Help...not enough gears ???

[Grayduff]

Just taken delivery of a second hand Claud Butler Milano ( as mentioned in a previous thread ), my problem is the gear ratios compared to my hybrid bike are a lot different, it has 39/52 on the front and 11/26 on the back i think ( very new to this )..and i really struggled to get up the hill near to me that i could easily get up before.

Can i get a new ( subject to money) cassette for the back and a new smaller sprocket for the front OR ????

Any ideas or help would be much appreciated.....

They are sora 9 speed gears with STI changers if that helps..means very little to me..

 

[the_mikey]

There are a few options:

1: Replace the 39/52 chainset with a 34/50 compact chainset, this will immediately produce lower gears across the range.
2: Depending on the derailleur! You may be able to fit a 11-28 or 11-32 cassette, giving you some very low gears. You will probably need a new chain for this, and perhaps a new derailleur too.

3: both of the above!

 

[kedab]

4: mtfu?

 

[Grayduff]

4: mtfu?

?

 

[kedab]

it's just something that gets said...i once complained about a rubbish section of road on my commute, it hurt my butt. i was told to mtfu ... man the f*** up

 

[Grayduff]

it's just something that gets said...i once complained about a rubbish section of road on my commute, it hurt my butt. i was told to mtfu ... man the f*** up

Good point

 

[Grayduff]

There are a few options:

1: Replace the 39/52 chainset with a 34/50 compact chainset, this will immediately produce lower gears across the range.
2: Depending on the derailleur! You may be able to fit a 11-28 or 11-32 cassette, giving you some very low gears. You will probably need a new chain for this, and perhaps a new derailleur too.

3: both of the above!

Sorry being ignorant..but will something like this fit a straight swap that is..Shimano Tiagra 4650 Compact Road Bike Crankset - 172.5mm 34/50 as seen on ebay or does it have to be like for like Sora that is..

 

[fossyant]

Tiagra will be fine, but you will need a new BOttom bracket

 

[mcshroom]

Tiara will be fine, but you will need a new BOttom bracket

They are both Hollowtech II I think. Do you have to change the BB with the chainset with external BBs? My only experience is with cartridge BBS that can be reused if you get chainsets with the same spindle length requirements.

 

[ColinJ]

And ... will the original front derailleur work with a compact chainset? (I might swap the Campag 39/53 on my Cannondale for a 34/50 if only the chainset needs to be changed.)

 

[HovR]

Since we're talking sora components it will turn out much cheaper to buy a new cassette and rear derailleur than a whole new chainset!

If you change to a Shimano long cage mountain bike rear derailleur you will be able to accommodate a rear cassette with a largest sprocket of over 30t, which will give you a much lower lowest ratio than changing your chainset, at a much lower price!

-Your current lowest ratio is 39 gear inches, for comparison.
-The lowest gear achievable with your current cassette and a new 36/50t chainset is 36 gear inches.
-If you kept your current chainset, and changed the rear derailleur and the cassette to a 34t, your lowest achievable ratio would be around 30 gear inches.

The links I provided add up to only £35, and if you shop around you could probably get cheaper else-where, and would give you a lowest gear ratio that is much more similar to your hybrid.

 

[mcshroom]

Probably - though add in a new chain as well for the larger cassette

 

[HovR]

Probably - though add in a new chain as well for the larger cassette

Woops, you're right, I missed that out!

Add in another £10 to £15 and you're still only looking at £45 to £50 - You might get a new chainset for that if you're lucky (not including BB), but the gearing still won't be as low.

Alternatively there's always the £4 chain from Asda.

 

[slow coach]

Just taken delivery of a second hand Claud Butler Milano ( as mentioned in a previous thread ), my problem is the gear ratios compared to my hybrid bike are a lot different, it has 39/52 on the front and 11/26 on the back i think ( very new to this )..and i really struggled to get up the hill near to me that i could easily get up before.

Can i get a new ( subject to money) cassette for the back and a new smaller sprocket for the front OR ????

Any ideas or help would be much appreciated.....

They are sora 9 speed gears with STI changers if that helps..means very little to me..

I had the same problem a few weeks back when I got my 1st road bike. I've never felt so knackered. But what I would say is keep riding your bike as it is and practise riding up and down hills. It worked for me, it will also save you a few bob which you can wisely invest in some other cycling gear that you don't really need . that's what I did.

 

[HLaB]

I cycle a 38/52 with a 11-26 cassette mostly, so you will get use to it but its not ideal to start.
As probably said above the cheapest way will be to put a larger cassette on but you might be limited to 28t unless you change the deraileur.
The other option is to change to smaller chainrings (perhaps a 50/34) but you'll lose top end speed if thats an issue to you. Its cheaper for me as I've got a compact 38/52 but if you have a full size double it'll be more costly.