Help I need smaller gears - what can I do? A GUIDE
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You could definitely do with some lower gears. Your options depend a lot on what model mechs, etc, you have now and how much you want to spend. Most have been covered on this thread at some time. If you have a normal road rear mech then the biggest you can go is 27 (28 at a push) with safety. Next step would be a compact chainset. You would need a new chain with the cassette (probably).0
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Hi All,
Looking for some much needed guidance. I am a complete noob when it comes to gearing compatibility etc, so apologise in advance if a set up similar to my own has already been covered.
I bought a vintage raleigh bike a couple of months ago, to dip my toe in the water and see if the road biking bug would bite. I am completely hooked and am enjoying the old bike but it is the usual story - hills are killing me!!! Don't get me wrong they are getting easier as fitness levels increase, but I am often out of the saddle in the lowest gear pushing hard while other riders are seated, spinning and smiling.
My intention is to purchase a new bike when funds allow so don't want to do anything too costly. One option is to carry on with the larger gearing, MTFU and enjoy the benefits when I do scrape the funds together for a new bike, the problem is I don't know when that will be and if there were a relatively inexpensive upgrade on the current cycle I wouldn't be in such a hurry for a new bike.
I've taken a couple of pics to show the current set up. Shifting is via non indexed stem levers. Also the front derailleur is attached to a frame bracket which is already at it's lowest setting.
If anyone is able to provide any insight on options and costs it would be highly appreciated.
Cheers all
P1090495 by wardieboy2011, on Flickr
P1090496 by wardieboy2011, on Flickr0 -
Problem solved - Switched the rear cassette and chain at the weekend from 11-25 8 speed to an 11-34 9 speed.
Had to increase the chain length a little and it's working very well, just need to stay out of the small/small gearing as the chain gets very slack. Front derailleur needed raising a touch to accommodate the increased rise of the chain.
Shifting seems much smoother than before (I was getting a lot of ghost shifting under load, I suspect this was due to a 9 speed chain running on an 8 speed cassette.
Overall, I am chuffed with the results and have fewer excuses on the hills now with a 39/34 combo :shock:0 -
Hi I am trying to change my 8sp cassette from a 12-26 to a 11-28/30, I assumed I wouldn't need to change the RD but a friend says I probably will, Ive got a Shimano RD 2300.
Any help and explanation would be greatly appreciated!0 -
What are your chainrings? Hereare the specs for the RD2300. Its designed for a 12-26 setup with a 35tooth capacity so the biggest difference in teeth on the chainrings is 22 (e.g. 52-42-30 triple).frosty99 wrote:Hi I am trying to change my 8sp cassette from a 12-26 to a 11-28/30, I assumed I wouldn't need to change the RD but a friend says I probably will, Ive got a Shimano RD 2300.
Any help and explanation would be greatly appreciated!
The 'capacity' must be less than or equal to the "difference in teeth" on the front + "difference in teeth" on the back (in this case (52 - 30) + (26 - 12) = 22 + 14 = 36, usually a difference of 1 is OK)
If you want to use a 11-28 the result would be (52-30)+(28-11) = 22+17 = 39 which is too far off 35 so a standard 2303 triple wont work, but the 2300 double (52-39)+(28-11) = 30 would be ok.Invacare Spectra Plus electric wheelchair, max speed 4mph
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OptimisticBiker wrote:What are your chainrings? Hereare the specs for the RD2300. Its designed for a 12-26 setup with a 35tooth capacity so the biggest difference in teeth on the chainrings is 22 (e.g. 52-42-30 triple).
The 'capacity' must be less than or equal to the "difference in teeth" on the front + "difference in teeth" on the back (in this case (52 - 30) + (26 - 12) = 22 + 14 = 36, usually a difference of 1 is OK)
If you want to use a 11-28 the result would be (52-30)+(28-11) = 22+17 = 39 which is too far off 35 so a standard 2303 triple wont work, but the 2300 double (52-39)+(28-11) = 30 would be ok.
Ah brilliant, currently on a 52-38 ring so that will still work!
Thanks alot for the explanation too!!0 -
Im currently riding a Giant Defy 3 triple.Have 52/42/30 and 11/26 on this.
I would like to change this maybe early next year now im really into road biking.I really like the Cube bikes,Peloton Pro/Attempt/GTC.
These have either 50/39 or 50/34 chainrings depending on the model.
I am a good climber and i spend the majority of my rides in the big ring,52,except on the steeper hills then go down to the middle ring.The granny ring hasnt had an outing as im much fitter and stronger now from when i first bought the bike in March.
Would these different chain rings on the front make a difference if i did get a new bike?0 -
..I've read this thread a couple of times all the way through. and just about got my head round the options, thanks very much for all this info!
I want to try (on my 9 speed Sora equipped Orba Aqua) an 11-32 9spd cassette, but am now confused as to what mtb rear mech to match it too...I've seen suggestions for Alivio - (only 8 speed?), "medium cage XT" and "short cage DA". I'm further confused when I look at, for eaxmple Merlin, and find "top normal" and other weird descriptions, not to mention "shadow"?
Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced 9spd mech for me? I see a Deore M592 Shadow at £29.95 and a Deore M591 at £34.95...are either of these suitable?
