Gear Questions

[littlegrasshopp]

Good advice but at this point I don't feel strong enough to ride much in the middle ring. Down hill and flat I'm fine - small inclines I'm fine but if it's gets much more than that I have issues. A lot of the trails I've been riding are very rooty...to doing a big ring switch (which on my bike takes more effort and time) is not easy and a bit scary. I think I'm getting to the point I can think of 2 things at once but not much more.

Should I weight train to get stronger, or do rides where I intentionally ride harder gears to build strength, or practice practice practice the big ring changes??

[emily_in_nc]

Should I weight train to get stronger, or do rides where I intentionally ride harder gears to build strength, or practice practice practice the big ring changes??

I do weight train, but no more than twice a week because I won't weight train on days I ride, for obvious reasons. Riding harder gears can help, but only if it doesn't give you knee problems. Certainly don't go from one extreme to the other, but maybe try to ride one gear harder than usual for a given stretch, just to challenge yourself; in other words - don't always bail out to the easier gear if you might not need it.

I do understand what you mean about roots! I think if you can find a place to ride that is less rooty just to practice the shifting, you'll gain confidence and the motion will be more automatic. For example, just some gravel roads, fire roads, or something like that - easier than single track for sure! Just practice shifting and riding in the middle ring.

Tonight I rode single track and did a lot of shifts - I don't look down when I shift, I just do it. I am getting better at it, so a lot of it is just practice. I also didn't use my granny gear for the entire ride where I used to have to, but I am riding a lighter mountain bike now (24.5 lbs Titus Racer X), so that helps greatly! Hauling my 32-lb. older MTB required much more granny usage! Perhaps your bike is on the heavy side? That will make using the granny less a bit more difficult.

What is your largest gear in the back? Mine is a 32, so with my middle ring and that gear, I can get up most hills except for the very steep stuff.

All of what you say will work, but I think practice is number 1!

Good luck - I hope some more experienced mountain bikers will chime in because I am still a newbie too, so probably not the best to give advice.

Emily

[littlegrasshopp]

I had to ask DF to find out about my bike 34 is my largest gear. My bike itself is probably about 23 pounds. So it's me. Light bike with light wheels and easy gears. Guess I'd better start practicing. We have a small park near me with lots of graval roads. I'll hit one and see how it goes. Thanks!