32 v 34

Ferrals
Ferrals Posts: 785
edited July 2014 in MTB buying advice
I've ordered a one -up 16 & 42t cassette adaptor, just got to order the front ring. I'm proabably way over thinking it and i know its a compromise, but should i go for 32t up front and essentially loose one gear either end, or 34 loosing two (or 1 and a half really as the gearing is between two) from the lower gears and less from the higher gear. I'm inclined towards that as i find its not uncommon to spin out in 38-11 at the mo.
In practise will I really notice a massive difference between the two front rings? I guess also as i've gone 42 rather than 40, 42-34 is the same as 40-32?

What do other people tend to use? use will be xc/trail riding and occaisonal xc racing in south wales.

Comments

  • poah
    poah Posts: 3,369
    why not order a 30t and not bother with the 42 extender?
  • Ferrals
    Ferrals Posts: 785
    extenders ordered now.
    This is going from a 24-38 front 11-36 back 2 by 10 to a 32 or 34 front and 11-42 back 1 by 10.
    Just 30 up front would mean i'd be spinning out all the time i'd have thought seeing as i spin out now and again with 38 on the front.
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    POAH wrote:
    why not order a 30t and not bother with the 42 extender?

    Eh? Because he's spinning out 38-11, how's a 30 gonna help!?

    It's completely personal, no one can answer but you. Personally, for 26" wheels I'd go 34, and for 29er I'd go 32. That means nothing though. 32-11 is still a fairly tall gear, yes you'll spin out on downhill fireroads, but why are you riding downhill on fireroads!?
  • Ferrals
    Ferrals Posts: 785
    Cheers njee, yeah i figured that would be the answer (i.e its personal). I think i'll probably go 34 - at least that way all i have to do is get a bit fitter if i decide i'd have really been better off with the other ring!!!
  • Lewis A
    Lewis A Posts: 767
    I think if you need a cassette extender and are worried about spinning out all the time then you may be better off with a double up front.
    Cube Analog 2012 with various upgrades.
  • Ferrals
    Ferrals Posts: 785
    I'm not really worried about spinning out all the time - it is only on long fireroads and when i'm on the road. For actually proper offroad riding I rarely doubt i'd ever spin out and likewise I rarely am in the full on granny gear. I actually find it annoying at the moment because the overlap between the two front rings is quite a lot so there is a lot of duplication.

    I've ordered the adaptor now so I'll give it a go. If the worst comes to the worst I'll go back to a double and someone will get a bargain of a marginally used narrow wide ring and cassetter expander on ebay :oops: :oops: :lol::lol:
  • poah
    poah Posts: 3,369
    njee20 wrote:
    POAH wrote:
    why not order a 30t and not bother with the 42 extender?

    Eh? Because he's spinning out 38-11, how's a 30 gonna help!?

    I thought the issue was climbing not spinning out coming down fire roads - if he is spinning out 38-11going down to 32t is going to be so big that difference between 30-11 & 32-11 isn't going to make that much difference.

    Ferrals wrote:
    What do other people tend to use? use will be xc/trail riding and occaisonal xc racing in south wales.

    look at the gears you mostly use and then workout what chain ring up front gives the best range. I would spin out on the 32t on my triple on the road sometimes but off road never so I went with a 32t single. Did the same with my brother inlaws double which was a 40-28. he bought the 32t and is fine.
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    I thought the issue was climbing not spinning out coming down fire roads - if he is spinning out 38-11going down to 32t is going to be so big that difference between 30-11 & 32-11 isn't going to make that much difference.

    Both innit, hence the 42t sprocket to give a wider range. It's all in the OP, it's not that much reading. The second part is just stupid logic. He's asking 32 or 34, so presuambly has put some thought into it, a 30 introduces more problems than it solves...
  • Ferrals
    Ferrals Posts: 785
    He's asking 32 or 34, so presuambly has put some thought into it,

    Yeah I did a spreadsheet to work out gearing ratios the other evening, the joy of being currently injured and only gyming it is I have a lot of time to over think :oops:

    At the high gear end, the top 3 gears i currently have, have ratios of 3.45,2.90,2.53; a 32 tooth would give a ratio for the highest gear of 2.91 and a 34 tooth would give 3.1. Therefore going 32 would basically loose me the highest gear, 34 would give me a gear in between my current two highest.

    At the low gear end, my current lowest three gears have ratios of 0.86, 0.75 and 0.67; a 32 tooth would give me a ratio for the lowest gear of 0.76 and a 34 would give me a ratio for the lowest gear of 0.81. So again for the 32 tooth essentially just loose the lowest gear whereas for the 34 I would be half way between the second and third lowest gears i currently have.

    I think either would be absolutely fine, however as I so so rarely use the full granny i am leaning towards 34.
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    There's your answer then. Not like it's the end of the world if you want to change.
  • felix.london
    felix.london Posts: 4,067
    I'd say, if in doubt then go smaller. Less weight, more ground clearance and like it says in my sig ""Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" :D
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

    Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build

    Trek Session 8
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Whilst I'd say if in doubt go bigger, and MTFU! Lasts longer too. ;-)
  • felix.london
    felix.london Posts: 4,067
    njee20 wrote:
    Whilst I'd say if in doubt go bigger, and MTFU! Lasts longer too. ;-)

    haha..fair do's
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

    Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build

    Trek Session 8
  • Ferrals
    Ferrals Posts: 785
    Went with my gut feeling and the 34. Looking forward to trying 1 by 10 now :D

    Plus I'll end up with a spare internal routing that I can use for a semi stealth dropper at some point in the dim and distant when my finances recover from this onslaught :D:lol:
  • johnmcl7
    johnmcl7 Posts: 162
    Ferrals wrote:
    He's asking 32 or 34, so presuambly has put some thought into it,

    Yeah I did a spreadsheet to work out gearing ratios the other evening, the joy of being currently injured and only gyming it is I have a lot of time to over think :oops:

    This may be useful if working out gear ratios:

    http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

    John
  • paul.skibum
    paul.skibum Posts: 4,068
    The answer is obviously to go 34T and get an 11 speed set up to have a 10t on the back for the high end. Assuming you have an enormous pile of cash.
    Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.
  • Ferrals
    Ferrals Posts: 785
    Haha if only, actually I'm pretty pleased with myself, I e-bayed a bunch of old stuff and raised enough for this conversion and to replace my knackered bar with a renthal fatbar lite :D 8)

    Problem is I have developed an addiction where I just want to try and sell everything! :oops: