Gearing confusion for new bike

[GetAGrip]

I will hopefully be looking to upgrade in the next month or two and I think I have got the first choice list down to the following four. My needs from a bike are a light, responsive and comfy ride. Zippy and comfy when necessary, but just as happy when pootling around on road and tracks.
Due to dodgy right knee, having low gears will save me from walking up the local hills (and there are plenty of them).
Although the bikes below are different with the amount of gears they offer, Can someone please help me with deciding which bike would be most suitable to my needs as far as gearing is concerened? I think my first choice, (if it ticks all the boxes) is the Giant Dash but would like to them all before a final decision is made.

Giant Dash 1 2012 - I did try to find out more re: Shimano tegro 12x25 but could'nt even find it - found 11x25 or 12x28 only
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/model/dash.1/9352/49922/

Cube SL Cross Race
http://www.cube.eu/en/tour/cross/sl-cross-race/

Treck 7.6 FX WSD
http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/fitness/fx/7_6_fx_wsd/

Specialized Vita Comp
http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=61997&scid=1102&scname=Multi+Use

 

[PpPete]

The description on the Giant is well confusing... in one panel it says 27 speed (implying 3 x 9) and in another panel its 20 speed (2 x 10)
You'd have to check with the bike shop to see what they actually supply.

Gearing-wise (of those four) the Cube will be the easiest on those Devonian hills. 48x36x26 front is (IMHO) ideal for most purposes (unless you want to go more than 40 mph downhill), and combined with the 11-36 cassette gives you a huuuuge range of gears. Even an 11-32 cassette will get you up serious hills with a 26 front ring.

My only concern would be that it's 10 speed, so slightly less longevity in the drive train than a triple 9, especially if used off-road to any great extent.

 

[GetAGrip]

The description on the Giant is well confusing... in one panel it says 27 speed (implying 3 x 9) and in another panel its 20 speed (2 x 10)
You'd have to check with the bike shop to see what they actually supply.

Gearing-wise (of those four) the Cube will be the easiest on those Devonian hills. 48x36x26 front is (IMHO) ideal for most purposes (unless you want to go more than 40 mph downhill), and combined with the 11-36 cassette gives you a huuuuge range of gears. Even an 11-32 cassette will get you up serious hills with a 26 front ring.

My only concern would be that it's 10 speed, so slightly less longevity in the drive train than a triple 9, especially if used off-road to any great extent.

Thanks for your prompt response PpPete and Yes, just when I thought I'd sussed the gearing on the giant, I then find a contradiction not only with no. of gears but the cassette is quoted as 10 spd 12x25, but when I look it up, 12x25 is 9 sp and the 10 sp is 11x28 I am also beginning to presume that the gear shifters are capable of 27 gear shifts rather than that is what you get.

As far as the Cube goes, is the lowest gear lower than the Giant then? and although I certainly won't be reaching 40 mph, not even downhill I am wondering what difference it makes to the ride to have a wider gap between the gears?
It is all these reasons I am apealing for others experiences.
I will phone the bike shop and ask them to confirm things re: Giant Dash 1 - Thanks.

 

[oldfatfool]

The lower the number of teeth on the chainring and the higher the number on the rear cassette = lower gears. 26 x 36 on the cube it will climb buildings. You will be moving the bike 19.33 inches per crank rotation, by comparison the Specialised at 34 x 36 you would be moving it 25.5inch so 25% more effort needed in the lowest gear.

 

[GetAGrip]

The lower the number of teeth on the chainring and the higher the number on the rear cassette = lower gears. 26 x 36 on the cube it will climb buildings. You will be moving the bike 19.33 inches per crank rotation, by comparison the Specialised at 34 x 36 you would be moving it 25.5inch so 25% more effort needed in the lowest gear.

LBS have just been on to Giant and the Front Derailleur is R770 and not R440 as quoted online.
So Oldfatfool, the Dash 1 has 20 gears as opposed to the Cubes 10, but although more choice of gears with the Dash it's not as low as the Cube yeah? - I know ,but don't give up on me, once I've got it, it's there for ever!

