I Need A Lower Gear!

[DuncanBeaumont]

I am finding that my gears are not low enough. I really struggle on the hills. I would be grateful for your advice.

I have Shimano Sora triple (50 - 39 - 30 I think) with an eight speed cassette (12 - 26).

Is it possible to fit some lower gears, smaller chainwheel or bigger cassette sprocket - or both?

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Probably both, though the tripe chain ring being replaced would probably do the job, get a 42/32/24 or similar, and that'll make a massive difference and make the hills a lot easier. I am assuming that you won't miss your highest gear, as the big cog dropping to a 42 from a fifty will be noticeable if you're used to flying down the hills at forty plus!

Having said that, I have no idea if the Shimano triples with this range would be compatible with your Sora group set, as I presume that's a nine-speed, and all the Shimano triples of the above range, such as a Deore seem to be for ten speed... Someone will, I'm sure, shortly answer this!

 

[smutchin]

Having said that, I have no idea if the Shimano triples with this range would be compatible with your Sora group set, as I presume that's a nine-speed, and all the Shimano triples of the above range, such as a Deore seem to be for ten speed... Someone will, I'm sure, shortly answer this!

Just swapping a chainring wouldn't make a difference from a shifting point of view, though you might need new front and/or rear mechs.

d.

 

[screenman]

You do not need lower gears, you need to get fitter or slimmer.

 

[PpPete]

Being a triple it will probably be a medium cage rear mech so every chance you can fit a bigger cassette. The "official" capacity will depend on the exact model - stanped on the mech somewhere - look for GS-3xxx style part number, but they can always be "pushed" a least a couple of teeth further. 11-32 are the most common (with 8 speed as with 9) but may be stretching the mech capacity a tadge too far.

If you don't want to mess about with the rest of the chainset you can also replace that 30T granny with a 28T or even a 26T - again beyond nominal capacity of the mech, but it's worked for me.

 

[PpPete]

You do not need lower gears, you need to get fitter or slimmer.

Since I fitted lower gears I've felt more confident to tackle longer distances and bigger hills... which in turn has made me fitter and slimmer. Now I rarely need the lower gears, but I'd never try to put anyone off putting lower gears on their own bike if they feel they need them at this point in their cycling careers.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I am finding that my gears are not low enough. I really struggle on the hills. I would be grateful for your advice.

I have Shimano Sora triple (50 - 39 - 30 I think) with an eight speed cassette (12 - 26).

Is it possible to fit some lower gears, smaller chainwheel or bigger cassette sprocket - or both?

Thanks in anticipation.

maybe you do maybe you don't...

how long have you had the bike, how long have you been riding?

it could be lack of technique, fitness, strength or some combination of all three rather than a need for different gearing.

 

[mcshroom]

It may be you just need a little more practice, but if not then there are two main options.

First is to fit a smaller set of chainrings as given above. You will probably be able to get the front mech to work even with a 42-32-22 (I have with a base model 8sp shimano road front mech), to do this it may need to be moved down the seat tube a bit.

The other options are at the rear end. First as Pete has said, you can look at getting a larger big cog at the back. IIRC Most medium cage mechs go to about 28t, so down to there you shouldn't need to change anything other than the cassette (and a new slightly longer chain). If you want to go above that then you would need a 9sp shimano mountian bike rear mech (something like this) which would work with your current shifters. Then you could go up to something like 34t on the rear.

 

[DuncanBeaumont]

You do not need lower gears, you need to get fitter or slimmer.

Quite right, of course. Which is an ongoing programme.

However.... in the meantime....

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Quite right, of course. Which is an ongoing programme.

However.... in the meantime....

then any changes you make will be redundant in short order.

 

[Scoosh]

'Needing more gears' is one of those beliefs which can divide opinion - as can be seen above.

Both of these points are valid and fair:

You do not need lower gears, you need to get fitter or slimmer.

Since I fitted lower gears I've felt more confident to tackle longer distances and bigger hills... which in turn has made me fitter and slimmer. Now I rarely need the lower gears, but I'd never try to put anyone off putting lower gears on their own bike if they feel they need them at this point in their cycling careers.

However, when I was speccing my current audax bike, I asked an experienced audax rider how many gears I should have. His reply is a good one:

"One more than you need".​

​

I now work on this principle :​

"If I can't ride up it, I'll either walk up - or I shouldn't be doing it !"​

So not a direct answer to your question - but my thoughts, FWIW.

 

[Tigerbiten]

The "bolt circle diameter" of the Shimano Sora triple is probably 130 mm/74 mm, this means that the smallest middle ring you can fit is a 38 tooth one.
Not many options but to shrink the inner ring only. 50-39-26 is a possility.

If it is a 110 mm/74 mm BCD crank set then the smallest middle ring is 34 tooth and that gives you a much greater range of options. 46-34-24 sounds good.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#bcd

 

[PpPete]

FWIW my BCD is 130/74 and I run it as 50/38/26
Combined with a home-made 12-30 cassette - which Sheldon convinced me was as far as I could push a Shimano road mech, I have low enough gears for short pitches of 25% gradient, but 30% (ie Hardknott & Wrynose) still defeats me.
I have since tried, by way of experiment, an 11-32 cassette and it still works, but combined with that the non-standard chainset and it really is "pushing the envelope" as far as what the mechs will take, so I've not risked it on longer rides.

 

[lulubel]

If you want to go above that then you would need a 9sp shimano mountian bike rear mech (something like this) which would work with your current shifters. Then you could go up to something like 34t on the rear.

This is something I considered doing when we moved to Spain - there are quite a lot of mountains around here - but never got around to, and I haven't yet found a hill that I can't manage in my smallest 30x25 gear. You will find the hills get a lot easier as you get fitter, but I can understand where you're coming from.

I'm still considering smaller gears, especially since my new bike will have the capacity to go off-road and tackle the mountain trails, but I do wonder if they'll make me lazy. I know plenty of people (my OH, for example) who think it's a great challenge to climb a hill in the highest gear they can, but I'd rather sit back and spin up as easily as possible, which doesn't do much for strengthening the legs.

 

[byegad]

Ignore all the advice to stick with the gearing you have, a bike that is hard work to ride doesn't get ridden. I'd look at a larger range rear sprocket. 11-32 maybe, and a smaller inner front ring say a 26???