Categories: TechniqueThe HardmenThe Rules

Changer de Braquet

The classic gear lever

Some people are supremely good at it, reducing complex situations into matters of simple black and white. This isn’t my particular area of expertise; I enjoy wading through the pools of ambiguity a bit too much to go about bludgeoning this beautiful world into absolutes. In fact, I would venture that delighting in nuance is part of what distinguishes La Vie Velominatus from the simple act of riding a bicycle.

I’ve spent the summer wrapping myself in the Rules handed down by the Apostle Museeuw during Keepers Tour 2012, with particular emphasis on Rule #90. Climbing Sur la Plaque is a cruel business, rising upwards under the crushing weight of physics as you fight to maintain your rhythm and momentum. At first, it’s a struggle to maintain speed on the smaller climbs as you learn how to change your pedaling action to compensate for changes in gradient. You focus on loading the pedals and forcing them around; the moment you lose the rhythm, gravity sinks her claws into your tires and tries to drag you back down the hill. On the other hand, if you maintain your cadence and power through the ramps, what is usually an intimidating slope will disappear under your wheels, making molehills of mountains.

If the Big Ring is a hammer, then not every climb is a nail. (I realize too late that referring to the road as a nail is sure to bring the Puncture Apocalypse on today’s ride.) The guns get more massive from the practice of Rule #90, but it comes at a hefty price: souplesse withers like a delicate flower as one seeks to conquer the art of mashing a huge gear. Indeed, one of the great pleasures in Cycling is to sense a certain fluidity of your stroke which belies the feeling of strength in your muscles as you continue to heap coals on the fire.

This requires an art altogether different from moving Sur la Plaque; it relies on turning the pedals at a higher cadence and shifting gear whenever the gradient changes. Rhythm holds court over everything else and is maintained at all costs. As the gradient steepens, the chain is slipped into the next smaller gear; as the gradient eases, it is droped back down. Not every climb suits this style of riding; the rear cluster must be matched perfectly to accomodate the changes in pitch such that maximum speed is maintained and the legs allowed to continue their relentless churn. When synchronized perfectly, it is the gateway to La Volupté; when not: disaster.

Such is the nuance of shifting gear, such is the nature of Cycling.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

Next Le Graveur: Pain-o-nomics 101 »

Previous « V-Announcements: The Way of the Cycling Disciple

View Comments

Nate says:

Oct 8 2012 at 2:28 pm

@Ron

Is your Centaur a square taper?
the Engine says:

Oct 8 2012 at 2:36 pm

@Ron

@the Engine

@eightzero

At the risk of (inappropriate) threadjack, this one (and the very appropriate picture) plays directly into a debate I've had with myself whilst focused on the V-Locus: if I could place gear change command inputs anywhere on the bike, where would they be?

Remember that downtube levers were a huge inprovement to derailleur set ups. And then STI levers became derigeur for all modern bikes. In the last few years,we've seen electronic shifting make its appearance, but oddly, electronic shifters have left the "buttons" at the same place as the STI lever. Yes, there are remotes available, and TT bar options as well.

But...if you could put that button anywhere on the bike, where would it be? And remember....it theoreticlly doesn't even need to have a wire leading there. Maybe on a glove? Or is the STI placement the ultimate refinement?

We now return you to our regularly scheduled thread.

I bed that somewhere someone is thinking, "What if we used the output from the power meter to make automatic gear changes to keep a constant cadence (obviously within load parameters) with a manual override - bit like a flappy paddle auto box on a car?"

I mean the computer power is already there and could easily be incorporated in the available space on any bike set up to run electronic shifting.

Wish I had some engineering ability because it would sell like hotcakes to time trialists - no need to move even a finger out of that perfect aero position.

I've been avoiding a group ride I used to do for about a year now. The majority of the folks on it are total duds. Can't see past their fucking power numbers to enjoy a nice bike or even riding one.

I went last week because I told myself I'd go to at least one this year and the season is winding down due to low light. One of the leading assholes decided we should start a rotating paceline. Okay, not a big deal. Then he starts yelling because his powermeter is telling him we're surging too much. Fucking jerk. I left coaches behind with college sports, dude. And this is just a group ride, not some team with rules. Calm down.

He'd snap up an auto-shifter in a second. I'm sticking with my V-Meter.

Obviously my invention wouldn't stop people being total douches - indeed I'd see the cycling shit sandwich market as important - they'll buy anything if the packaging is right.

I'm so old that it's possible I've ridden more k's with non-indexed dt shifters than anything else and poverty kept me with them long after others had gone to bar mounted STI's. It is soooo satisfying to pass a douche with all the gear and no idea whilst astride a classic steel steed with agricultural technology.

For the record I've got a Cateye wireless thingy for distance, average speed, time and max speed - does me.
the Engine says:

Oct 8 2012 at 2:44 pm

@Ron

@Ken Ho

I've been going the other way, meditating on Breaking the Rules a bit more, finding love for La Petit Plaque. Having a natural inclination to grind, it took me a while, but then I got the special chain-breaker in the post that allowed me to separate my ego from my crankset.

