lewes5
Member
We live on the Delaware coast and I bike primarily on packed cinder park trails. For the most part, the topography is flat but there are some hills along the coast line trails. Local and state governments are also paving over defunct rail beds for walking and biking, long and straight. And oh yeah, we have wind, lots of wind. Each and every day, the direction and velocity change.
The Vado 3's gearing was was all wrong for me and my riding conditions. With its 40 tooth ring gear, I never used the seven lower gears, just the top three. The unused lower cogs looked brand new. So I switched out to a 48 tooth ring gear, which as most of you know is stock on the newer Vados (5 and 6).
My other complaint was with the Vado's original cassette, the 11-40 stump puller. For my biking conditions, anything above a 30 tooth low gear cog is a complete waste. So, the cassette was swapped out for a Shamino 105, ten speed cassette with a 11-28 cog configuration. (With this cassette, I retained the original shifters) In effect, I now have a ten speed, close ratio transmission. Now, if I am riding into a headwind and encountering too much resistance, I can shift into the next lower gear, say from the 15 tooth cog to the 14 tooth cog for slightly better power to the wheel. (Cogs on the 11-28 are - 11-28T - 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 17 / 19 / 21 / 24 / 28) Previously, when I was upshifting or downshifting, I was experiencing big jumps, like downshifting a car from from fifth to second.
Mostly I ride using only the first level of assist particularly on the trails. With this new set up, the Vado retains, somewhat, the riding characteristics of my road bike. When I feel like it or I am on the road returning home, I'll kick up to the second level of assist, shift up and cruise at 22-23 mph. The Vado is now tailored to my riding style, local conditions and, ahem, my age, 76. It's perfect.
The Vado 3's gearing was was all wrong for me and my riding conditions. With its 40 tooth ring gear, I never used the seven lower gears, just the top three. The unused lower cogs looked brand new. So I switched out to a 48 tooth ring gear, which as most of you know is stock on the newer Vados (5 and 6).
My other complaint was with the Vado's original cassette, the 11-40 stump puller. For my biking conditions, anything above a 30 tooth low gear cog is a complete waste. So, the cassette was swapped out for a Shamino 105, ten speed cassette with a 11-28 cog configuration. (With this cassette, I retained the original shifters) In effect, I now have a ten speed, close ratio transmission. Now, if I am riding into a headwind and encountering too much resistance, I can shift into the next lower gear, say from the 15 tooth cog to the 14 tooth cog for slightly better power to the wheel. (Cogs on the 11-28 are - 11-28T - 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 17 / 19 / 21 / 24 / 28) Previously, when I was upshifting or downshifting, I was experiencing big jumps, like downshifting a car from from fifth to second.
Mostly I ride using only the first level of assist particularly on the trails. With this new set up, the Vado retains, somewhat, the riding characteristics of my road bike. When I feel like it or I am on the road returning home, I'll kick up to the second level of assist, shift up and cruise at 22-23 mph. The Vado is now tailored to my riding style, local conditions and, ahem, my age, 76. It's perfect.
