34-50 and 12-28 Upgrade

avon1330
avon1330 Posts: 4
in Road general
My Canyon Ultimate Di2 (2013 Model) has the above setup and I would like to upgrade to 'current thinking'

My research leads me to a 11-34 cassette and a 52-36 chainring

I live in a hilly area with 17% not uncommon.

Thoughts?

Comments

  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    Would you need to change your rear mech for a long cage version? Sounds like a lot of effort for no gain
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • avon1330
    avon1330 Posts: 4
    Thanks - I'm upgrading from Di2 6770 to 6870 (10 sp to 11sp) so wanted to take this opportunity to upgrade gearing if possible
  • joe_totale-2
    joe_totale-2 Posts: 1,333
    edited May 2020
    Go for it if that's what you want.
    Gearing is a personal thing, I live in similar terrain and like a 52/36 with an 11/28 but it's not for everyone.

    A bonus is that the 11-34 cassette fits onto 10 speed wheels which you may have given your current 10 speed set up.
  • akh
    akh Posts: 206
    This is my favourite online gear calculator.

    https://ritzelrechner.de/

    Depends what you want to achieve. 34/36 is definitely a lot lower than what you have now, but 34/34 would be even lower (slightly). The 52 would do nothing for me personally. I've made my own 50/36 by swapping out the inner ring for less than £/€20, so if you want the 36 but not the 52 you can.
  • davep1
    davep1 Posts: 837
    Changing the cassette to an 11-34 will make a big, noticeable difference. Changing the cranks to 52-36 will negate most of that. If you want to climb seated in the saddle, then do the cassette. It will also be a lot cheaper than changing the lot, but Shimano will say you need a new rear mech.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,493
    davep1 said:

    Changing the cassette to an 11-34 will make a big, noticeable difference. Changing the cranks to 52-36 will negate most of that. If you want to climb seated in the saddle, then do the cassette. It will also be a lot cheaper than changing the lot, but Shimano will say you need a new rear mech.

    Adding to that. Do you spin out on 50/12?
    If not then you don't need a 52/11.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
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  • paulbnix
    paulbnix Posts: 632
    I fitted an Ultegra 11-34 to replace a SRAM 11-32.
    It did give a lower gear but messed up the higher gears as it has 2 teeth steps at the higher end e.g 11-13-15 rather than 11-12-23 etc
  • manglier
    manglier Posts: 1,298
    I had a 50/34, 11/32 set up and where I live there are lots of 20%+ climbs. So on the grounds that I never actually used the 11 tooth cog at the back I swapped out my clicking GXP 50/34 for a BB386 Evo 46/30.
    This effectively moved my whole gearing range one gear down so what was my 50/12 now roughly equates to my new 46/11 but the new 30/32 gives me a much lower gear for the lumpy bits. My knees are much happier now.
  • kevin_stephens
    kevin_stephens Posts: 184
    One limitation of an 11 to 34 cassette is that the gaps can be rather large. I upgraded to a 50/34 chainset and 11/28 cassette. I find the option to make small changes in ratio on hills very useful. With my previous 10 speed cassette I was always changing up and down failing to find the sweet spot I was looking for. I still have the option for swapping to a bigger cassette if i decide on a trip to the alps
    I want to climb hills so badly;
    and I climb hills so badly
  • teisetrotter
    teisetrotter Posts: 342
    It's rolling hilly where I live. With lots of little snorters. I have a 25/36 11-31 and a 50/34 11-25 on my light summer bike. Although I think an 11-27 is more practical, the 11-25 just gives you amazing gear changes. It's a rare moment I spin out a 50 - 11
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    My current bike came with 52/36 11-28, my previous bike was 50/34 11-32 and I definitely noticed the change. I seem to have to shift between the big and little rings more now. I can’t always get on top of the big ring on rolling roads but I am a bit of a weak chubber so ymmv.

    I’d be inclined to go back to a standard compact when i need new rings
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  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,228
    34x32 is the same as 36x34.

    Unless you really need the 52, not worth changing the chainrings. You'll need the long rear mech for any of them.

    All the hire bikes in gran canaria are 34x32, and that is all hills.
  • teisetrotter
    teisetrotter Posts: 342
    kingstongraham said:

    34x32 is the same as 36x34.

    Unless you really need the 52, not worth changing the chainrings. You'll need the long rear mech for any of them.

    All the hire bikes in gran canaria are 34x32, and that is all hills.

    I remember this ..... I looked at the hire bike when I was there with astonishment ..... ME and a 34x32 .... Are you joking! Oh my did I love that 34-32 by the end of the week.

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