frame question

[Over50Newbie]

Hi Melissa,

As you can see from my name, I am also new to biking. I have a used 2003 Trek Navigator 300. I looked on the Trek website and it says that it also has a 28/38/48 chain ring (I don't have a clue what that means - tee hee) but I only have 7 gears on the right side of the handlebars, not 8 like Denise's bike.

Can I just use the chart that you gave to Denise, but not count the last row to find out my gear ratio? I seem to ride around 90% of the time in Gear 2 on my left, and either Gear 3 or 4 on my right (What I call 2:3 and 2:4). But every once in a while I go up to Gear 2 on my left and Gear 5 on right (2:5). If I hit a hill, I go all the way down to 2:1

The other day I went to Gear 3 on my left and Gear 3 on my right (3:3). Is that one easier or harder than Gear 2:5?

Is there a special gear ratio table for my bike?

Don't you just hate it when these newbies ask all of these questions?

I hope you can make sense of all this, because I just confused myself just posting it!

Thank you,

Over50Newbie

[melissam]

Hi Denise and Over50Newbie!

Hope you both had a great weekend of riding! It's great to have newbies asking questions -- that's what this board is all about.

Denise, glad the gear chart made sense -- gotta love those lightbulb moments!

Over50Newbie, I don't think you can use Denise's gear chart. Your gear ratio depends on tire size and how many teeth are on each gear, and your gears may be different sizes than Denise's.

Let's see, according to the Trek website, your 2003 Navigator 300 has a 48/38/28 in the front and an 8 speed rear cassette: 11-32. Since you said that you have a 7 speed in the back, I'm not sure how to figure out which 7 speed you have, short of counting the teeth on each gear in the back.

-- Melissa

[Over50Newbie]

Hi Melissa,

Well, this shows you how stupid I am. I do have eight gears on the back! So, back to my original question. Can I use the same chart as Denise, since my front gears are the same too?

BTW - I LOVE riding my bike!!! I am having an absolute ball with it. And I am gaining more confidence every day. Today I went on the bike bath (basically flat w/ no hills) and went out to the cranberry bog. It was 10 miles out and 10 miles back. And I even bought a pair of real biking shorts, with a nice chamois pad. And are you ready for this - I went Commando for the first time(tee,hee)!!!

I still only used four gears, though. 2:3, 2:4, 3:3, and 3:4. But I'm a happy camper

Once again, thanks for all of your help. You are an absolute doll.

Over50Newbie

[melissam]

Over50Newbie,

Aha! You found the extra gear on the rear cassette! Don't feel silly -- those things can be hard to count.

Anyway, you can't really use Denise's gear chart, because the teeth counts on her rear cassette are slightly different than on your rear cassette, and according to the Trek website, your bike uses 26" tires while hers uses 700's.

So....I made a gear chart up just for you! Let's see if I can get it in here in legible form.... If I do this right, it should be at the bottom of the post.

I'm really glad you're enjoying your bike so much! Don't worry about not using all the gears -- you just need to use the ones that keep your legs moving at a good cadence given the terrain, wind, and your energy level. 10 miles out + 10 back is great! My typical ride after work is 5 miles out and 5 back. That's all I have time for before the sun starts going down.

And, you've crossed a big line in going commando in the cycling shorts. Wow, you'll never go back now!!

OK, let's see if this gear chart gets posted. Otherwise I'll have to scratch my head and figure something else out.

Happy riding!!

-- Melissa

PS Now we've officially hijacked Denise's thread! Denise, I hope you don't mind, seeing as how your original question was addressed several posts back...

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/attac...1&d=1150848045
GearRatios2.gif

[Over50Newbie]

Oh my God - I am sooooo excited!

This is exactly what I was looking for. I can't wait to go out tomorrow and try out all of those other gears. It is really cool that now I have a reference point of how hard or easy each one is supposed to feel. I can't wait to go out and play!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And Denise, thank you for letting me hog your original question...

Over50Newbie

[Denise223]

Hi Melissa & Over50Newbie!

Not a problem at all !! I find it very interesting reading how gears differ on different bikes with different size tires, etc.... (I'm like a sponge for learning new things -- though, retaining that information is anothing thing )

I am enjoying my bike A LOT (with the exception of my saddle..... much too "nosy" for me (in other words, very CROTCHY!!)......I will have to do my research on the most popular saddles for women & try a few of them out at my lbs) ).

Have a wonderful evening!

Denise