Carrera TDF gearing - assistance gratefully received

jamesfoz

New member alert! I am after some advice, as I have trawled the internet and have found lots of good advice (including on this forum) but not a 100% answer to my query.

I have a 2013 Carrera TDF (I know what quite a lot of you are thinking!) that was bought as my 30th birthday present at a time when I didn't have a lot of money to spend on it (I still don't). I wasn't sure how into road cycling I would get, despite doing lots of cycling as a youngster, so that's another reason for not spending lots of money. I have changed the pedals, tyres and stem (it was too long for me) and am overall very happy with the bike despite it being an entry level bike.

I have caught the bug however (not seriously like some as my young family limit my riding time) but I am getting out more and more round the Surrey Hills and have got an entry in Ride London in August. What I have found, a seemingly common thing with the TDF, is that I am searching for another gear or two up the hills compared to my friends who have more expensive bikes. I get the hills OK, just would like it to be a little easier (and yes I know the fitter I am the easier it will be but cant a guy get a little helping hand too?!).

I have researched and it seems the simplest option to help a little is to change the front chainset from the standard 52-38 to a 50-34. There are forums posts saying this but what I cannot find is anywhere suggesting the actual part to buy. As you have gathered, I don't have £100+ to spend on it, otherwise I might as well buy a better bike, so if anyone has any suggestions of a basic 50-34 that I can look for, I would be eternally grateful.

Thanks all

James

keezx

If you have the standard 12-26 cassette it's the easyiest and cheapest place to start with.
A 12-28 or 12-30 sets you back 16 £ or so and will make climbing easier.
A Shimano Tiagra compact will set you back a 60 £ (*Wiggle)

Seems a bit strange to me that an entry-level bike is equipped with 52-38......

jamesfoz

Thanks Keezx. So you are suggesting changing the rear cassette for a 12-28 or 12-30 rather than the front? Will this mean I have to make other changes, like to the derailleur?

jim55

You won't need to change crankset ( front) just change cassette , it's the cheapest way you will b limited as to how big a cassette by the derailluer but you could def get a diff one in their to make it better ,is it 8spd sora ? Then obv get an 8 spd cassette lol , shimano or sram are compatible

keezx

jamesfoz wrote:

Thanks Keezx. So you are suggesting changing the rear cassette for a 12-28 or 12-30 rather than the front? Will this mean I have to make other changes, like to the derailleur?

I'm pretty sure a 2013 derailleur will work with 28 and probably 30 too.

jamesfoz

Thanks guys, very helpful and changing the rear is much cheaper than the front too! Just trying to find the right one now. This one is cheap but not sure if that is a good thing?!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-cs-hg41 ... -cassette/

markhewitt1978

jamesfoz wrote:

Thanks guys, very helpful and changing the rear is much cheaper than the front too! Just trying to find the right one now. This one is cheap but not sure if that is a good thing?!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-cs-hg41 ... -cassette/

Yup that looks fine. As long as it's 8 speed.

You don't have to pay a lot for cassettes, e.g. I just replaced my road bike 10 speed cassette and it was £12. I could have paid £100 more than that.

Ben6899

jamesfoz wrote:

Thanks guys, very helpful and changing the rear is much cheaper than the front too! Just trying to find the right one now. This one is cheap but not sure if that is a good thing?!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-cs-hg41 ... -cassette/

That one should be fine. I'd go 11-30 - the jump between ratios might be a bit lumpy on the 11-34.

arlowood

Ben6899 wrote:

jamesfoz wrote:

Thanks guys, very helpful and changing the rear is much cheaper than the front too! Just trying to find the right one now. This one is cheap but not sure if that is a good thing?!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-cs-hg41 ... -cassette/

That one should be fine. I'd go 11-30 - the jump between ratios might be a bit lumpy on the 11-34.

11-34 would definitely need a new rear mech but the 11-30 should be OK with the existing mech (if it's a short cage).

Only slight concern would be if he tried to run 52 - 30 where he might just struggle with the mech cacpacity. I've run a 12-30 ten speed happily with a compact 50/34 but I think the extra 2 teeth on his large chairing might be a step too far. However if he can remember never to ride big/big he will probably be fine

jamesfoz

Thanks for all your help.

I will definitely change the cassette for a 11-30 and the derailleur if needed, as this is the cheap option. I'm also tempted to change the chainset for a 50-34 at the same time as this will have a bigger impact.