For no particular reason, I have been thinking about how the "generally accepted" gearing choices have changed over time. Particularly how the low end gearing has gotten much lower (smaller gear inches)
I'm not old enough to have much knowledge before the 1960's but is seemed then that 44-52 was common in the 5 speed cluster era, then 42-52 for some years, very late 70's perhaps but 6 speed cluster for racers were usually 13-21. Cranks then changed to 42-53, and now it's 39-53T with 10 speed.
Those larger low end gears must have made the Grand Tour climbs much more painful. Assuming similar power output across the years (a big assumption), if anything, gearing would seem to have been going the other way. Todays climbers would routinely have 39 or even 34-25. Compared to the 44-21, that's a huge difference.
Any one have insight into the 50's-60's gearing for racing? Is the changes due only to more rear cogs over time?
Gary Watts
Vancouver, WA
USA