Running Out Of Gears ... But ?

Proz

Hi All
Im looking for a bit of help and advice.
Currently i ride an Ultegra Compact 10 sp 50/34 with a 30-12 cassette.
Im running out of gears on the straights and downhills but i really do need the 34 front and 30 rear for some of the hills around here.....its pathetic i know but im no spring chicken and getting on a bit.

Im toying with the idea of upgrading to the Ultegra 11 speed groupset with 52/36 and i see they do a 32-11 cassette.
Will the 36 front and 32 rear combo still give me a chance at some of the hills i have .... i know theres a calculation that works out ratios but i cant find it . Im not sure i could manage a 39 front and 32 rear .
I just dont want to do this upgrade to find it kills me on the hills i can do just now and regret it.

Thank You

slowbike

http://www.gear-calculator.com/

amrushton

http://www.bikecalc.com/gear_inches

How fast are you going tho' to run out of gears downhill before you put the brakes on and how long do you spend in these gears? If on a ride that lasts 4hours you spend 5 mins on 50x11 to me that would be a waste of time and a gear. Everyone is different and the terrain you cycle on is different to other people

Proz

Slowbike wrote:

http://www.gear-calculator.com/

Thank you for this .... if im reading it right the 36-32 combo is exactly the same as the 34-30 ?

slowbike

Proz wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

http://www.gear-calculator.com/

Thank you for this .... if im reading it right the 36-32 combo is exactly the same as the 34-30 ?

36-32 will be very slightly easier than the 34-30 combo - not that you'd notice though. If you change the display to "Gear Inches" you'll see that 34-30 is 30.3" and 36-32 is 30.1" ...

Proz

Slowbike wrote:

Proz wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

http://www.gear-calculator.com/

Thank you for this .... if im reading it right the 36-32 combo is exactly the same as the 34-30 ?

36-32 will be very slightly easier than the 34-30 combo - not that you'd notice though. If you change the display to "Gear Inches" you'll see that 34-30 is 30.3" and 36-32 is 30.1" ...

Thank you for your help . Thats great , I think I'll upgrade to the new ultegra

debeli

Proz wrote:

Hi All
Im looking for a bit of help and advice.
Currently i ride an Ultegra Compact 10 sp 50/34 with a 30-12 cassette.
Im running out of gears on the straights and downhills but i really do need the 34 front and 30 rear for some of the hills around here.....its pathetic i know but im no spring chicken and getting on a bit.

Im toying with the idea of upgrading to the Ultegra 11 speed groupset with 52/36 and i see they do a 32-11 cassette.
Will the 36 front and 32 rear combo still give me a chance at some of the hills i have .... i know theres a calculation that works out ratios but i cant find it . Im not sure i could manage a 39 front and 32 rear .
I just dont want to do this upgrade to find it kills me on the hills i can do just now and regret it.

Thank You

Many of these things (these upgrading decisions) seem to be based as much on the craving for an upgrade as they are on any real or perceived mechanical gain. I do not say it is so in your case, but I do see it in others.

First: You say your current gearing results in your running out of gear 'on the straights and downhills'. I take it that you call a straight what I call a flat road. On the gearing you have, 50 x 12 would give you 32 mph at 100rpm and over 39mph at 120. That is pretty good for most UK roads. I find it hard to pedal at much over 135rpm on a superfast descent, so after around 46mph (I too am getting on a bit) I rely on God, gravity and Gradient. At your gearing, you will be in roughly the same position as most of us. If you're not cracking 40mph under power on descents, then it may be helpful to work on riding comfortably at higher cadences. You can pick up a nice fixed-gear bike off-the-shelf for less than your proposed upgrade. This will get your legs spinning in comfort.

Secondly: The gain at the other end of the ratio spread would be marginal and you wouldn't notice it on most UK roads. There is no disgrace if you have to get out of the saddle and huff & puff.

If you are no spring chicken, I'd accept the graceful efect of ageing and enjoy the machine you have. If you feel the need to upgrade 'because you can' and because you will somehow convince yourself that you are a better rider or a more 'serious' rider, or even just because you want to, then do it and do it with joy.

But will you feel the difference out on the road? Really.... no.

Will you still feel jolly about the upgrade three months later? Splash the cash and find out.

Proz

Debeli wrote:

Proz wrote:

Hi All
Im looking for a bit of help and advice.
Currently i ride an Ultegra Compact 10 sp 50/34 with a 30-12 cassette.
Im running out of gears on the straights and downhills but i really do need the 34 front and 30 rear for some of the hills around here.....its pathetic i know but im no spring chicken and getting on a bit.

Im toying with the idea of upgrading to the Ultegra 11 speed groupset with 52/36 and i see they do a 32-11 cassette.
Will the 36 front and 32 rear combo still give me a chance at some of the hills i have .... i know theres a calculation that works out ratios but i cant find it . Im not sure i could manage a 39 front and 32 rear .
I just dont want to do this upgrade to find it kills me on the hills i can do just now and regret it.

Thank You

Many of these things (these upgrading decisions) seem to be based as much on the craving for an upgrade as they are on any real or perceived mechanical gain. I do not say it is so in your case, but I do see it in others.

First: You say your current gearing results in your running out of gear 'on the straights and downhills'. I take it that you call a straight what I call a flat road. On the gearing you have, 50 x 12 would give you 32 mph at 100rpm and over 39mph at 120. That is pretty good for most UK roads. I find it hard to pedal at much over 135rpm on a superfast descent, so after around 46mph (I too am getting on a bit) I rely on God, gravity and Gradient. At your gearing, you will be in roughly the same position as most of us. If you're not cracking 40mph under power on descents, then it may be helpful to work on riding comfortably at higher cadences. You can pick up a nice fixed-gear bike off-the-shelf for less than your proposed upgrade. This will get your legs spinning in comfort.

