Gear Ratios

Spud Son

All,
Does anyone have any views on replacing the std 22/32/44 gearing with a 26/36/44 combo ?

The reason I ask, is that my middle ring is worn and needs to be replaced, and I very infrequently use the granny ring. I have worked out the ratios with my cassettes, see below:

22 32 44
32 0.69 1.00
28 0.79 1.14
24 0.92 1.33
21 1.05 1.52 2.10
18 1.22 1.78 2.44
16 1.38 2.00 2.75
14 2.29 3.14
12 2.67 3.67
11 2.91 4.00

26 36 44
32 0.81 1.13
28 0.93 1.29
24 1.08 1.50
21 1.24 1.71 2.10
18 1.44 2.00 2.44
16 1.63 2.25 2.75
14 2.57 3.14
12 3.00 3.67
11 3.27 4.00


allowing for the avoidance of high-low and low-high stretch conditions and on paper it appears that I will only lose the 2 very lowest gear ratios. Based on the fact that I have never used anything this low, I can only see a revised 26/36/44 setup as giving me more usable options for the majority of the riding I do.

Or am I missing something ?


Thanks in advance

supersonic

Your total spread of ratios has been reduced if you go to that crankset. You havent gained any higher gears at all. If you want a higher gear, go for a 48t crank (and a new front mech) if not, stick with what you have.

Underscore

Spud Son wrote:

All,
Does anyone have any views on replacing the std 22/32/44 gearing with a 26/36/44 combo ?
[...]
Or am I missing something ?

Maybe. Front mechs have a minimum difference between the outer and middle rings (I think that is due to the contouring of the cage) and, for most MTB mechs, it's 12 teeth. That's why most cranksets are 48/36/26 or 44/32/22. Running a 36 with a 44, you may well find that you have issues getting it set up to shift and run smoothly.

_

Spud Son

Thanks for the feedback.

I had not thought about the capacity of the front mech to cope the different sizes. I will ask my LBS and see what they recommend. I am not really looking to increase top end ratios, just give more usable options.