Gear ratio effect on stopping/skidding

went up HHW last night for the first time in ages last night. good way to keep warm this time of year.

I only did it once and it near killed me. But I'm a bit fitter now and have, crucially, got a lower gear. Can't see me keeping up with you, lpg, dicky, jonny, hippy or bmmf though :-(

yeah you will matt, particularly when you start sticking an SE24 commute under your belt ;)

jonny went up HHW last night for the first time in ages last night. good way to keep warm this time of year.

I was almost tempted to come with you last night to have a crack but need for food was a greater pull.

We should try to get the hill climb going again, I never tried it but would like to have a shot.

in that case i'll bring the polo bike along, a mighty 42:20, just watch my tight buns as i dance up the hill

dogsballs in that case i'll bring the polo bike along, a mighty 42:20, just watch my tight buns as i dance up the hill

SSIM (Small Sick In Mouth)

Leave your buns out of this, Dale.

ride faster ;)

i used to have no problems with highgate on 48:18.

i went up there on sunday with 48:16 and made it, but it was really really hard work, and i felt a bit sick afterwards, which isn't really what i was hoping for. i had to srive to maintain a rhythm, and it is clearly not good for the knees to force this kind of gearing up a steep hill. just a few inches here and there makes all the difference.

also, 48:16 is a very bad gear for skidpatches, as i found out when i ripped through a hardcase recently.

48x16 magic one skid patch gear. gotta love it.
i learned to skid on that gear too, but it's just absolutely stupid to do it.

we already had this conversation ed, when i posted about my bontrager hemorrhaging on the way home as a result of my one big skid patch.

i just bagged a 17t from mashton.

mashton I only did it once and it near killed me. But I'm a bit fitter now and have, crucially, got a lower gear. Can't see me keeping up with you, lpg, dicky, jonny, hippy or bmmf though :-(

Did you just mention me being faster than you.. in a thread that has veered towards hill-climbing?!?! BWAHAHAHHAHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

jonny went up HHW last night for the first time in ages last night. good way to keep warm this time of year.

You know, I still don't think I've ever ridden up there. Hills are for whippets.

sorry pj i'm not saying you're absolutely stupid, don't worry... i did it myself too.

and me. hurt my knees. (learning to skid on 48x16)

my knees were fine, more like tearing my thigh muscles really...

hippy [quote]jonny went up HHW last night for the first time in ages last night. good way to keep warm this time of year.

You know, I still don't think I've ever ridden up there. Hills are for whippets.[/quote]

Hills are fantastic for improving your fitness. Find a hill somewhere and just do repeats, you'll see results pretty fast.

fink i have bad knees. Had no problems on lower gears though. My thighs are sore at the moment as a result of spending far too much time trackstanding infront of the TV! it makes TV that little bit better!

lpg [quote]hippy [quote]jonny went up HHW last night for the first time in ages last night. good way to keep warm this time of year.

You know, I still don't think I've ever ridden up there. Hills are for whippets.[/quote]
Hills are fantastic for improving your fitness. Find a hill somewhere and just do repeats, you'll see results pretty fast.[/quote]

I know, I used to live near the Dandenongs (hill range) in Melbourne and ride up 'em regularly.
But in London? I hate going out of my way here. I prefer to head out of London and ride the Chilterns on weekends.
Some of the stuff south of London is nice too - like the Brighton ride, the Catford hill climb ride. They're nice.
Used to do hill sprints to build power/strength (never know which one!). Put in almost highest gear, roll up a steepish hill at walking pace, reach start line and HAMMER to top. I used a crit circuit so would then roll around rest of circuit to recover and repeat. To be done at the start of a training session (after warmup of course).

ed - i am absolutely stupid, it's a proven scientific fact.

So could any of you enlighten me? Is it just lower gearing (i.e. 67" instead of 70") that makes skidding easier, OR will having a smaller chainring/sprocket combination (i.e. keeping the same gearing but just making your chainring and sprocket smaller) make it easier too?
Well actually I know having lower gearing makes it easier, so what about the smaller chainring/sprocket business?
Ta

gearing, that's all.

GEAR INCHES.

the relative teeth sizes are irrelevent

Lower G.I. makes it easier but 70 should be fine.
Get your balls to the stem.

Ok, you've convinced me. Cheers :-)

yeah, get the gear inches down, plus watch some skids comps on youtube and check out the body position - theyre like as far out in front of the bars as they can be, while still touching pedal. i must admit, its a strange thing throwing your weight like your trying to face plant, but its the way, er, forward (?)

like YouTube - NACCC skid comp
- but without the rear wheel lift-to-crash part.

so what about the Frisco kids?, like from mash. They dont lean forward at all and just skid away with ease.
I presume they'd have lower gearing for all those hills though