Don't shoot! 11-28 vs 11-32

[Gravity Aided]

I believe this was the same Henri Desrange who penalized Eugene Christophe for having a blacksmith's son work the bellows at the forge while he created or repaired a new fork for his bicycle. No outside assistance.

 

[ISAAC_J]

Ride and ride more. I run a 39/53 and a 13/24. Do not give in to sprocket rubbish. Ride your bike more. I live in the Peaks

Great words of wisdom!

I find that on my carbon bike 39/53 11/32 is just amazing. It is nice to have the 32 but in reality - 28 is used the most on the steepest of hills. On the steel touring bike 36/49 12/32. The 32 is used all the time to get up the very steep hills.

Fitness cannot be understated.


That is my two pence worth!

 

[jowwy]

That's the answer i'm after really, thatr im not gonna be wishing for that "in between" gear



Merthyr Tydfil I am butty Yeah i avoided a compact for years unitl i saw the ratio on an 11 speed was almost the same as my 9 speed, plus wanted to upgrade to a carbon and was fairly limited in choice - where are you in S.Wales?

Down in the foothills between ebbw vale and brynmawr

@fossyant yoi cant ride were we live without riding hills, they are everywhere lol

 

[Racing roadkill]

I've got both a triple 9 Sora, and a compact 10 105. I've not yet found a hill, that wasn't do-able on either. The 9-er has a 12-27, and the 105 is an 11-28, I borrowed an 11-32 cassette for the 105, and found the 32 toother to be overkill. I think if you wanted to tour the continent, and do Alpe d'Huez, or Ventoux etc. etc. etc. then a 32t would be nice.

 

[bpsmith]

I also live in South Wales, near Swansea. Regularly out in the hills within a mile or two in most directions. There is no getting away from it without only doing one or two short flat routes along the coastal paths.

I run a compact with 11-28 and am now finding that I rarely need the 28. Now and again I will use it, but that's just because it's there.

A couple of mates have semi-compacts with the same 11-28. With them on the 28, it equates to me using the 25. On last weeks ride, we hit some short hills with 14% average, 22% max, over sections of 0.3 - 0.4 miles. I deliberately only limited myself to the 25 max. Was surprised to see that it didn't feel that much harder. Was even down to 23 on some during my little experiment.

I guess the result shows that we can avoid the higher gears if we try, even on the steep stuff.

As far avoiding hills until ready for it. I started out 20 months ago by doing those coastal paths regularly. I certainly got faster, but it did f help me to do the hills any better than when I started. The Only way to get better on the hills is to do those hills regularly!

 

[MontyVeda]

I've just switched from 11-28 to 12-32. I'm liking the new lower gearing at the bottom end, but do feel like I'm spinning a bit at the top end. I didn't think one tooth would make much difference but it seems to.

 

[Dogtrousers]

we can avoid the higher gears if we try, even on the steep stuff.

But why on earth would you want to?

 

[bpsmith]

But why on earth would you want to?

For the gains of having a closer ratio cassette, or that larger front chainring we want. I am finding that I am spinning out more and so a semi-compact would be my gain.

Not suggesting it suits everyone, but just iterating that we are all more capable than our brain tells us we are at times. Habits say we need to be in smallest gear, but we are surprised when we actually carry on in a slightly higher gear, that's all.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Well, we're all different. I've never had any need for a larger chaining. Anything over about 100" is wasted on me. And I happily use my 28" bottom for all sorts of things, creeping up to trafffic lights, shared use paths, rough tracks, and of course hills ... any hill at all.

If you got it ... Use it. That's what gears are for. So say my knees, anyway.

 

[bpsmith]

Well, we're all different. I've never had any need for a larger chaining. Anything over about 100" is wasted on me. And I happily use my 28" bottom for all sorts of things, creeping up to trafffic lights, shared use paths, rough tracks, and of course hills ... any hill at all.

If you got it ... Use it. That's what gears are for. So say my knees, anyway.

I agree with you, if it's on the bike then use it. I guess I have progressed a little and want to change my chainrings once they wear out.

 

[jowwy]

For the gains of having a closer ratio cassette, or that larger front chainring we want. I am finding that I am spinning out more and so a semi-compact would be my gain.

Not suggesting it suits everyone, but just iterating that we are all more capable than our brain tells us we are at times. Habits say we need to be in smallest gear, but we are surprised when we actually carry on in a slightly higher gear, that's all.

Thats why i love the triple - middle 39 chainring with 11/25 does all the rolling terrain - 52 tooth big ring for when its down and flat - 30 tooth inner ring when the terrain goes upwards and at 17st the inner ring is needed

 

[bpsmith]

Thats why i love the triple - middle 39 chainring with 11/25 does all the rolling terrain - 52 tooth big ring for when its down and flat - 30 tooth inner ring when the terrain goes upwards and at 17st the inner ring is needed

That's the beauty of choice. It covers everything. Triple wouldn't be much use to me, unless I went for an 11-23 cassette. Closer ratio but then wouldn't have the flexibility of having a double up front. Glad it works for you though, that's all that matters.

My decision is settled on a semi compact 52-36.

 

[andyfraser]

There's nothing I can't get up round here on 34x25 on my road bike. So why do I always end up using my 28x32 on my hybrid? I'd be better off with 11-28 or even 11-25.

 

[bpsmith]

There's nothing I can't get up round here on 34x25 on my road bike. So why do I always end up using my 28x32 on my hybrid? I'd be better off with 11-28 or even 11-25.

Asking or telling?

 

[andyfraser]

Asking or telling?

Sorry, telling. I might try both and see how I get in.