Can't ride up hills - replace cassette or rings?

dnsmiff

Have just got a bike and have been struggling to ride up steep hills.

The front rings are 53/39 and the rear 25/12. The crankset is a truvativ elita and the rear cassette an SRAM OG1070.

Can I replace the rings on the front for 50/34 or replace the rear cassette with a 28/12?

Can I just replace the front rings without replacing the entire crackset, where can I got hold of them??

Don't want to spend a fortune and would like to replace like for like.

redddraggon

The easiest thing to do is just change the cassette. the 28 will be fine will a short arm mech.

You could change the rings on your chainset, but the smallest you could go is 50/38. The 38 won't be much difference from the 39 TBH. To get a smaller small ring than a 38 you'd need to get yourself a new crankset.

http://www.petracycles.co.uk/product_in ... ts_id=9699

I'd recommend something like that Tiagra chainset, but you'd need the bottom bracket cups aswell giving you a total of about £60.

dnsmiff

Thanks, will look to replace the cassette - seems easier!

Road up to Lllandegla yesterday - the lad left me for dead on the long climb up to there.

He got to 40mph going back home (and was doing 32 mph in a 30!!! - only found out afterwards on the GPS), we averaged 15mph there and back.

redddraggon

dnsmiff wrote:

Thanks, will look to replace the cassette - seems easier!

Road up to Lllandegla yesterday - the lad left me for dead on the long climb up to there.

He got to 40mph going back home (and was doing 32 mph in a 30!!! - only found out afterwards on the GPS), we averaged 15mph there and back.

Is the route to Llandegla pretty quiet from traffic? I'm not too fond of busy roads, but guess as you take your son that way it must be pretty safe?

I still haven't got round to trying it.

dnsmiff

Yes fairly quite, got passed by a handful of cars in the morning (8am - 10am)

Cajun

http://www.cptips.com/climb.htm
Since you're a re-born rider, I'd recommend the 50/38 changeout in lieu of the rear cassette... ;the 53t is probably not going to be of much use to you without a nice flat road and a tailwind... Yes, you won't be able to maintain a 22-29mph pace, but most [average]riders don't, but you WILL be able to use most of the 50/38 x 12/25 gearing. I don't understand why the LBS doesn't suggest this to new (re-born)riders....IMHO, they're not thinking of the customer, just making a sale... When you're considering racing, then get back to the 53t... Keeping the 53t will only be used 20% of the time until you've put some time in the saddle... Compact cranks and smaller rings have been making a big change in cycling in the recent past so don't let ego (53t) ruin your enjoyment of riding..... no fun returning to the car with toasted legs

Obviously this statement will be hammered by the under-30yo & the Cat 5- Cat 1 riders...., but until you reach that performance level, enjoy cycling!

Ste_S

50x12 @ 100rpm is 32.6mph, so unless you're going down some very steep hills it's unlikely you're going to spin out.

It's my current top gear, and not had any issues so far - I've done freewheel track sessions, 10mile TT's and Closed Circuit training races on it.

redddraggon

If the area is hilly I like both high gears and low gears - that's why I've gone for 50/34 and 11-25. This combination actually gives me a higher and lower gear than 53/39 and 12-25, best of both worlds.

Ste_S wrote:

50x12 @ 100rpm is 32.6mph

I struggle to keep a cadence of more than 80rpm, especially going downhil (due to instability), so 26.1mph is a rather low speed (I can even achieve this on the flat sometimes).

IMO, 50/34 11-25 is a better combination than 53/39 12-25, but alas you don't always get to choose when you buy a bike.

McBain_v1

Originally posted by RedDragon:

IMO, 50/24 11-25 is a better combination than 53/39 12-25, but alas you don't always get to choose when you buy a bike.

Does a 50/24 front chain ring exist or is it one that you've put together yourself? That seems a huge jump in terms of gear ratio's. How does the front derailleur cope?

popette

is it possible to change out one cog, if that is the right word, on the casette or do you need to replace the whole casette?

redddraggon

McBain_v1 wrote:

Originally posted by RedDragon:

IMO, 50/24 11-25 is a better combination than 53/39 12-25, but alas you don't always get to choose when you buy a bike.

Does a 50/24 front chain ring exist or is it one that you've put together yourself? That seems a huge jump in terms of gear ratio's. How does the front derailleur cope?

50/34

dnsmiff

OK, have justed ordered the truvativ elita 50/34 (£100 fitted).

Anyone want to buy a 53/39 hardly used (<100 miles) crankset with GXP bearing!!!!!

Cajun

Keep the 53/39t as a future 'upgrade' After some years in the saddle, your performance level may want to move up to some higher performance rings and you'll already have them and they'll be 'free' (??).

Remember these 3 words: CADENCE, CADENCE, CADENCE!!

Cheers, mate.

azzerb

50x34 will suit you no problem. The difference won't be massive anyway.

I actually prefer at 50 to a 53 as i tend to spin more than use lots of pressure. (During my 2x20 other night, i averaged 98rpm, and at points i felt fairly slow cadence towards the end of each interval)

redddraggon

dnsmiff wrote:

OK, have justed ordered the truvativ elita 50/34 (£100 fitted).

Anyone want to buy a 53/39 hardly used (<100 miles) crankset with GXP bearing!!!!!

How much?

dnsmiff

I was only joking!!! I have no idea, I'll make sure the new crankset comes with the BB first.

redddraggon

dnsmiff wrote:

I was only joking!!! I have no idea, I'll make sure the new crankset comes with the BB first.

lol, I wasn't entirely serious either, although I have been watching ebay for a crankset for my commuter for a good few months, not being particular about what I get I've just been looking for a bargain.

dnsmiff

Just looked on ebay - looks like you can pick them up for around £30 inc postage, might as well keep if only for the BB!! And you never know I might get fitter, but at 38 I think it's a race against time!!!!