Built this up last week because, to be honest, I got fed up with gears.
Today I took it out for it's first ride as a s/s.
As soon as I got it off the rack and started to ride towards the mountain I knew the gearing was too high. I put a 36 - 17 ratio on it.
I was surprised though as to how far I rode it before having to get off and walk to the less 'hilly' bits.
I walked more than rode to the top of the mountain BUT on the bits I did ride I was thinking of what gearing I should be able to run to get up the trail a lot further before I'd need to, ahem, walk again.
Mainly it's down to fitness as it's the 1st time I've been out on the bike for months.
Coming back down the 36-17 was very nice. One part was rocky, about 300-400 metres, rocks were flying up and pinging against the tubes but that's all I could hear. Very nice not to have the noise of mechs clanging and chains slapping.
Got home and changed the ratio to 34-19. The good thing about it was the chain stayed the same length as I'd gone 2 teeth lower in the front and 2 higher in the back.
I'll be taking it to the same trail tomorrow to see how far I get.
(I may take some pics to post up as I think I'll more than likely be stopping a few times, lol)
Today I took it out for it's first ride as a s/s.
As soon as I got it off the rack and started to ride towards the mountain I knew the gearing was too high. I put a 36 - 17 ratio on it.
I was surprised though as to how far I rode it before having to get off and walk to the less 'hilly' bits.
I walked more than rode to the top of the mountain BUT on the bits I did ride I was thinking of what gearing I should be able to run to get up the trail a lot further before I'd need to, ahem, walk again.
Mainly it's down to fitness as it's the 1st time I've been out on the bike for months.
Coming back down the 36-17 was very nice. One part was rocky, about 300-400 metres, rocks were flying up and pinging against the tubes but that's all I could hear. Very nice not to have the noise of mechs clanging and chains slapping.
Got home and changed the ratio to 34-19. The good thing about it was the chain stayed the same length as I'd gone 2 teeth lower in the front and 2 higher in the back.
I'll be taking it to the same trail tomorrow to see how far I get.
(I may take some pics to post up as I think I'll more than likely be stopping a few times, lol)