Lesliemarie, don't worry about the gear but about your cadence (rpm). Am I correct that you have some knee issues? If so a higher cadence is better for your knees as long as you're still feeling enough tension from the gear.
For flat riding, a cadence of 90 to 110 is great. Most recreational cyclists probably are about 80. For climbing, hopefully you can keep your cadence above 50, 60 to 70 would be better for your knees.
I'm a big fan of heart rate monitors. Combined with monitoring your cadence, you can make sure you're not wasting your time and being kind to your knees.
Inexperienced riders tend to ride at one extreme or another. Either they push too big of a gear - which is tough on the knees. Or spin away without tension which is also tough on the knees. The latter is common in Spinning classes.
Larger riders tend to have lower cadence compared to smaller riders. If you stand, make sure that you have plenty of tension (bigger gear) to protect your knees.
Saddle height is especially important for those with sensitive knees. Your knees should be driving straight forward or a bit towards the cross bar. Knees driving out in a V puts a LOT of strain on them. Put your seat on the high side for knee safety, but make sure you're not rocking from cheek to cheek on the saddle.
Hope this helps you resolve the difference of opinion.
Debra
