This type of thinking is where I am at as well. My alignment with the big ring and the 7 speed mid cog is around 66 gear inches. I set up my Atlantis style clone bike (LHT) with a 107 bottom bracket which favors the inner cogs somewhat and I also used a spacer of course, with the seven speed cassette further aligning the middle cog. I don't get as much sideways chain bend with the mid ring which seems to be when the chain is maximally tensioned (during climbing) and in my mind increasing wear. I seldom ride the big ring with my 12 tooth except when maybe low tension spinning on a downhill or tailwind scenario. My goals have been to acheive maximum drive train life at low cost and gearing that I most often use with the best possible chain alignment. I think the shift (no puns intended) toward 10 speed and now 11 speed cog sets will prove to be unpopular when riders realize the durability and safety factors involved, not to mention the higher costs. I like a seven cog cassette as I know I have three cogs to each side of my mid position when viewing the shift lever and it helps me think about my shifting pattern when riding. I get an easy shift off the front to a 48 inch gear with my mid ring which works for me when I come to a stop at a light....so I am happy with it so far. The only thing better might be a Phil Wood hub/ symmetrical wheel and a seven freewheel. Not sure though.
On Oct 23, 11:27 am, PATRICK MOORE <bertin...@gmail.com> wrote: > After a number of years of exclusive fixed and ss riding, I bowed to > the inevitable and did not have my new Fargo modified with track ends > or horizontals. But I run only 6 cogs on the 8/9/10 sp hub, using > three 8 sp spacers behind the rump cassette. For the fat Big Apple 65s > and the 46/36/24, I use a 15-17-20-24 29 34 that gives me a 67" gear > when the chain is on the big ring and perfectly straight -- I tend to > use this gear for most riding, only downshifting for sand and off road > hills. > > > > On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 10:56 AM, charlie <charles_v...@hotmail.com> wrote: > > I recently switched to a 7 speed cassette and purchased both the > > cassette and chain for under $30. I haven't missed the one extra cog a > > bit. I have owned several freewheel bikes with six speeds and except > > for the 14 tooth top gear I didn't think I was "under geared" at all. > > Except for a nice low for loaded climbing most of us probably ride > > from about 40+ to 80+ gear inches depending on our local terrain. When > > you think about it rationally, lower gearing overall is probably more > > useful and wider spacing just doesn't seem to be a big deal. Staying > > "on top of the gear" as I like to put it just seems like frantic > > riding. Chain line and drive train longevity seem more important to me > > if you ride more than just on sunny days or weekends. > > > On Oct 23, 7:42 am, Mike <mjawn...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> I'll be sticking with 8 speed and I'll scoop up a few chains and > >> cassettes while it's easy to do so. It seems to play well with > >> friction shifters. I never really liked the way my Rambouillet shifted > >> with a 9speed cassette and friction shifters, just a bit too finicky. > >> Who knows, maybe one day I'll get one of those PW freewheel hubs and > >> go to 6 speed. But I definitely won't be moving to 9, 10 or 11 speed. > > >> --mike > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > For more options, visit this group > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > -- > Patrick Moore > Albuquerque, NM > For professional resumes, contact > Patrick Moore, ACRW at resumespecialt...@gmail.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
