When the lowest gear isn't low enough

[Miranda]

I was just pondering my gearing with the new upcoming ride. I'm losing some higher gears for lower ones. Thinking if I should change my cassette.

My heartrate can take a lot typically. So, my theory was on the one hill I needed the small ring of my triple was pedal like mad. But, at the top I thought I might stroke. Now, I'm thinking my goal is to become profient climbing standing in a bigger gear. Which does take more leg strength, vs heart rate for spinning fast in a low one. It's all a process... just keep at it.

If you decided to switch out your cassette to get lower gears, you could always switch it back up to the bigger ones once you are stronger to climb.

I'm a Spinning certified instructor. One of the nice things about training inside is that you get off the bike, and you are done. If mid hill climb you decide it's too much on your knees... take some resistence off, and bonus you don't cartwheel backwards down a real outside hill.

One thing I hate as a roadie/mtb with some of my fellow spin teachers is queing adding resistence so low I *know* it's bad for these peeps knees. Outside, I would shift or dismount. I have some joint issues and know my limitations.

I'm with Mr. Silver... walking a hill is NOT the end of the world... it beats crawling into an orthopedic surgeon's office any day.