Yet another Gear question.
MartAstur
Posts: 122
I know there are probably hundreds of posts about this but ... well I'm going to ask anyway because I couldn't be bothered to look for them.
I live in a really hilly area and whilst I have managed to get up most hills so far, I often find myself clicking away at the gear change in the hope that there is a lower gear.
I'm thinking of changing the cassette from the bikes existing 11-25 to a 12-28 or even a 30 if there is one. I have a 50/34T compact chainset and a Shimano 105 gear set
My questions are;
Am I right in thinking I will only have to change the cassette and possibly the chain?
How big a difference is there between a 25t and a 28t and will I really notice the difference?
Does anyone know if I there is a cassette above 28 that I can use with the 105 gear set?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
I live in a really hilly area and whilst I have managed to get up most hills so far, I often find myself clicking away at the gear change in the hope that there is a lower gear.
I'm thinking of changing the cassette from the bikes existing 11-25 to a 12-28 or even a 30 if there is one. I have a 50/34T compact chainset and a Shimano 105 gear set
My questions are;
Am I right in thinking I will only have to change the cassette and possibly the chain?
How big a difference is there between a 25t and a 28t and will I really notice the difference?
Does anyone know if I there is a cassette above 28 that I can use with the 105 gear set?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
0
Comments
-
I swapped from 11-25 to 11-28 and it made a huge difference, this on a standard crankset running 172.5 cranks & 39/52 rings. Your chain should be ok unless you've done a lot of miles on it.0
-
I enquired about this and you can go up to a 28 on a 105 ok but not much more because of the derailler something or other on 105 wont go much higher.this was from a bike shop.I was told it would help some what.Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori0
-
Thanks for the replies. Good to know it makes a difference.
I was wondering if 28 was the recommended max. I know the Shimano 105 CS-5700 only goes up to 28 but did wonder if it was possible to fit a Tiagra 4600 which goes up to 30, although it does seem a bit cheap which worries me a little. I guess the best option then is the CS-5700 11-28.0 -
Don't worry about fitting a Tiagra rear derailliur if you have to...
even better get an SRAM apex groupset and you'll be laughing with an 11-32.0 -
ALIHISGREAT wrote:Don't worry about fitting a Tiagra rear derailliur if you have to...
even better get an SRAM apex groupset and you'll be laughing with an 11-32.
Not sure the wife and bank manager will be laughing as much
was hoping to avoid the expense of changing the group set for now. If it's quite cheap to just put on a 11-28 I will do that and I can upgrade to a SRAM 11-32 later in the year when I am brave enough to take on some of the HC climbs here, although you have now tempted me 
0 -
I have the SRAM 11-36 with a long cage de railleur on my bike with a compact on the front. My average speeds are up and now have much more confidence to go on any ride now as hills no longer bother me. Even a 1 in 4 hill in the new forest was a doddle. Completely revolutionised my riding experience.Cannondale Supersix
Specialised Stumpjumper0 -
Not the one they do at the end of the rattler?0
-
a 34/28 should get you up most hills easy.
I am not the fittest rider but changed the front from a 52/39 - 26 to the 50/34 - 26 and can climb up most things ok (like holme moss), so 28 should be fine.0 -
zx6man wrote:a 34/28 should get you up most hills easy.
I am not the fittest rider but changed the front from a 52/39 - 26 to the 50/34 - 26 and can climb up most things ok (like holme moss), so 28 should be fine.
Good to hear as I think that's the option I am going for Out of curiosity, what gradient has Holme Moss? 0 -
Average grade: 5.6 %
Length: 7 km
Height start: 130 m
Height top: 524 m
Elevation: 394 m
Supposedly at number 23 of englands hard climb list0 -
That's quite a climb. I would probably struggle with that one at the moment but it's the type of climb I hope to train on hence the need for lower gears.
My training will be geared toward doing this climb next October http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Co ... ainID=4590 , at my age and with my fitness levels I doubt I would make it with a 25, lets hope a 28 gets me up there 0 -
And I did it with a bad knee too, I think if the gear was any easier it would just be too slow and I would fall off :-)0
-
zx6man wrote:a 34/28 should get you up most hills easy.
I am not the fittest rider but changed the front from a 52/39 - 26 to the 50/34 - 26 and can climb up most things ok (like holme moss), so 28 should be fine.
It depends what you weigh though.. you can't just say its fine for you so its fine for everyone else.
I'm not built like a climber and I'd love a 32t cassette on the steep stuff0 -
Of course, I was 5 stone overweight when I did it and I have an herniated disc in my back, so I naturally assume most can do nore than me :-)0
-
It depends what you weigh though.. you can't just say its fine for you so its fine for everyone else.
My bike weighs 8kg and I weigh under 11 stone so I guess I have that in my favour. Problem is, I may have the external physique of a cyclist but internally I am more like a Sumo wrestler :?0 -
Problem solved!
Took the bike to the local bike shop and they whacked on a Tiagra 12-30 and didn't need a new chain or anthing. Bought and fitted cost me 25 quid which I thought was pretty good. just tried the bike out on a nasty local climb and made a real difference so I'm a happy biker.
0 -
MartAstur wrote:Problem solved!
Took the bike to the local bike shop and they whacked on a Tiagra 12-30 and didn't need a new chain or anthing. Bought and fitted cost me 25 quid which I thought was pretty good. just tried the bike out on a nasty local climb and made a real difference so I'm a happy biker.
great stuff mate.0