Secondly: The gain at the other end of the ratio spread would be marginal and you wouldn't notice it on most UK roads. There is no disgrace if you have to get out of the saddle and huff & puff.

If you are no spring chicken, I'd accept the graceful efect of ageing and enjoy the machine you have. If you feel the need to upgrade 'because you can' and because you will somehow convince yourself that you are a better rider or a more 'serious' rider, or even just because you want to, then do it and do it with joy.

But will you feel the difference out on the road? Really.... no.

Will you still feel jolly about the upgrade three months later? Splash the cash and find out.

I do have to admit there may be a bit of the "because i can" going on here ... i do like having the newer stuff and my Ultegra 6700 stuff is a few years old now. Theres nothing actually wrong with my groupset at the moment. Its just sometimes i click for another gear to find theres no more left. Doesnt happen most of the time i suppose though.
I do fancy 11 speed over the 10 i have just now and as you say would i notice any difference .... probly not lol .
I can do most jobs myself and fitted my current groupset myself so would save on fitting costs. I can get the groupset of £430. Would i still be smiling in 3 months time .... probly yes lol .

slowbike

stop waffling and hit the "checkout" button ...

There's someone looking to possibly upgrade their entry level bike on here - so sell the Ultegra 6700 to them and you're both sorted!

davep1

Proz wrote:

Hi All

Im toying with the idea of upgrading to the Ultegra 11 speed groupset with 52/36 and i see they do a 32-11 cassette.
Will the 36 front and 32 rear combo still give me a chance at some of the hills i have .... i know theres a calculation that works out ratios but i cant find it . Im not sure i could manage a 39 front and 32 rear .
I just dont want to do this upgrade to find it kills me on the hills i can do just now and regret it.

Thank You

I am running this set up on my bike at the mo, switched to it for the Fred Whitton, the bike originally had an 11-28 cassette. I really like the setup as it is now, and wished I'd switched to it sooner.

ajmitchell

so you have a 50/34 12/32 and need a bigger top gear but are happy with the lowest gear. the simplest solution would be to buy a 11/30 or 11/32 cassette (no modifications needed) and or a 51 or 52 teeth chainring (v likely the front derallieur would handle this). Try this before changing the entire crankset.

on-yer-bike

Sounds like you might be better off with a full compact 34/50 than a semi compact. A 34-50 with an 11-32. 11-50 is the same as 12-53 for downhills and 34-32 will get you up anything.

fenix

Save your money and learn to spinl faster. 50 x 12 is enough for you.

keef66

Well I'm considerably beyond spring chicken territory, I'll be 60 next year. My summer bike has an old 105 triple crankset, so my lowest gear is a spinny 30 x 27, which is occasionally handy. 95% of the time I spend in the 39t chainring, and only for longer downhills or flats with a tailwind do I bother with the 50t. Even with a downhill and a tailwind I've never come even close to spinning out in my top gear of 50 x 12.

On my winter bike I ditched the standard 53/39 chainset and fitted a CX 46/36 instead, which seems to give me a perfect spread of gears for my slower winter riding. OK, I may have to do some of the climbs standing, but there's not much of that round here. I don't really spin out in the top gear of 46 x 27 either unless I have a gale force tailwind.

So upgrade your drivetrain if you want new, shiny components, but don't go fooling yourself that you'll suddenly start going everywhere 2mph faster...

slowbike

I'm shocked at the responses ...

a fellow rider comes on here asking for help to backup his decision to spend some cash on bike stuff and you lot go and try and put him off ... ??! I'd forgive you if you suggested he bought another bike ... but no ...

FWIW - 50/12 is NOT enough sometimes - whilst I can spin very quickly (I was second in our club spinning contest) I prefer a slightly slower cadence - especially on long descents. I know I can change it to an x-11 cassette - or even a hybrid version of two - but you just start opening up gaps in the gear selection - having one bike with 32-11 on 9 speed I know it's a compromise - 32-11 on 11 speed would at least fill in some missing gaps ...

Proz

Slowbike wrote:

I'm shocked at the responses ...

a fellow rider comes on here asking for help to backup his decision to spend some cash on bike stuff and you lot go and try and put him off ... ??! I'd forgive you if you suggested he bought another bike ... but no ...

FWIW - 50/12 is NOT enough sometimes - whilst I can spin very quickly (I was second in our club spinning contest) I prefer a slightly slower cadence - especially on long descents. I know I can change it to an x-11 cassette - or even a hybrid version of two - but you just start opening up gaps in the gear selection - having one bike with 32-11 on 9 speed I know it's a compromise - 32-11 on 11 speed would at least fill in some missing gaps ...

Thank you for your help Slowbike, I have ordered the groupset now .... Ultegra 6800 52/36 with a 32-11 cassette.

Wirral_paul

Proz wrote:

Thank you for your help Slowbike, I have ordered the groupset now .... Ultegra 6800 52/36 with a 32-11 cassette.

There will always be plenty on here telling everyone else that they don't need to upgrade no matter what - please feel free to ignore them all if you WANT to upgrade.

Just a thought though - are your wheels 11 speed compatible?? If not then you've given yourself a reason to NEED to upgrade those too!!

Proz

Wirral_Paul wrote:

Proz wrote:

Thank you for your help Slowbike, I have ordered the groupset now .... Ultegra 6800 52/36 with a 32-11 cassette.

There will always be plenty on here telling everyone else that they don't need to upgrade no matter what - please feel free to ignore them all if you WANT to upgrade.

Just a thought though - are your wheels 11 speed compatible?? If not then you've given yourself a reason to NEED to upgrade those too!!

Hi
Yeah I have Dura Ace C50's which are 11 speed compatible:-) .....