SOME ADVICE ON GEARING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 37

SOME ADVICE ON GEARING.

This is ft very ancient subject. It h«C exercised the minds of cyclists ever since chain* driving power came into vogue, and is stillde* bated in circles where wheelmen are wont to assemble. There is always bound to be a diversity of opinion on tho matter, for what is one man's pleasure is another man's torture ; and now that the ladies have taken so much Jto cycling the same remark applies to them, though in a somewhat less degree, because that portion of the fair Eex who race is go iDllnitcsimally small that they need not here bo taken into account. So far as racing men are concerned, id may safely be said that they are the ablest class to look after their wants so far as gearing is concerned, and by constant practice and changes they are enabled to find out pretty quiokly how they can develop the highest speed at the expense of their test labour. Those who do not attain this perfection on the racing path are either novices (who will be sure to be taught quickly enough if they are any good) or obstinate folk whose muscularity is superior to their brain power. The people whom we have in mind at the present time are the tremendous majority of cyclists who travel upon the road, and we are inclined to think that the tendency nowadays is towards pace at the expense of comfort. In numerous instances, . tco, the ladies are imbned with the same mistaken notioD, very often to their detriment, and nearly always fo their discomfort. We are as fond . of legitimate pace upon the road as the most pronounced scorchers who ever bestrode sl wheel, but we recognise the fact thab this should only bo indulged in at rare intervals and on opportune occasions ; but we aleo know the exceeding comfort and joy of a comfortable gearing, when only the very worst kind' of hills need be looked forward to with perturbation, and when any amount of miles, speaking reasonably, can be covered ltisurely and easily. This is the sort of wheeling, we take it. whioh nine out of every ten cyclists are anxious to experience, and the secrets of the whole pleasure are a first-class machine and a moderate gearing. It ia unwise to take youc rides abroad and make them a sort of open competition with every other itinerant wheelman ; ib leads to worry, excitement, aud illtemper, and it is not good for the ordinary human of either sex. Therefore, if you are wis«j, you will carefully avoid continuous competitions, aud adopb the pace that suits you best, and which you know will not distress you. Getting is a great deal more important thsn most cyclists imagine, and until we get a really good practical two-speed gear it is a subject which should be well considered by everyone who rides. Now for road-ridiag. Even at this time whea machines are being made to such perfection that a much higher gearing m»y bo used than in the flrat days of the pneumatic tyres, we take 56in to be the minimum and 68in the maximum gear. There is no need to enter into details concerning this, as nearly every cyolisk know what we mean when we use tho ordinary technicality peculiar to the pastime aud the trade. As we said at the beginning of this artiole, it all depends upon the physical flbness of the rider. Some there are who c»n push a machine geared to 68in as easily as one or lOin lower, and to whom the faster pedalling would be tiring and irksome ; while there are others to whom the lower gear will be comfortable and welcome. Generally speaking, the happy medium, say 63in or 64in, suits the majority o£ wheelmen ; and we should ba incliued to advise all those who have had litfcie experience in ridiDg to beftin at 59in or 60in, and advance beyond that if he finds that he can do it with comfort. One of the greatast drawbacks te cycling ia the strain that is involved by unnecessary hard work, and we have known many cases whera a man has tired himself a great deal more in 20 miles on a hifjh gear than in 40 miles on a loig one. With a high gearing, there is always the temptation to a high speed, and though, as we h»v« paid, there is a wonderful exhilaration in p"' . it should be remembered that & continuity of this is likely to do far more harm th»n good. The old adage that it isn't the miles 'one travels, bub the pace that kills, is peculiarly applicable to cycling ; and it would be a big, miHtake to encourage the idea that the quieter pleasure? of tho pastime should bo sacrificed for the' intoxication of speed. Every moderately -geared rider may have his " flutter " when quiet roads and fitness lead him iuto the short-lived delight ; bafc to be always striving after pace upon the road ie a huge mistake, and does no good to 'the recreation in the long run. Our advice, then, to intending purchaser;", and especially to beginners. i« — gear too low rather than too high, and seek quiet pleasure and serenity rather than the fiercer joys of competition 'and speed. In the first condition it is possible to have a "faster" time if the inclination seizes you ; whereas, if you have your naachino abnormally geared the temptation is ever present to be flying through the country at a pace and with an absolute necessary attention to yotir path which deprive you of half the 'real pleasure of the pastime, and all but tbe most transient and unsatisfying glimpses of the land through which yon may be travelling. As cycling grows, there is 4 too great a tendency to hurry from point to point at high rates of speed ; and we are quite sure that if even those who take such a keen delight in this class of locomotion were to try quieter and eereaer methods they would appreciate it in the long ruD. We have no desire to attempt to inculcate a lolling, lazy lisfclessness in cycling; but the recreation is much too glorious a ono to be abused, and we are of opinion that some folks get more real benefit — bodily and mental —out of a. 20-mile spin than others who scamper over thrice the distance. Road-racing, of course, is altogether a different matter, and may safely be left to another chapter—espeoially as it is only allowable to speak on ) the subject with bated breath, according to some authorities. We are anxious that all those who are taking to cycling shall find it too good au<2 enjoyable to leave it off. The surest way to do this is to take it as comfortably and easily ah possible; and suitable gearing ia one of the greatest factor to comfort, ease, and thorough enjoyment.— Bicycling News.

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