I need lower gearing on my road bike!
Discussion
Hello all,
I am currently riding road bike with a Shimano 105 (5500, nine speed) groupset. I love the bike and the way it runs but a constant frustration is that the gearing just isn’t low enough. The setup is 53/39 up front and 12-25 in the back.
To put it into context, I generally always have to be in the lowest gear for anything steeper than a gentle slope and when I take it into the hills I am grinding within seconds of hitting an incline and others are sat down spinning, still on a double chainring setup. Maybe I’m not strong enough, granted, but I need a hand here…
I also want to do some light touring in the coming months (terrain will not be too challenging), though considering I struggle to get myself in lycra shorts up a hill, well you get the idea…
After putting a good few miles on the drivetrain, a cassette and chain change is probably overdue anyway. My question then, is what is my best way of solving my issue? Small chainrings, larger cassette, something else?
Many thanks!
I am currently riding road bike with a Shimano 105 (5500, nine speed) groupset. I love the bike and the way it runs but a constant frustration is that the gearing just isn’t low enough. The setup is 53/39 up front and 12-25 in the back.
To put it into context, I generally always have to be in the lowest gear for anything steeper than a gentle slope and when I take it into the hills I am grinding within seconds of hitting an incline and others are sat down spinning, still on a double chainring setup. Maybe I’m not strong enough, granted, but I need a hand here…
I also want to do some light touring in the coming months (terrain will not be too challenging), though considering I struggle to get myself in lycra shorts up a hill, well you get the idea…
After putting a good few miles on the drivetrain, a cassette and chain change is probably overdue anyway. My question then, is what is my best way of solving my issue? Small chainrings, larger cassette, something else?
Many thanks!
Changing the chain rings will cost more; they are more expensive to start with and depending on how much wear you have on the chain and cassette it would be advisable to change them too.
My old bike had the same setup as yours, and although I could get up anything in the Sussex and Surrey area, if I was on a group ride anyone on a compact would sit and spin past me as I hauled on the bars. I went from a 12-25 to a 12-27, and noticed a difference, and then a 12-29 again made a difference. Make sure your rear mech can take a bigger cassette; if you go as big as 30 or 32 you may need a longer cage mech too, and then have a look at the deals in sales.
My old bike had the same setup as yours, and although I could get up anything in the Sussex and Surrey area, if I was on a group ride anyone on a compact would sit and spin past me as I hauled on the bars. I went from a 12-25 to a 12-27, and noticed a difference, and then a 12-29 again made a difference. Make sure your rear mech can take a bigger cassette; if you go as big as 30 or 32 you may need a longer cage mech too, and then have a look at the deals in sales.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/fc-355...
http://www.rosebikes.com/article/shimano-sora-fc-3...
I'd say putting an extra 3 teeth on the cassette isn't going to do the trick so a compact chainset is going to be the way forward. Current Sora is 9 speed so one of them (or an 8 speed one like this should work http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ch/en/shimano-c... )
http://www.rosebikes.com/article/shimano-sora-fc-3...
I'd say putting an extra 3 teeth on the cassette isn't going to do the trick so a compact chainset is going to be the way forward. Current Sora is 9 speed so one of them (or an 8 speed one like this should work http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ch/en/shimano-c... )
+1
The FSA square-taper compact cranksets are pretty good too, I have one on my commuter (Vero) and on my wife's road bike (Tempo).
There's a nearly-new one here for £15 BiN on eBay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FSA-Tempo-Double-Crank-5...
My Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra has a 50/34 crankset with a 9-speed 12/30 cassette. It gets me up and over just about any Taunus hill in any state!
The FSA square-taper compact cranksets are pretty good too, I have one on my commuter (Vero) and on my wife's road bike (Tempo).
There's a nearly-new one here for £15 BiN on eBay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FSA-Tempo-Double-Crank-5...
My Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra has a 50/34 crankset with a 9-speed 12/30 cassette. It gets me up and over just about any Taunus hill in any state!
Edited by Barchettaman on Tuesday 5th May 08:27
I feel your pain - i was the same with a 53/39 & 11-25
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Following that thread i got an 11-28 cassette but it wasnt enough. I since swapped to a compact crankset (50/34) and life is much easier now. At some point i may switch the cassette back to 11-25 but for now its quite comfortable.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Following that thread i got an 11-28 cassette but it wasnt enough. I since swapped to a compact crankset (50/34) and life is much easier now. At some point i may switch the cassette back to 11-25 but for now its quite comfortable.
jamiebae said:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/fc-355...
http://www.rosebikes.com/article/shimano-sora-fc-3...