 

[goody]

The Cube has 30 gears, 10 on the back X 3 on the front. Probably more than one for every occasion.
The Giant, Trek and Specialized all seem a bit more road bike like. Cube looks very nice.

 

[oldfatfool]

What goody said, the Cube is a triple, the Dash a compact. HOWEVER it would appear that the Dash is also available as a triple giving 27 gears http://www.giant-bicycles.com/da-dk/bikes/model/dash.1.triple/7998/45394/

(Which for 2012 maybe a Dash 2?)

The lowest gear is 30x 25 which = 32 gear inches which makes it even higher geared than the specialised, you could however change the cassette and inner ring relatively cheaply (£50?) IF your heart is set on the Giant.

I would go with the Cube personally

 

[PpPete]

The lower the number of teeth on the chainring and the higher the number on the rear cassette = lower gears. 26 x 36 on the cube it will climb buildings. You will be moving the bike 19.33 inches per crank rotation, by comparison the Specialised at 34 x 36 you would be moving it 25.5inch so 25% more effort needed in the lowest gear.

Not quite - you are confusing gear inches with "development"
You need to multiply those distances along the ground by pi (3.1415926 etc etc.....)

Another - possibly easier- way to think about is the speed you will go.
Bottom gear on the Cube, turning your legs over at 60 rpm will drive you along at 3.4 mph (any slower and you'll be probably be falling over anyway)
on the Specialized, the same pedal rpm will have you going at 4.5 mph - obviously that much more effort required in doing so.

 

[PpPete]

Don't forget it's not so much the total number of gears as the spread of the them - or rather where the spread lies.
The Cube's "spread" of gears is more about hill-climbing ability than going fast on the flat, the Giant Triple is more about having a range of gears so you can get the perfect one for going absolutely as fast as possible across a variety of slopes.
If it were me riding them I could probably get up a 1 in 3 on the Cube, but only a 1 in 6 or 1 in 7 on the Giant Triple or the Specialized.

 

[GetAGrip]

What goody said, the Cube is a triple, the Dash a compact. HOWEVER it would appear that the Dash is also available as a triple giving 27 gears http://www.giant-bicycles.com/da-dk/bikes/model/dash.1.triple/7998/45394/]
Thanks for that, this could be a possibility, especially if I am able to change the cassette like you suggest.

Don't forget it's not so much the total number of gears as the spread of the them - or rather where the spread lies.
The Cube's "spread" of gears is more about hill-climbing ability than going fast on the flat, the Giant Triple is more about having a range of gears so you can get the perfect one for going absolutely as fast as possible across a variety of slopes.
If it were me riding them I could probably get up a 1 in 3 on the Cube, but only a 1 in 6 or 1 in 7 on the Giant Triple or the Specialized.

Wow, that's quite a diference! I think it's time to try them out. Logically, it should be a no brainer in favour of the Cube and it probably will be, but I just seem to be drawn towards the Giant Dash 1 (triple) for some reason.
Thanks all for your help and I'll let you know how the test rides go.

 

[GetAGrip]

I've only gone and done it av'nt I.
I went into lbs to order the 2012 Giant Dash 2. (I was adamant it was going to be the latest model) Well, they had a 2011 sm frame specimen just parked up and looking wantingly in my direction.
I casually approached it, (just to be sociable you understand), and held it's handlebar for a while and gave it a gentle rub on it's saddle. I confess, this little Dash was beginning to pull at my heart strings. I told myself to be brave and to turn around and walk away
The bikes carer noticed that I seemed very vulnerable with this new found relationship and suggested we spent some time together
So, to cut a long story short, we did, and now the little 2011 Dash 2 is tucked up in our garage, sporting a new set of SKS mk2 mudguards and a nice new carbon seat tube. I had a new Bell helmet and still had change from the discounted price.
Win win for us both I think

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/dash.2/7844/45546/