Nah, I'm with JVP on this one. Grinding up a 20-30% grade logging road, which is common in WA state, I'm using every bit of my 30t oval ring and 50t dinner plate cog on my cassette. And on the descents I rarely, if ever, use the smallest cog. Yeah, I'm on a longer and slacker squishy bike with heavier tires which doesn't help climbing efficiency. But as long as I make it to the top without dying too much the bike is well worth the fun going down. Horses for courses, as they say.
Oh, and there is literally zero chance I would ever road ride to a trail in my region. It's a 30-40 minute drive to get to the closest good trails, and 70-80 minutes for others.
Nov. 4, 2020, 9:23 a.m. - Pnwpedal
Nah, I'm with JVP on this one. Grinding up a 20-30% grade logging road, which is common in WA state, I'm using every bit of my 30t oval ring and 50t dinner plate cog on my cassette. And on the descents I rarely, if ever, use the smallest cog. Yeah, I'm on a longer and slacker squishy bike with heavier tires which doesn't help climbing efficiency. But as long as I make it to the top without dying too much the bike is well worth the fun going down. Horses for courses, as they say. Oh, and there is literally zero chance I would ever road ride to a trail in my region. It's a 30-40 minute drive to get to the closest good trails, and 70-80 minutes for others.