Pretty certain I've asked this before, but here goes.
And I 'm pretty darn sure I know the answer, but you never know.
Take the same gear on two bikes. One using 36/46 - 12/25 and the other 34/50 - 12/25. Is it just in my head that the same gear when using the 50 ring when I'm racing cx, as when I use the 46 feels so much harder?
So same gear, but different mechanics to get there. From a pedling perspective are they identical?
Huh? The same rear sprocket will be harder with a 50 up front than a 46
But if you have the same actual ratio then the feeling of hardness is in your head
apparently its all in your head. same gear at the back, the 46 should be easier to pedal.
Your question doesn't make sense! What are you comparing?
But if you have the same actual ratio then the feeling of hardness is in your head
Yeah this.
Although... old road lore would suggest that the same gear in inches is easier to turn when using a bigger front ring... I suspect this is provable and is related to drive train frictional losses, but is, in practice, all i'th'ead.
Other old roady lore suggests that one should never use the big ring before March, that wearing shorts before Easter will result in pnuemonia and death, wearing shorts off the bike gives you fat legs and that eating muesli makes you fat if you are a German Tour contender.
Say pushing 75" using 50/18 seems harder than pushing as near to 75" in the 46 (though the nearest with a 46 will be a bit higher or lower)
If you have the same gear inches then it is all in your head (in the real world rather than a lab where what Crikey said might be true)
Okay.
When's St Trinians on?