Big gear range... Yay or nay

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by palincss

...is probably coming.

Some folks avoid certain roads so they can avoid certain gears.

I went up a 20%+ grade in a neighborhood today that allowed me to connect some nice one lane roads together and stay on the quiet streets instead of using the 5-10% two-lane road that has more cars. I used a 34x28/30 gear and that was plenty with a 16-17lb road bike on a short ride - but if I were on a gravel'r or hitting that in the middle of a 100mi day, I'd certainly want a 32x34 or better.

I love a 39/53, in context. I just refuse to limit my day to day riding experience just so I can enjoy the tight and rolly gears on the flat-ride days.

[jemdet]

I was previously in the standard and 12-25 in the back camp. Touring gradually got me lower and lower. Now I run 1:1, 49/34 in the front and 11-34 in the back. The jumps in cog size were a bummer for like, four rides. Now i’m used to it. I rarely need the 34/34 but boy am I glad to have it when I do.

[notoriousdjw]

I'm running 1x11 on my 2 cross/disc bikes with a long cage derailleur, XD 10-42 paired with a 46T front chainring. That gets me up the hills in Seattle while being as fast on top end as a compact crank and standard 11-whatever cassette.

[NHAero]

FWIW, I run a 46/34 with an HG800 11-34 with the 11 swapped for a 12 from a 6800 cassette, and a 9100 rear derailleur and it shifts fine.

Originally Posted by GregL

I'm running an Ultegra 6800 crank (46/34), an HG800 11-34 cassette, and 5800GS rear derailleur on my gravel bike for hilly, off-road terrain. Zero issues encountered with shifting or a slack chain. It just works with no drama.

Greg

[illuminaught]

Originally Posted by palincss

What's that SRAM rated to?

Rated up to 36...so I was thinking.

Thanks so much for all the responses!

I think I'm going to try it with the big range and see if I hate the gaps in gearing...

I can always shorten the chain and get a smaller cassette later.

[palincss]

Originally Posted by illuminaught

Rated up to 36...so I was thinking.

Thanks so much for all the responses!

I think I'm going to try it with the big range and see if I hate the gaps in gearing...

I can always shorten the chain and get a smaller cassette later.

There are a number of online gear calculators that can let you visualize and compare gearing so you can get a decent idea of what to expect from any chainset / cassette combination. I like Sheldon Brown's.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by illuminaught

Got a CX bike that I'm planning to only use on the road... With big tires because the roads suck.

So, I've got a rival 22 setup with a medium cage sram x9 rear derailleur...
I'm planning to do 36/46 x 11-32, but I could fit the 36...

Anyone doing something like this... My worry is that the chain will be pretty slack... But IDK.

Should I go 36 or 32... I really don't need the extra leverage... But. I'm thinking why not...

Look at the interior cogs and since you are on the road..you will use some of the cogs in the middle of the 11-32 WAY more than the 36, plus you will loose some of those in the middle, plus bigger gaps.