Thanks again for any advice.
Des.0 -
This Alivio would do the job. The mech does not control how many speeds you have. The shifter does that. An 8sp will do fine. The M591 would also be OK.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30990
Top normal means that the chain is on the small sprocket with the cable slack. Bottom normal is on the big one (not so common). Shadow mechs are slimline versions designed to reduce getting caught up in undergrowth etc.0 -
John.T, thanks for that, I never knew that about the rear mechs....the more I learn, the less I seem to know....!0
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...job done!...new cassette, rear mech and chain. All very straightforward - if you've ever played with Meccano, it'll be fine....also a great learning experience as to how the things alll work - the mysteries of rear mech adjustment become clear!...
..big thanks again to all the expert contributors to this thread..!0 -
Is this the iopposite of a compact?
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I have a 9 speed Tiagra compact double and would like to fit 11-34 cassette Why do would you have to fit a MTB rear mech could i not just fit a medium Tiagra mech?John.T wrote:
No. First you have not said if you are on 9sp or 10sp. If you are on 10sp then you can not use a 9sp cassette which the 11/34 is. If you are on 9sp you can fit the 11/34 but it leaves wide gaps between gear ratios. You would also need to go to a MTB rear mech and a longer chain. A medium cage XT version would do the job fine.Platti wrote:Thanks for the advice tho, so could i fit a 11-34 without changing anything other than the chain or will i need to go slightly smaller ?
If you were to read the earlier part of this thread you will find all your options in there.0 -
The road mech's top jockey pulley is mounted higher than the MTB one and will not safely clear anything bigger than a 27. It is 28 on later mechs and some folks have got away with up to 30 but this is rather dependent on the length of their gear hanger which do vary.Tony Defy2 wrote:I have a 9 speed Tiagra compact double and would like to fit 11-34 cassette Why do would you have to fit a MTB rear mech could i not just fit a medium Tiagra mech?0 -
Thanks for that John.t What length mech do you think i would need?0
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Thanks for all your help John much appreciated, i notice that you are in Harrogate i am in york and need these low gears for the hills up on the North York Moors!0
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Help!!! I'm a newbie, and have bought a 20 year old Motard Vitus. It's fantastic, but I'm finding the lowest gear ratio too high for hill climbing, and as I want to be getting into the mountains this summer, I'm concerned. I've looked into changing the rear cassette, but I'm baffled by all the tech talk
The set up is Campagnolo 8 speed, 13 / 21 teeth. I'd love to simply change this to something like 11 / 26 (a higher top gear wouldn't come amiss) but I can't find anything much different to the current ratio available.
Can anyone advise (in simple language!!) please ?Louisa0 -
I have a Specialized Allez with a 12-27, I think, 9speed cassette on the rear, with a compact double up front, 50/34. The LBS reckons I will shortly need to change the cassette and chain so for once am planning ahead. I don't know wherher to just stick with 9 speed and get a new cassette and chain possibly upgrading to Ultegra (?) from Sora or whether it is worth looking at 10 speed. My worry about that is if doing so would mean having to change the RD which is Tiagra as well as the shifter and chain which I need to renew anyway, then it starts looking expensive. Would my existing Sora shifter work OK with an upgraded 9 speed cassette?0
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John,
Thanks for that reply. Just need to look at costs and see where that leaves me.0 -
Help!!! I'm a newbie, and have bought a 20 year old Motard Vitus. It's fantastic, but I'm finding the lowest gear ratio too high for hill climbing, and as I want to be getting into the mountains this summer, I'm concerned. I've looked into changing the rear cassette, but I'm baffled by all the tech talk
The set up is Campagnolo 8 speed, 13 / 21 teeth. I'd love to simply change this to something like 11 / 26 (a higher top gear wouldn't come amiss) but I can't find anything much different to the current ratio available.
Can anyone advise (in simple language!!) please ?
For Campag 8 sp you can run a 13x28 Miche Primato cassette, I also switched to a 9sp chain when I did this which makes for smoother shifting and running.BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
Instagramme0 -
John.T wrote:Any Shimano or SRAM 9sp cassette (up to about 28 tooth big sprocket) will work with the Sora shifter. If you went 10sp you would only need cassette, chain and shifters. Mechs and chainset will work fine.
So I could fit a 12-27 11-28 on my tiagra set up without a problem?0 -
Thanks for the reply John 12-26 seem harder to get hold of compared to 12-27 so ill just get the 12-27 and save a tennerJohn.T wrote:Yes. Just take care with chain length and B screw setting. 0 -
could put this on my super six 105 so i climb hill better Shimano Zee Rear Derailleur Shadow+ 10sp M640+Shimano XT M771 10 Speed Cassette 11-32 i know i need new chain.cheers
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Check the cable pull for the mech. I think that it is different on the 10sp MTB ones and will not work with STIs.scarthie99 wrote:could put this on my super six 105 so i climb hill better Shimano Zee Rear Derailleur Shadow+ 10sp M640+Shimano XT M771 10 Speed Cassette 11-32 i know i need new chain.cheers0 -
can put this on SRAM Apex 10 Speed Rear Mech Mid (32T) Cage but will work with 105 sti shifters0