I'd say putting an extra 3 teeth on the cassette isn't going to do the trick so a compact chainset is going to be the way forward. Current Sora is 9 speed so one of them (or an 8 speed one like this should work http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ch/en/shimano-c... )
Changing to a compact is only taking 4 off the small ring at the front, which I think has less effect than adding 3 at the back, plus will be more expensive. I've been through what the OP has experienced and adding 2 at the back and then another 2 definitely helped me.http://www.rosebikes.com/article/shimano-sora-fc-3...
I'd say putting an extra 3 teeth on the cassette isn't going to do the trick so a compact chainset is going to be the way forward. Current Sora is 9 speed so one of them (or an 8 speed one like this should work http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ch/en/shimano-c... )
The new bike has a 52-36 and 11-28 which for me is the perfect combination. Yes, there are some gaps between adjacent cassettes, but I can go up and down at whatever speed I like now.
Daveyraveygravey said:
Changing to a compact is only taking 4 off the small ring at the front, which I think has less effect than adding 3 at the back, plus will be more expensive. I've been through what the OP has experienced and adding 2 at the back and then another 2 definitely helped me.
The new bike has a 52-36 and 11-28 which for me is the perfect combination. Yes, there are some gaps between adjacent cassettes, but I can go up and down at whatever speed I like now.
Actually a 34/25 is an 'easier' gear than a 39/28, but not by much. The new bike has a 52-36 and 11-28 which for me is the perfect combination. Yes, there are some gaps between adjacent cassettes, but I can go up and down at whatever speed I like now.
bakerstreet said:
Fit compact chainset and a 11-28 on the back. Should be able to get a cassette for £20 from WIggle/CRC. Maybe £50 for a Tiagra chainset.
I used to run a compact chainset with a 11-25 on the back, then I went on a PH cycling weekend to Wales. The 11-25 went in the bin after that
Which is why, as a resident of Wales, I binned my 11-28 and replaced it with an 11-30!I used to run a compact chainset with a 11-25 on the back, then I went on a PH cycling weekend to Wales. The 11-25 went in the bin after that
I just swapped to compact chainset from standard for an up coming 400 in 4 day ride, and after doing it two years ago, some of the welsh hills need easier gearing if you don't want to stand up the whole way!
My cassette is 12-27, my mech supposedly can't go bigger.
Shim compact 105 chainset on Planet X for 50 odd quid! Can't beat that.
My cassette is 12-27, my mech supposedly can't go bigger.
Shim compact 105 chainset on Planet X for 50 odd quid! Can't beat that.
I have a compact and an 11-30 on my spare bike, but will probably swap it back to the 11-25. I put the big cassette on as it was being used by visiting friends who struggled with the hills here and it made things a lot easier, but the bike is back in England now and I'm going to be using it so if I can manage with a 11-28 here I'm sure as hell not going to need a 11-30 in the South Downs!
April 2014 I changed 3 of my bikes compact chainsets to standard chainsets after a hard winter of grinding away on fixed and single speed bikes, then I broke my back and now I'm wishing I still had the compact chainsets for some of the harder climbs I like to do, but as I don't intend spending any more money I'll just Rule #5 and get on with it.
nammynake said:
S10GTA said:
But expensive
The first poster was correct, a 28 should help. Or just man up and ride man gears.
OP - don't "man up". Fit whatever fears that are comfortable. Spinning a lower gear at higher cadence is more efficient than grinding a high one and you'll be faster.The first poster was correct, a 28 should help. Or just man up and ride man gears.
I'm doing the "Herefordshire Devil" this weekend. 133 miles and 3300M of climbing.
I'm a Powerfully built type, (aren't we all?), and run a standard up front with an 11-28 out back.
But for this event I am chucking an 11-32 on the back and even having to fit a medium cage mech.
Man points are all well and good. But if you are blowing out your arse half way around a ride it's no fun.
Fit what will make you comfortable and ENJOY riding. That is after all what it is all about.
I'm a Powerfully built type, (aren't we all?), and run a standard up front with an 11-28 out back.
But for this event I am chucking an 11-32 on the back and even having to fit a medium cage mech.
Man points are all well and good. But if you are blowing out your arse half way around a ride it's no fun.
Fit what will make you comfortable and ENJOY riding. That is after all what it is all about.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff