Re: Question about gear

Doug Taylor wrote:
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jim White) wrote:
> 
> >See 
> >http://www.hyperwheels.com/hyper-race/2003/FORUM_2003/Forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=2&CAT_ID=1&Forum_Title=Welcome+to+Hyper%2DRace%2Ecom+2003%21
> >or www.hyperwheels.com, Racing, Bulletin.
> >Several discussions.  Most up-to-date skaters are on 84's, or frames
> >with 80 & 84.  Up-to-date distance skaters and some others prefer 100.
> > Very few 82.  80's for people who don't want to change, and some
> >others.  82.5, 90, 110, 120, & 125 are also options.
> 
> At the Chris Thater race, I saw many 5 x 82's and 5 x 84's, but only
> a few 100 - 84-100-100.   No 4 x 100 that I remember; certainly
> nothing over 100.
> 
> Anything over 100 just sounds TOO big, but how much IS too big?  Does
> it depend on the distance, or what?  There must be a point of
> diminishing return.
> 
> What's the current theory?

I would think that it's going to depend a lot on the design of the course.
A big wheel is going to take longer/more energy to spin up to speed.
Once there, you would f'ing move.

A course with a lot of speed changes or turns or what have you would
make such a large wheel horribly inefficient, you'd keep having to
expend disproportionate amounts of energy to spin it back up to cruising speed.

A longer race or point to point with lots of long straighaways would
probably make it worthwhile to consider.

I'd also expect it to depend on the skater. Someone who relied on high
power outputs (i.e. lots of leg strength) would be able to handle the
wheels better than someone who relied more on stroke rate.  Like gearing
choices on a bike: it's a matter of finding that balance between cadence
and the power required.  If you have the strength to spin a big gear
fast, you can move seriously.  If you don't, you'll end up wasting a lot
of energy, you'd be better off spinning a smaller gear more quickly.

My guess anyhow,
Lyle