Softer gears

[Hamster2000]

New member here, first post, hello everyone.

Just dipped my toe into gravel bikes, have my first one: Giant Revolt 2. So far happy happy with it.

Has a Sora 9 speed, rear cassette is 11-34. I live in Devon (hilly) and recently took it to Cornwall (outrageously hilly). Looking to making my gears softer at the bottom end for climbing.

Is it possible for my to get an 11-40 cassette on a Sora group set? Have seen the Wolftooth roadlink, is it really as simple as installing that, a new chain and new cassette? I'm expecting there to be further complications surly?

Cheers?

[Eyebrox]

You will need to change your rear derailleur to accommodate 40 tooth cog. Sora, two sizes, only go to 32 and 34 teeth.

[Bmblbzzz]

You will need to change your rear derailleur to accommodate 40 tooth cog. Sora, two sizes, only go to 32 and 34 teeth.

Not with a gear hanger extender, which is precisely what the Wolftooth Roadlink is.

[Davesmith3]

I have a flat bar Elan bike that I purchased from Spa Cycles of Harrogate fame

It runs 9 speed Sora set up purchased as follows

Super compact Spa TD 2 40/24 crankset
Sora FD R3000
Sora RD R3000 GS
Sunrace SP570 derailleur extender
Sunrace M990 11/40 rear cassette

Works just fine for touring up hills. I have also run a Micro 42/12 cassette and that's works fine as well.

Hope that helps

[Eyebrox]

I think there would be a problem with chainslap in certain configurations - IE a longer chain working with small cogs.

[Bmblbzzz]

There probably would. So what?
viewtopic.php?p=1791040#p1791040

[Bmblbzzz]

The Wolftooth item seems rather expensive at about £24. Seems there's at least one much cheaper but comparable item: https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/sunrace- ... ender-link

[Eyebrox]

Customers generally bring their bikes back and complain about it. So we warn them about chainslap first.

[peetee]

I see no mention of your front gear arrangement. This has a bearing on your ability to push a suitable gear . Is it single or multiple chainrings and how many teeth?

[freiston]

I see no mention of your front gear arrangement. This has a bearing on your ability to push a suitable gear . Is it single or multiple chainrings and how many teeth?

I checked the spec here - from that, it's a 32/48 double and according to here it's a 120 BCD (so not many options available for different rings, imho).

[JohnR]

I have a flat bar Elan bike that I purchased from Spa Cycles of Harrogate fame

It runs 9 speed Sora set up purchased as follows

Super compact Spa TD 2 40/24 crankset
Sora FD R3000
Sora RD R3000 GS
Sunrace SP570 derailleur extender
Sunrace M990 11/40 rear cassette

Earlier this year I built an Elan with a similar configuration except with 11-36 cassette and no derailleur extender. The rear derailleur is only rated to 34T but I was assured that it would work with 36T, which it does. However, the only times I have used the bottom gear is to confirm that it works but I haven't come across any 1 in 4 hills.

[Richard Of York 2]

New member here, first post, hello everyone.

Just dipped my toe into gravel bikes, have my first one: Giant Revolt 2. So far happy happy with it.

Has a Sora 9 speed, rear cassette is 11-34. I live in Devon (hilly) and recently took it to Cornwall (outrageously hilly). Looking to making my gears softer at the bottom end for climbing.

Is it possible for my to get an 11-40 cassette on a Sora group set? Have seen the Wolftooth roadlink, is it really as simple as installing that, a new chain and new cassette? I'm expecting there to be further complications surly?

Cheers?

I fitted a Sunrace extender to my winter bike which runs a 9 speed Sora rear mech and a Sunrace 11-40 cassette. This works fine with a standard 50/34 chainset. No chain slap issues if you get chain length right. I'm going to swap front rings for 44/28 Super compact shortly. All bits from Spa Cycles who are excellent on advice.

[djnotts]

"Is it possible for my to get an 11-40 cassette on a Sora group set? Have seen the Wolftooth roadlink, is it really as simple as installing that, a new chain and new cassette?"

Yes it is that simple IME. And the Suntour version is cheaper than the Wolftooth.

[Hamster2000]

Thankyou all for the replies, keep them coming.

I've heard a couple of people here saying the Sora 3000 is rated up to something like 34T on the rear cassette, but can actually handle upwards of 36T. Has anyone here had experience with that?

Also, been doing some research last night (probably should have done it before). Turns out the ratio for a 32T front chain and 34T rear cassette are actually as good as the fandango 1x drive trains on the expensive bikes? Am I right there?

[djnotts]

In general terms 1x drive trains do not give as wide a range as triples or even doubles. My current Tiagra triple, with a 36 rear, yields 22" to 121"! Srick a 40 on rear or 26 inner on the front and will get <20" bottom end.
Mech extenders are your friend.