-teeth; 12 or 11T for cassette. I suggest first
trying a 13 in either case - one tooth does make a considerable difference right at the top end. A
50T chainring would help as well - a larger one than that may generally hinder more than help on
your bike.

It was only the outer chainring that I was thinking of changing. The other two are fine for the rest
of my riding. Thanks for responding.

Quoted message said:

Then get a road bike in addition if you fancy one!

I had one before and found it uncomfortable looking over my shoulder and being relatively low down
and unsighted by cars. Short legs limit the height of the bike so a hybrid makes me feel safer
because I feel more visible. Well most days anyway.

Quoted message said:

* Freewheel or cassette? : www.sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html

An interesting site. Thanks for the pointer.

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