Gearing

russdcycle

i have a summer bike with 53/39 chainset with 12/25 cassette. During the winter i bought a winter bike with a compact 50/34 with 12/27 cassette. Now the summer has arrived i am not enjoying my summer bike as much as the winter one.

Any recommendations? i thought fit a compact chainset or would i achieve similar by changing the rear casssette. i cant swap between the 2 bikes as my summer bike is 9spd octalink and my winter 10spd. i really like both bikes so don't want to get rid of the summer one. Need to keep costs down on this one also.

ollyridesfirst

Not much difference in the casettes there, i can only imagine that you're having to push harder on your summer bike with the 53 ring? You'll rarely get into a 53/11 gear anyway, so it might be worth changing the front for a compact, you could even go for an 11 tooth small ring at the back too.

At the same rpm 50/11 is quicker than 53/12 anyway

fludey

Had similar gearing on my summer bike so I changed the cassette to a 11-28 made quite a difference still with 39/53 up front. If as the above says the issue is with gearing and not comfort.

andrewjoseph

you can get a bigger cassette and possibly a smaller inner chain ring.

Or a triple and mtb cassette, or even a mtb triple and mtb cassette. You may need to change front and rear mechs then. And depending on what shifters you have, you may need to replace them too.

russdcycle

Thanks chaps, I feel it's the comfort issue as my
Summer bike is a cinelli obviously more of a race
Machine and the winter is the verenti kilmeston
From wiggle. A super winter bike with a more
Upright position. Perhaps if I got out a bit more it
Wouldn't be an issue