Help with Gear ratios....?

[PaulK]

Hi All

I started this post a while back just looking for a few thoughts as i was fighting with the steeper inclines around my local area on the shipped 11-30 Cassette, Where I was thinking about an 11-34 Cassette.

Basically it turned in to a 4 page monster so i thought id make a little update.

I decided against the 11-34 and instead went with an 11-32.
TBH I was totally sceptical just 2 extra teeth was going to do anything.

Anyway New chain\New Derailleur cage (short to medium) and an 11-32 cassette later.
Now every single local steep gradient that previously killed me and brought my pedaling to a grinding halt either 1/2 or 3/4 way up is now perfectly achievable in one crack (although there is one left to summit...!.)
Nothing changed on the front chainrings, Still needs a solid effort for sure but i dont feel the gas just draining from the tank as before.
As an added bonus im able to make significantly more use of the large chainring and in fact often look down thinking im comming to the top of the cassette only to see im still mid cassette in the large chainring...!

So basically those extra 2 teeth on the rear cog have transformed rides and now im actually enjoying climbing rather than fighting it.

P

[aflook]

That’s great. I made a similarly small change on the front chainring dropping from a 30 to 28 small ring and that made a surprisingly big difference to getting up local hills. Unfortunately each passing year brings a slight but noticeable difference in the other direction….
Adrian

[Carlton green]

When I read the OP’s update above my thoughts were that increasing fitness helps and that sometimes just a small change shifts the balance of things such that the not yet possible becomes manageable. A loss of a just a little weight, pumped up tyres and an oiled chain and general care can also make a lot of difference too. Little things, small gains here and there, add up to make a useful difference.

My thanks to the OP for coming back with his experience.

[cycle tramp]

When I read the OP’s update above my thoughts were that increasing fitness helps and that sometimes just a small change shifts the balance of things such that the not yet possible becomes manageable. A loss of a just a little weight, pumped up tyres and an oiled chain and general care can also make a lot of difference too. Little things, small gains here and there, add up to make a useful difference.

My thanks to the OP for coming back with his experience.

Absolutely... the difference between the existing low ratio, and low ratio that Paulk started with is less than 2 inches.. generally speaking it's got to be over 4 before I notice any difference... and even then it can be masked by things like headwinds, tyre pressure and whatever stuff I'm carrying...

I think Paulk is being far to modest... this thread has run for about 5 or 6 weeks - that's more than enough time for muscles to begin to adapt, grow and strengthen, even if its not noticed - especially if Paul has been getting out on hus bike every other day and cycling up a few hills as training..

I think if there ever was a edge to adding two teeth, it's a physiological one. Paul K knew he could smash the hills, fitting an ever so slightly bigger sprocket, just meant that he gave himself permission to do that.

[Rob D]

Interesting, glad it's made such a difference. For my touring bike, went 32 > 34 > 36 (as age went up...). Inner chainring down to 24. This gives a really useful bottom gear for hauling all our camping gear etc up steep hills. The next gear down is to walk, reting legs and bum.