Chainset help please!!

miss notax

Ok, need to buy a new groupset for the Santa Cruz build and I have managed to confuse myself :oops:

I have a 22 32 44 set up on my Orange (cassette 24) which I like. However there is a a 26 36 48 chainset on special offer and I don't understand enough about it to know if this is an option or not?!!

Can someone please explain very simply how this would affect the gears on my bike? I know there are lots of tables etc on the internet but to be honest I have a very tenuous grasp on how gears work and I don't understand them. Please pretend you're explaining it to your gran and enlighten me......

1mancity2

It will be harder with the same size cassette, you will probably end up using the middle ring more or get a different cassette to compensate.

tofu21

I would have thought the 26/36/48 is a 10 speed setup and the 22/32/44 is 9 speed, which in it's self may not be an issue, someone may correct me on that.

I would have thought your orange would have a 32 or 34 cassette. You can get 24 cassettes but there aren't seen that often on a MTB.

If you went from a 22/32/44 to a 26/36/48 without changing your cassette you affectily loose your lower gears and increase your higher gears.

njee20

Not a 9 speed/10 speed difference, the larger sizes are usually used on hybrids/'trekking' bikes.

As said, it will be harder in all gears compared to now. I'd stick to what you have.

The Spiderman

26/36/48 sounds like more like a trekking/touring bike set up.Shimano XT by any chance?

miss notax

tofu21 wrote:

I would have thought the 26/36/48 is a 10 speed setup and the 22/32/44 is 9 speed, which in it's self may not be an issue, someone may correct me on that.

I would have thought your orange would have a 32 or 34 cassette. You can get 24 cassettes but there aren't seen that often on a MTB.

If you went from a 22/32/44 to a 26/36/48 without changing your cassette you affectily loose your lower gears and increase your higher gears.

Yes, sorry, typo - the Orange has a 34 cassette fitted. When I built the Orange I kept a spreadsheet of everything - yes, I am that sad :oops:

Thats makes sense about the 9 speed and 10 speed - I would like to stick to a 9 speed set up so it sounds like that deal isn't for me then! I'll keep my eyes peeled for another 22/32/44 then - which I know I like

miss notax

Thanks guys - obviously not for me then!! Will stick with what I know

Chunkers1980

If you go 9 speed you'll be buying 'old' stuff. I can see the appeal of keeping 9 spd as all your other bikes are and makes interchageability between - but this seem like something you're not likely to do as you want different types of bikes.

What range have you settled on for the group and where form?

miss notax

Hmmm, fair point. I plan on going for Shimano XT - same as the Orange (except I have SLX cranks on the Orange). I was only going for 9 speed as you can pick it up slightly cheaper than 10 speed at the moment, and I am watching the pennies!

1mancity2

This is a Bargain,

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... OUP-10.htm

sniper68

I bought a 26/36/48(in error)for my HT build.I ditched the outer for a bash.I was going to replace the 26 with a 22 but it's doing wonders for my legs on climbs so much so that on my FS the other day I didn't use 1st or 2nd on the granny as they felt too high 8)

Chunkers1980

1mancity2 wrote:

This is a Bargain,

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... OUP-10.htm

Yep - or go for the Deore and effectively get the brakes for free - keep notax happy.

XT is verging on double the price.

njee20

9 speed chainsets are 10 speed compatible anyway, so you can still go 10 speed in the future with your existing cranks.

Anonymous

If you were thinking of 10 speed, go 2x10. 2x10 is the new 3x9.