Does this sound like a difficult set of ratios?

[RichB]

Just recommissioned my Cougar racing bike which I bought for triathlons 10-11 years ago. Unfortunatly because of surgery on my legs I never really used the bike. Now intending to go out riding with my son and we were discussing gear ratios, I was complaining that compared to other bikes it's difficult up hills. It's got chainrings of 52/42 and the 8 x speed cassette is 12/21 - thoughts?

[itsnotarace]

42/21 isn't very low for your smallest ratio

Try an 11-28 at the rear, that would probably be the cheapest solution.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-hg70-i-8-speed-cas...

You can put the figures into http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/ and calculate the gear inches (how far you travel forward for each turn of the pedals) in each combination of gears

[RichB]

Thanks Ross so it's as I suspected, my son just keeps telling me it's 'cos I'm not fit

[itsnotarace]

Your current setup sounds ideal for time trialling on flat ground, but no it won't be ideal for hills, especially in a reduced state of fitness

[RichB]

I suspect that's what the chap I bought it from used it for. At the time I was into triathlons which is what I intended it for. Now I just want to ride it for fun.