I have the same dilemma Tom (I'm in the Seniors group..).
I thought/think very large gears are an advantage in the right circumstances so I changed my MR
Swift from the standard 30/40/54 to 36/46/60. (I have 145 mm cranks...)
On a steep downhill, this is no advantage UNTIL YOU REACH THE BOTTOM of the hill - where you can
start pedalling at very high cadence, doing 55 to 60 kph (33 - 36 MPH). This maintains the speed,
which drops slowly, as you ride up the next hill. There is ALWAYS a next hill!🙂 The inertial
advantage of maintaining higher speed is obvious if you have an upright following - they will (if
you're lucky) bog down on the uphill and have farther to travel on their low gears.
Trikes are always going to be slower uphill - where they can excel is on rolling switchbacks where
the downs get them up to speed where they can crest the next rise and their very slight (for a 40
degree seat) aerodynamic advantage can kick in.
On the flat or a slight downslope with a tail wind, it is possible to power along at 24 mph (40 kph)
without flailing (as you put it).
I have noticed that 60/11 is a bit ambitious for my legs and one gear down
(60/13) is probably more useful.
On the uphill, 36/34 (rear megarange 11/34) is too high for steep bits.
We can't win the gear range issue unless we put on a 3 speed hub. It's nice to have the extra
low and high gears, but the weight penalty and 4% drag annoy me. A 3 speed hub really only adds
two gears when you're riding - you run out of low and go to the low range or viccy verca on the
high side.
I am eagerly awaiting my new Swiftlet 2 adjustable CF seat, 12 kg (approx) , 16" wheels all round
from MR. After much confusion on my part, I'm sticking with Michaels standard gearing for this trike
- a high of 107 (60/9 on
61 ) - just a tisker less than the 60/11 on 20. That will almost exactly equate to what I've found
most practical on the Swift.
We don't need larger gearing ranges...just hydraulic pistons for legs...🙂 But I am SO looking
forward to being able to drop the seat to 22 degrees for a bit of low flying, then pop it back (it
can be adjusted while riding) to 40 for a restful sleep on the hills.....
Paul W
