so many teeth

allanj wrote:

It's up to you but in th borders I'd want a 28 at the back, Talla, Stow hill and Witchey knowe are all must do climbs and steep enough to test you!

It does sound like you need a nice new bike though

I'll try out the 25 first..
For the sake of a handful of the longest steepest hills out there I think i'll get greatest benefit over the winter with my 8 gear limit by making those ratios closer where im using them most.

Nice new bike is certainly looking like the next step in spring with a 10 or 11 gear cassette.
I think the bike I have now with some treaded tyres will be ideal to see me through winter.
and im much more confident making that cassette purchase now...

thanks chaps

allanj wrote:

It's up to you but in th borders I'd want a 28 at the back, Talla, Stow hill and Witchey knowe are all must do climbs and steep enough to test you!

It does sound like you need a nice new bike though

I'll try out the 25 first..
For the sake of a handful of the longest steepest hills out there I think i'll get greatest benefit over the winter with my 8 gear limit by making those ratios closer where im using them most.

Nice new bike is certainly looking like the next step in spring with a 10 or 11 gear cassette.
I think the bike I have now with some treaded tyres will be ideal to see me through winter.
and im much more confident making that cassette purchase now...

thanks chaps

alotronic wrote:

You could certainly drop from a 32 to a 28 and probably a 25. Given you have an 8sp probably 25. Not a massive investment and you will notice that your cadence is suiting the road better. 34x32 is gearing for steep, long climbs. Also take point about about climbing at a higher cadence, it can feel good to 'mash' but it's usually more efficient to stay seated and pedal faster, specially if you are a big bloke as you then let the bike take your weight and then all your energy is put into going forward - say 70rpm up. Or change - sit for a while, spine, stand up for a while at a lower RPM.

Sounds like you are having a good time on your bike, great news, enjoy the riding!

Thanks for the support and encouragement..
Its looking like the 25

I have to do it to make the ride better... I promised myself I wouldn't change a thing on the bike and just go through the winter on it... but its not suiting me the way its geared (although perfect when I started out )

Then... im looking at a lighter spring summer bike next year (once ive lost 2 more stone off this bike lol)... saving now.
That new hydraulic rotor gearset looks tasty

2 Wheeled Idiot wrote:

Is it really flat where you live because up almost any climb you should really be coning off the big ring and keeping the cadence up. This is one of the most improtnat things to do when starting cycling as it sets you up for continuously improving instead of stagnating.

I Cycled in the 80's on a steel Peugeot.. Just getting about the place in Durham.. lots of hills.

Im in the Scottish Borders now. Its not taken as long as I thought to get back into shape.
Ive been spinning up hills in the saddle ... Well, some of the 'hills' are not feeling like hills any more and as for the real climbs, if I do drop to the small cog at the front the rear cassette is usually in the middle when I drop down and thats where its staying at the moment - moving to lower gears from there feels a bit too mountain biky'e.

A local village ran a family bike fest recently for the first year.. run by the local bike club. I entered the TT by way of support having never done any bike events before. Over 7.4 miles I came in just under 25 mins. Not competitive I know ! but it wasn't a flat course and im fat. (but losing steadily )
So.. im keeping the momentum going, its just that the low gears in the cassette are rarely been used and my arse is suffering clunky changes in the middle of the gearing..
So many variables to get right in choosing new gearing so really appreciating everyone's help.