What gearing to use for open roads and steep hills?

[ljdan]

I will be equipping my Serotta Ottrott with the new Shimano 9000 mechanical gruppo. The bike is presently equipped with a Shimano 7800 group set: triple on the front (30-39-52) and 12-27 on the cassette (12-3-4-5-6-7-19-21-24-27). I am hoping that the compact gearing of the DA 9000, front (34-50) and an 11 speed cassette of 11-27 will meet my needs.

The riding I do is on the road (50+ miles) with lots of hills and on a paved bike trail.

Any input is welcome.

Larry D.

[cash05458]

Originally Posted by ljdan

I will be equipping my Serotta Ottrott with the new Shimano 9000 mechanical gruppo. The bike is presently equipped with a Shimano 7800 group set: triple on the front (30-39-52) and 12-27 on the cassette (12-3-4-5-6-7-19-21-24-27). I am hoping that the compact gearing of the DA 9000, front (34-50) and an 11 speed cassette of 11-27 will meet my needs.

The riding I do is on the road (50+ miles) with lots of hills and on a paved bike trail.

Any input is welcome.

Larry D.

Larry, absolutely I would think a 34/27 would get you up just about anything...I mean, as long as you are not in really terrible shape...I run around 185 pounds and a 34/27 gets me up some really steep long stuff no problemo when I have the guts to tackle it...and of course the 11 will be great on the flatter stuff...

[witcombusa]

How often are you currently using your inner 30t ring with the 24 and 27 rear cogs?

[monkeybanana86]

I agree with cash. If you are in good shape on a road bike with 34 tooth you should be well equipped for all hills. Only if you are constantly at the extreme of small gears would you need to worry. Personally, I like making spreadsheets!

[Chance]

Originally Posted by ljdan

..........
Any input is welcome.

Larry D.

Larry, obviously your lowest gear will be significantly higher. A 34/27 will be about 13 percent taller than your present 30/27 low gear. Only you can tell if that's important or not.

The other main difference will be giving up some middle range if you are one of those guys who likes to ride with a fairly straight chain line. With your triple the 39T middle ring offers mid-range gearing that's hard to duplicate with a compact unless the chain is crossed to a greater degree.

[Ralph]

I agree you can probably manage just fine with that 34 on the inside of the compact crank. I know it's not cool to run a triple in some age groups.

However.....I run a triple (30-42-52) doing rides like you describe, and I could get by just fine with a 34. I just prefer the triple. I have used a 34-50 before, and just didn't like the big jump between front gears. Found myself cross chained a lot either on the 34 or the 50. I much prefer having a middle gear in front where I do most of my level riding, and a gear on each side of that.....giving me a good chainline to the rear cog. That small chainring on the triple weighs about 30 grams, alloy bolts about 10 grams, and the built up bosses (on a Campy Triple crank) the bolts go into a few grams more. No big deal to me. The triple won't slow you down.

So in the end, it's kinda which you prefer. And I might add triples seem to be making a comeback among non pro riders. Population getting older, etc. There are some new choices this year from Campagnolo. You'll be fine whatever route you choose. Compacts are very popular now.

[Dave]

A 34/27 is nearly identical to a 30/24, so all you're losing is you lowest gear, the 30/27. If you actually use the 30/27 very much, then you'll have a problem.

[Ralph]

Originally Posted by Chance

Larry, obviously your lowest gear will be significantly higher. A 34/27 will be about 13 percent taller than your present 30/27 low gear. Only you can tell if that's important or not.

The other main difference will be giving up some middle range if you are one of those guys who likes to ride with a fairly straight chain line. With your triple the 39T middle ring offers mid-range gearing that's hard to duplicate with a compact unless the chain is crossed to a greater degree.

Yep

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by Dave

A 34/27 is nearly identical to a 30/24, so all you're losing is you lowest gear, the 30/27. If you actually use the 30/27 very much, then you'll have a problem.

this is the key.

[dekindy]

What is your age? It has been my observation that as they age, no matter how fit, older riders go from a compact to triple, not the other way around. My bike came with a triple that I thought I did not need. I am darn glad I have it. I live in the Indiana central till plain so I do not get a lot of hill training. When I do venture to Southern Indiana or Kentucky it is not unusual to encounter very short, steep hills that I have trouble getting my 200 lbs over. I am talking regularly encountering 10%+ and in many cases 18-20% grades. I switched from a 12/27 to a 12/25 and still can't figure what I was thinking. In fact, SRAM Apex does not sound half bad!

[roydyates]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

this is the key.

+1
In fact, if you use 30/27 a lot, you might find you can climb faster with 30/32. It all depnds in your weight, fitness and terrain.

[oliver1850]

I don't know anything about the new group, but a 30 cog would give you virtually the same low ratio as you have now. Assuming they make one and a compatible RD, the drawback (for some) would be wider gaps between some adjacent cogs.

[Ken Robb]

Why do you want to spend $$ to do this?

[ljdan]

Originally Posted by witcombusa

How often are you currently using your inner 30t ring with the 24 and 27 rear cogs?

Some of the hills around here have a slope of over 8%. Under those conditions, I am definitely cranking on the 30-27. The latter gives me a ratio of 1.11 vs 1.21 for the 34-28; I am thinking that at the low end, I will be ok. But I do not have any experience with the new 11 speed DA 9000 cassette. Will the extra cog make the middle range tolerable or will there be an energy depleting jump?

Larry D.

[ljdan]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

Why do you want to spend $$ to do this?

I purchased a new frame (Lynskey) that I will be putting the DA 7800 group set and Mavic wheels on. My main ride is a Serotta Ottrott that will be getting the DA 9000 groupo and a new set of wheels (Zipp 101 or Shimano C35 from the new DA 9000 line, haven't decided).

Larry D.