3 mile bike ride today

[imthegrt1]

So got off early today and me and my youngest son went on a bike ride he rode his diamond back joker and I rode my american schiwnn was a good day I needed it but dang this bike is geared low thought I was going to die lol

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[ozzmonaut]

The chainring looks like a 45T, so it's fairly small. I'd guess the rear cog at 18T, so the ratio is 2.5:1 Are your bearing cones on the rear wheel adjusted right? Anything that might cause drag? Bottom bracket too tight?

 

[imthegrt1]

Na I think I'm getting old ...
A lot hills to lol


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[Nagant]

The pics are not showing for me. It seems 90% of Tapatalk pics don't show anymore on my Windows 7 & 8 machines.

 

[Wildcat]

I'd guess your seat is too low. You should sit high enough so your legs are almost fully extended when pedaling. Makes it much easier.

 

[Mark Davo]

Hate to say it, although correct for the bike, those seats ain't too comfortable either. I had a tough bike to pedal as well, then I changed to a 2 to 1 ratio (44 to 22). Pedaling is much easier, but I think a 2 speed would make things just right. Either a Bendix 2 speed power brake or a kickback. You might want to think about some of those options. Also are the tires properly inflated? Sorry for asking that, but sometimes we forget.

 

[imthegrt1]

Switch the rear rim to a 16 sprocket it was a 18.


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[ozzmonaut]

Switch the rear rim to a 16 sprocket it was a 18.


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A smaller sprocket in the rear makes it harder to pedal

 

[Mark Davo]

A smaller sprocket in the rear makes it harder to pedal

Thank you for posting this, I was afraid to say that. My hero!

 

[imthegrt1]

Nope made it easier to take off just makes me have to work harder at top speed is all. Bike rides great now .thanks all for the great input.


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[imthegrt1]

Sorry than that typo it was a 16 and went to 18 gear. Went up not down .


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[LukeTheJoker]

Love those Joker's, solid little bike, if a bit heavy...

Luke.

 

[Wildcat]

I think your AMF sprocket is a 46, so you have 46/18 now, just about right. Maybe a 2 speed w coaster will suit you perfectly.

 

[ozzmonaut]

Thank you for posting this, I was afraid to say that. My hero!

I ain't skeered

 

[ozzmonaut]

Sorry than that typo it was a 16 and went to 18 gear. Went up not down .


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No sweat, I honestly didn't even consider the possibility of the typo, which is my fault. Sometimes gear ratios do get confusing, so I just thought I'd point it out in case. Definitely wasn't meant as a dig, though.

 

[us56456712]

I like 36 x 18 or even 30 x 22 for my heavy old single speed cruisers. We have a lot of hills. Anytime you go away from Lake Superior it is up hill. The Mississippi is worse, really long steep hills there. Virginia/Kentucky around Norton and the Badlands of S. Dakota all kicked my butt in years gone by. I don't think I could ride the Northern Mississippi River valley, Virginia/Kentucky or the Badlands anymore even with 28 x 23. I use 36 X 18 for most riding on a heavy cruiser and 30 x22 if I know I am going to go home from a ride on a route that is up hill and steep for 7 blocks. I use 44 x 18 on my lightweight single speed road type bike. I think it all depends on your age and conditioning. I am in fair shape for 69 so I go with lower gearing to compensate. Sometimes I wonder why I bother, but then I look at my progress and know I could not walk as fast as I am biking so that makes me feel better. I have friends that are 75 and they bike on tandems. They have a high tec tandem mountain bike and a custom built expensive tandem road bike. They use them a lot, which gives me hope for the future. He is the pilot and she is the copilot.