My commute went from sweaty mess to dry in 2 weeks after changing my gear ratio

I live in Seattle with steep hills and for 6 months I was showing up drenched in sweat before 9am. I swapped my 42t chainring for a 32t last month and now I spin up those hills without breaking a sweat. Has anyone else seen a big difference from just changing one part on their bike?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_drew9d ago

That gearing swap is a game changer. I live in a pretty hilly area too and spent my first year fighting 44/11 combos. Dropped to a 34t front ring and it felt like cheating. You trade a little top end speed for the ability to actually climb without your heart pounding out of your chest. Sweat reduction comes from not having to stomp on the pedals so hard. If you ever get into loaded touring, that lower gear is an absolute lifesaver on the long pulls.

jesse9888d ago

That "feels like cheating" line is spot on... I ran a 46t for years thinking I was being tough and all I did was wreck my knees. Dropping to a 34t made my morning ride actually enjoyable instead of a punishment. The best part is you barely lose any speed on the flats if you just spin a little faster.