40T crank/11x42 cassette v 34T crank/11 cassette?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Think I've bought the wrong one.

How would a 40T crankset with a 11x42 cassette work on climbs etc compared to a 34T/11x36?

[Scoobyshue]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Think I've bought the wrong one.

How would a 40T crankset with a 11x42 cassette work on climbs etc compared to a 34T/11x36?

I rode a week in the Alps on a 34 front, 32 rear and that was OK. There were a few steep sections of up to 20% ish but mostly around 7-9% inclines. That was on a gravel bike with 42mm tyres / 650b wheels.

On my MTB I have 32 front and 10 rear and on the road with 2.3 inch knobbly tyres I can pedal that up to 35mph so I think the spread of your gears should probably be ok for most of the scenarios you will come across.

[bigdom]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Think I've bought the wrong one.

How would a 40T crankset with a 11x42 cassette work on climbs etc compared to a 34T/11x36?

Have a look at this - https://www.bikecalc.com/gear_ratios

[snobetter]

40 by 42 = 0.95 crank revolutions to one wheel rotation
34 by 36 = 0.94

[old'uns]

Looks like I'm way down on my MTB then 😀

28 chain ring and 46 cassette = 0.61 😂

[Daveyraveygravey]

snobetter said:

40 by 42 = 0.95 crank revolutions to one wheel rotation
34 by 36 = 0.94

I thought they were both close to 1:1, so probably unable to tell the difference out on the road!