Please can someone explain cassette and chain ring sizes?

LeeBlas
LeeBlas Posts: 14
edited January 2012 in Road beginners
Really looking to fully understand the reasons behind different sized cassettes and varying teeth numbers on chainsets?

Comments

  • richh
    richh Posts: 187
    http://sheldonbrown.com/gearing/index.html

    Look here. This guy has written more informative articles than anyone one here will be able to, so it's probably the best place to start.
  • LeeBlas
    LeeBlas Posts: 14
    Nice one richh - will have a look.

    cheers
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    I find the easiest way to compare gearing is to use inches. Here is a useful link that helps one compare, say, a 50x12 on my Spesh with a 53x13 on my older bikes:

    http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/About_t ... rTable.XLS

    In the example, the 50x12 is 3 inches more than the 53x13 so it will be tougher to pedal but I can go faster before spinning out, albeit that 3 inches does not make a massive difference.

    Don't forget to put your tyre size in but it is all relative anyway.
  • LeeBlas
    LeeBlas Posts: 14
    Bobbinogs wrote:
    I find the easiest way to compare gearing is to use inches. Here is a useful link that helps one compare, say, a 50x12 on my Spesh with a 53x13 on my older bikes:

    http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/About_t ... rTable.XLS

    In the example, the 50x12 is 3 inches more than the 53x13 so it will be tougher to pedal but I can go faster before spinning out, albeit that 3 inches does not make a massive difference.

    Don't forget to put your tyre size in but it is all relative anyway.

    Thanks, have put my wheel sizes in, does that mean the more the inches, the harder the gear?
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    Yes, that's right. The table helps you easily compare what effect comes from changing a sprocket (cassette ring) or a chain ring (or both).

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