In a fit of pure rebellion I fitted a 50/34 a while ago. I didn't notice much difference actually, though I find the torque curve of my legs goes well with it, and I like the slightly closer ratios. I change gear a lot less than I used to. I counted the teeth again the other day, not convinced that the rings were actually smaller.

THe new P3 has a 53 on it though, and I switch back and forth easily. The guns and the gradient determine the gear. I just obey.

If anyone else is going such a route, please let me know. I have a compact Campa Centaur crankset that I'm dying to swap out. Never liked it & I'd be more pissed at myself but at the time I was a serious goddamn neophyte and didn't even know what in the hell a compact was, thus, I'm stuck with the bastard for the time being.

I've been running a compact Centaur all summer with a 13-27 block. It was so successful in the Pyrenees I've never thought of going back to my 54-44 11-21. I'm crap at descending so running out of drive at 50kmph+ isn't an issue

I still fall off the chain gang because I blow up not because I run out of ratios.

It'd be different obviously if I was time trialling in the Netherlands on a flat calm day.
Ken Ho says:

Oct 8 2012 at 2:49 pm

Ron, just buy yourself a new crankset. Surely there is a rule about not putting up with gear you hate. I wasn't sure about the 50/34, but thought I'd give it a go. Lots of hills where I live. Lots of hills. I'm the very living embodiment of the carbon craplet, so I need all the help I can get. Meditating on optimal gear selection help keep the V flowing.
eightzero says:

Oct 8 2012 at 3:05 pm

@the Engine

@Ron

@the Engine

@eightzero

At the risk of (inappropriate) threadjack, this one (and the very appropriate picture) plays directly into a debate I've had with myself whilst focused on the V-Locus: if I could place gear change command inputs anywhere on the bike, where would they be?

Remember that downtube levers were a huge inprovement to derailleur set ups. And then STI levers became derigeur for all modern bikes. In the last few years,we've seen electronic shifting make its appearance, but oddly, electronic shifters have left the "buttons" at the same place as the STI lever. Yes, there are remotes available, and TT bar options as well.

But...if you could put that button anywhere on the bike, where would it be? And remember....it theoreticlly doesn't even need to have a wire leading there. Maybe on a glove? Or is the STI placement the ultimate refinement?

We now return you to our regularly scheduled thread.

I bed that somewhere someone is thinking, "What if we used the output from the power meter to make automatic gear changes to keep a constant cadence (obviously within load parameters) with a manual override - bit like a flappy paddle auto box on a car?"

I mean the computer power is already there and could easily be incorporated in the available space on any bike set up to run electronic shifting.

Wish I had some engineering ability because it would sell like hotcakes to time trialists - no need to move even a finger out of that perfect aero position.

I've been avoiding a group ride I used to do for about a year now. The majority of the folks on it are total duds. Can't see past their fucking power numbers to enjoy a nice bike or even riding one.

I went last week because I told myself I'd go to at least one this year and the season is winding down due to low light. One of the leading assholes decided we should start a rotating paceline. Okay, not a big deal. Then he starts yelling because his powermeter is telling him we're surging too much. Fucking jerk. I left coaches behind with college sports, dude. And this is just a group ride, not some team with rules. Calm down.

He'd snap up an auto-shifter in a second. I'm sticking with my V-Meter.

Obviously my invention wouldn't stop people being total douches - indeed I'd see the Cycling Shit Sandwich market as important - they'll buy anything if the packaging is right.

I'm so old that it's possible I've ridden more k's with non-indexed dt shifters than anything else and poverty kept me with them long after others had gone to bar mounted STI's. It is soooo satisfying to pass a douche with all the gear and no idea whilst astride a classic steel steed with agricultural technology.

For the record I've got a Cateye wireless thingy for distance, average speed, time and max speed - does me.

These points are well taken. I don't disagree. I don't need more bike shit, I need more time to ride my fucking bike.

That said...I'd have more time to ride my fucking bike if I was independently wealthy from selling bike shit to the assholes you describe.

They want several thousand dollars for devices to tell you to pedal harder. A people buy them. Then along comes electric shifting. Spiffy. Me want. But $2000? Now think: electric servo, controlled by ePROM. Hooks to existing deraulleur, set up via a smartphone app (I.e.the indexing). Control functions via Bluetooth 4.0 button anywhere on bike. Total cost to produce: $50? Sell for $1000. Profit.

Then ride lots on days I don't have to go to fucking work
the Engine says:

Oct 8 2012 at 3:10 pm

@eightzero

@the Engine

@Ron

@the Engine

@eightzero

At the risk of (inappropriate) threadjack, this one (and the very appropriate picture) plays directly into a debate I've had with myself whilst focused on the V-Locus: if I could place gear change command inputs anywhere on the bike, where would they be?

Remember that downtube levers were a huge inprovement to derailleur set ups. And then STI levers became derigeur for all modern bikes. In the last few years,we've seen electronic shifting make its appearance, but oddly, electronic shifters have left the "buttons" at the same place as the STI lever. Yes, there are remotes available, and TT bar options as well.

