Bike Granny Gearing For My Wife

[johanhorak]

Hi 

 

My wife is new to cycling. She loves it but have never cycled in the past. But she has arranged a cycle holiday in France for us for a month this coming June. It will be an easy flat route and we will not travel far everyday. She can easily do 40 or 50 on flats. But hills are a problem. How do I make it easier for her?

 

And coming back Simonstown, although we can travel on the flat areas, it is hilly. Just cycling back to our home against the mountain is serious. 

 

Her new travel vehicle is 27 speed Trike.  

 

20" wheels

 

48/36/26 170L

 

Cassette 11-34t

 

Another suggested I go for 44/32/22 and 11-36t

 

Obviously speed is not important to her. 

 

Another suggested SRAM dualdrive on rear wheel, or a Rohloff or Schlumpf Mountain Drive.

 

The Rohloff is amazing but too expensive. I cannot justify it. I want it. But.....

 

I think the SRAM dualdrive means a rebuilt of the back wheel. Is this an option and can it be done in Cape Town? 

 

The Schlumpf Mountain Drive is about 50% less than the Rohloff (ebay).

 

Given the mountains around us in Simonstown are these drive options the most effective solution? 

 

Or will 44/32/22 and 11-36t be good enough or can the granny part be even more granny? 

 

Txs.

 

 

[BaGearA]

22-36 should more than enough .... remember there is a point where you'll be going so slow that the bike can't even stay upright 

[Sepia]

I ride with a 21 small up front and a 36 on the rear.  This is enough for anything but as BA said, going so slowly and spinning so fast makes you unstable and you can walk faster.

 

You certainly do not want to weave all over the place if riding in traffic.

[johanhorak]

22-36 should more than enough .... remember there is a point where you'll be going so slow that the bike can't even stay upright

Excellent. Will have to change to 22-36 then. Are these common?

 

Note: this is a tadpole trike and balancing not an issue [emoji111]️

 

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[johanhorak]

I ride with a 21 small up front and a 36 on the rear. This is enough for anything but as BA said, going so slowly and spinning so fast makes you unstable and you can walk faster.

 

You certainly do not want to weave all over the place if riding in traffic.

Thanks. 21 would be even better. And as this is a tadpole trike slow speed up hill is not an issue.

 

Did you had to sacrifice top speed because cassette or upfront limitations?

 

 

 

 

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[BaGearA]

Thanks. 21 would be even better. And as this is a tadpole trike slow speed up hill is not an issue.

 

Did you had to sacrifice top speed because cassette or upfront limitations?

 

 

 

 

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if you go 3x top end will not be an issue , 40T on A 11 rear cog will be damn fast at 80rpm

[Sepia]

Thanks. 21 would be even better. And as this is a tadpole trike slow speed up hill is not an issue.

 

Did you had to sacrifice top speed because cassette or upfront limitations?

 

 

 

 

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No, not at all.  BA is right again.

I use a 3x up front 21-48 and 11-36 on the rear.

This has been perfect for me.

[johanhorak]

Glad I got answers from clever dudes. Thanks a million.

 

Just thought the only solution is something like this

 

https://www.amazon.com/NuVinci-N360-Gearless-Drive-Silver/dp/B00BZZDFH4

 

 

 

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[CAAD4]

Let's see a picture of her Trike Johan.

[Stretched@Birth]

 

I’ve assumed 170mm cranks, and 20” wheels, output is in km/h at 80rpm. You’ll see the 22 x 36 gives you 4.3km/h and 44 x 11 is 28.2km/h

 

The average human walks at 5km/h

 

Sheldon Browns calculator - http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html

[johanhorak]

I’ve assumed 170mm cranks, and 20” wheels, output is in km/h at 80rpm. You’ll see the 22 x 36 gives you 4.3km/h and 44 x 11 is 28.2km/h

 

The average human walks at 5km/h

 

Sheldon Browns calculator - http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html

 

Hi Excellent. Appreciate the effort. On a trike going at less than walking would this be possible. I'll play with the calculator. 

 

Would be pretty boring but 22 x 36 at say 40 RMP and she would crawl most hills. 

[johanhorak]

Let's see a picture of her Trike Johan.

Hi This is a budget Trike at $1700. Other's are way too expensive to justify it.

 

It's folding. Performer Trike F 

 

Main Frame Aluminum Seat FRP w/mesh cushion . headrest Handle bar Aluminum Shifters Microshift bar end shifter 9s Levers Tektro : CL-520 Front Derailleur Shimano 4403 Rear Derailleur Shimano LX 9S Crankset Shimano Deore 48/36/26 170L Cassette Sunrace 11-34t Wheelset F/mono 32H R/chosen A5017 32H

[Stretched@Birth]

Hi This is a budget Trike at $1700. Other's are way too expensive to justify it.

 

It's folding. Performer Trike F

 

Main Frame Aluminum Seat FRP w/mesh cushion . headrest Handle bar Aluminum Shifters Microshift bar end shifter 9s Levers Tektro : CL-520 Front Derailleur Shimano 4403 Rear Derailleur Shimano LX 9S Crankset Shimano Deore 48/36/26 170L Cassette Sunrace 11-34t Wheelset F/mono 32H R/chosen A5017 32H

What size is the back wheel? The above calcs would need to be redone with the correct wheel size.

[johanhorak]

What size is the back wheel? The above calcs would need to be redone with the correct wheel size.

Hi 

 

This photo is from the supplier's site. The rear wheel is 20". The standard is 26" but I prefer the 20" rear.  And the it's a 1.75 

[Stretched@Birth]

Hi

 

This photo is from the supplier's site. The rear wheel is 20". The standard is 26" but I prefer the 20" rear. And the it's a 1.75

Ok, then the calcs in my earlier post are correct. [emoji1303]

[johanhorak]

Another question. What do these type of cranks do? I suppose there are others in same price range.

 

SHIMANO DEORE M6000 CRANKSET 10 SPD

 

Material:  Crank Arm: Aluminium; Outer Chainring: Aluminium; Inner Chainring: Glass Fibre/Steel

 

Speed: 2x10-Speed | 3x10-Speed

 

https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/shimano-deore-m6000-crankset-10-spd

 

I see Shimano has this to say.

 

Capable - wide enough gear ratio and good gear step optimized for from steep climb to fast decent. Keep pedaling in efficient front driving gear with wider range cassette for riding up and down through trails. Low gear option for wide tire trend (27.5 Plus) and women and youth.

Efficient - smooth shifting of front and rear in rhythm in order to maintain speed and acceleration in change of terrain. Less loss of pedaling power by rigid structure with easy and effortless shifting operation.

 

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