Need bigger gears.

miggillicuddy
miggillicuddy Posts: 554
edited July 2011 in Road beginners
On my 2nd hand Rayleigh, I thought I was coping surprisingly well on the climbs, then someone pointed out I was running a massive cassette.

On closer inspection I've found I'm running a 32-11 8 speed mtb cassette. Out with the chaingang the other night we were hammering along the flats and I was struggling to get a comfortable high-end gear so I'm thinking about sticking on a smaller cassette.

I'm running a 52-43 double up the front, so say I get something in the range of 26-11, how much will I suffer on the climbs?

And considering that I'll no doubt have to replace the chain and chainrings, is it even worth it?
~~StumpJumper~~

Comments

  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Impossible for us to answer. Were you in the 32 sprocket ?
  • cyberknight
    cyberknight Posts: 1,238
    What cadence do you spin your legs at ?

    I spin a 50x 17 on the flat and i can do 22 mph in that gear , i top out with a 50x12 and i only spin out at around 40 mph .

    a top gear of 52x11 at 90 rpm is 33 mph

    your bottom gear for hills

    gives you 35 inches per revolution, if you change to a 26 is 43 inches per revolution so you will definitely notice it if you need your lowest gear.

    You could get a 11-28 and still give you a reasonable lower gear with a bit closer range of gears .
    FCN 3/5/9
  • cyberknight
    cyberknight Posts: 1,238
    Another option is to change your small chainring to a 39 tooth , that will give you the lower gears assuming you need them if you decide to put a closer range cassette on the back.
    FCN 3/5/9
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    cougie wrote:
    Impossible for us to answer. Were you in the 32 sprocket ?

    11
  • miggillicuddy
    miggillicuddy Posts: 554
    No idea what cadence I spin at, although it seems slightly slower than other riders.
    cyberknight wrote:
    You could get a 11-28 and still give you a reasonable lower gear with a bit closer range of gears .

    I think that's the answer I'm after - I don't need a higher gear, just a closer range of gears. However there doesn't appear to be a great selection of 8 speeds available.

    And the option of 39t chainring on sounds like a good compromise to get me up the hills
    ~~StumpJumper~~
  • cyberknight
    cyberknight Posts: 1,238
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shimano-HG70-8-Sp ... 3357b7fabf

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Sram-2011-PG8 ... 3f0bd6e5ed

    I wish mine were that cheap , the rrp of the cassette i have atm is £55 :(
    FCN 3/5/9

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