But...if you could put that button anywhere on the bike, where would it be? And remember....it theoreticlly doesn't even need to have a wire leading there. Maybe on a glove? Or is the STI placement the ultimate refinement?

We now return you to our regularly scheduled thread.

I bed that somewhere someone is thinking, "What if we used the output from the power meter to make automatic gear changes to keep a constant cadence (obviously within load parameters) with a manual override - bit like a flappy paddle auto box on a car?"

I mean the computer power is already there and could easily be incorporated in the available space on any bike set up to run electronic shifting.

Wish I had some engineering ability because it would sell like hotcakes to time trialists - no need to move even a finger out of that perfect aero position.

I've been avoiding a group ride I used to do for about a year now. The majority of the folks on it are total duds. Can't see past their fucking power numbers to enjoy a nice bike or even riding one.

I went last week because I told myself I'd go to at least one this year and the season is winding down due to low light. One of the leading assholes decided we should start a rotating paceline. Okay, not a big deal. Then he starts yelling because his powermeter is telling him we're surging too much. Fucking jerk. I left coaches behind with college sports, dude. And this is just a group ride, not some team with rules. Calm down.

He'd snap up an auto-shifter in a second. I'm sticking with my V-Meter.

Obviously my invention wouldn't stop people being total douches - indeed I'd see the Cycling Shit Sandwich market as important - they'll buy anything if the packaging is right.

I'm so old that it's possible I've ridden more k's with non-indexed dt shifters than anything else and poverty kept me with them long after others had gone to bar mounted STI's. It is soooo satisfying to pass a douche with all the gear and no idea whilst astride a classic steel steed with agricultural technology.

For the record I've got a Cateye wireless thingy for distance, average speed, time and max speed - does me.

These points are well taken. I don't disagree. I don't need more bike shit, I need more time to ride my fucking bike.

That said...I'd have more time to ride my fucking bike if I was independently wealthy from selling bike shit to the assholes you describe.

They want several thousand dollars for devices to tell you to pedal harder. A people buy them. Then along comes electric shifting. Spiffy. Me want. But $2000? Now think: electric servo, controlled by ePROM. Hooks to existing deraulleur, set up via a smartphone app (I.e.the indexing). Control functions via Bluetooth 4.0 button anywhere on bike. Total cost to produce: $50? Sell for $1000. Profit.

Then ride lots on days I don't have to go to fucking work

You'd have to pay a fortune in royalties.

"Fucking work" sounds a lot better than my job though. I just sit at a desk all day. Mind you, I suppose it depends on who or what you have to fuck.
eightzero says:

Oct 8 2012 at 3:30 pm

Royalties? To who? Telling me this is already patented? Seems to me Mr. PHOSITA would disagree. The basic idea of electric shifting dates to the 1970s.
frank says:

Oct 8 2012 at 3:58 pm

@eightzero

At the risk of (inappropriate) threadjack, this one (and the very appropriate picture) plays directly into a debate I've had with myself whilst focused on the V-Locus: if I could place gear change command inputs anywhere on the bike, where would they be?

Remember that downtube levers were a huge inprovement to derailleur set ups. And then STI levers became derigeur for all modern bikes. In the last few years,we've seen electronic shifting make its appearance, but oddly, electronic shifters have left the "buttons" at the same place as the STI lever. Yes, there are remotes available, and TT bar options as well.

But...if you could put that button anywhere on the bike, where would it be? And remember....it theoreticlly doesn't even need to have a wire leading there. Maybe on a glove? Or is the STI placement the ultimate refinement?

We now return you to our regularly scheduled thread.

I would think the three standard options are all pretty good choices - the levers as-as, the go buttons for Di2 (not needed for EPS), and at the tops where you can pop them with your thumbs.

You don't want to make it so damn easy you shift by accident.

Or, you know, you go could rock it like the Gypsy and use a DT shifter and knock it with your knee.
The Pressure says:

Oct 8 2012 at 4:00 pm

@Cyclops

Hey, is that Cheech Marin?
frank says:

Oct 8 2012 at 4:01 pm

@Cyclops

Two things - first the Bianchi should be sporting Simplex levers...

Get fucked.

Secondly - I read an article recently about the difference between the pros and the Average Fred when it comes to climbing. Fred will start down shifting to bring his cadence up while the pro simply stays in the same gear and the same cadence and just mashes on the pedals harder. I've been trying that a lot on (not so steep) gradients and it is amazing the damage you do to people when your speed, cadence, body position, breathing, and facial expression does not change as you start going up hill. It's pretty demoralizing to them. I like it.

Indeed. That was the genesis of Rule 90; Museeuw just kept pedaling like it was still flat. It just happened he was doing it up a 17% grade on the Gent Wevelgem route.

But to the point of the article, this isn't a hammer for every problem; if you are strong enough to keep the speed up it is awesome, but when not, you have to know when to start dropping gears.

But yeah, its amazing how many people come up to a hill and just downshift at the sight of it, rather than beating the shit out of themselves until either the hill or their legs acquiesce.