Which ring is for better cadence?

[goldfinch]

I've never cycled in my biggest ring --what for? I get enough of a workout and especially with a prairie headwind, you really don't need to be in a biggest ring or 2nd biggest ring, there's already a significant workout by pushing into the wind.

Watch your knees for pushing yourself too hard and especially too long on a much bigger ring. That's how beginners hurt themselves.

Only on the downhill do I use the biggest ring on the bike with the triple. And often even then I use the middle ring. I can go for weeks without using the big ring.

On my double I use the big ring more often, for some downhills or big tailwinds. Otherwise, I can spin up to around 19mph in the small ring. So, even with the double I don't use the big ring a lot.

[shootingstar]

Have only geared up to 2nd biggest ring when sweeping downhill. Or less. Biggest ring works best when you know there is no traffic light stop /busy intersection at the bottom of a steep hill or it's a really long mountain descent.

I don't go into my biggest ring with a stiff headwind in my face for the next hr. or so. You mean, a tailwind, lph?

Sorry, I was only thinking about pros and cons of big ring on flats or going uphill.

Going downhill doesn't require much effort which obviously didn't stick in my memory.

[lph]

Yes, sorry, I meant tailwind.

[malkin]

Yes, sorry, I meant tailwind.

I knew what'cha meant!

[Catrin]

Only on the downhill do I use the biggest ring on the bike with the triple. And often even then I use the middle ring. I can go for weeks without using the big ring...

I will use the big ring on my triple on flat ground if there isn't much of a headwind. I've been working on becoming more efficient and I've learned that if I am in the big ring, and drop the rear to 6 or 7 (with 9 being the highest) I go faster than if I were in the middle ring and in gear 8 or 9. Of course this is all relative to how my body feels that day and so forth. I have learned that just because a particular gear combination works on x stretch of road the other day doesn't mean that I will like it the next day, just too many variables.

I've a goal of becoming more efficient at shifting, and I suspect this is a goal with an ever-moving target. For some reason I don't even think about shifting the front going downhill, though I will shift the rear...