I've been running my Sturmey Archer 3-speed based road bike as a commuter for a couple of years now, with a 48t chainring and 18t sprocket. I feel this gearing is a little bit too high as I virtually never use the top gear, often feel 2nd is a touch too grindy and 3rd sometimes not low enough.
I need a new chainring, chain and sprocket as mine are now worn out, so was thinking of dropping the gearing.
I'm thinking of doing this gear dropping chainring side as I feel I just want it a tiny bit lower (kind of half a gear's different) not a fairly big jump that I suspect putting a bigger sprocket on will do, but not sure how far I should go - obviously it will be difficult and/or expensive to try different sizes so wonder if I can get any opinions on how some ratio changes will feel.
Current 48/18 = 2.66:1
Possible 48/19 = 2.53:1
Possible 47/18 = 2.61:1
Possible 46/18 = 2.55:1
How big a jump will these feel? Erring towards 46/18 as I guess going 0.1:1 down isn't going to feel dramatically different, but that 0.15:1 might feel more like a whole gear step down? Agh, wish there was a way to try this without having to spend loads of money on chainrings!
I need a new chainring, chain and sprocket as mine are now worn out, so was thinking of dropping the gearing.
I'm thinking of doing this gear dropping chainring side as I feel I just want it a tiny bit lower (kind of half a gear's different) not a fairly big jump that I suspect putting a bigger sprocket on will do, but not sure how far I should go - obviously it will be difficult and/or expensive to try different sizes so wonder if I can get any opinions on how some ratio changes will feel.
Current 48/18 = 2.66:1
Possible 48/19 = 2.53:1
Possible 47/18 = 2.61:1
Possible 46/18 = 2.55:1
How big a jump will these feel? Erring towards 46/18 as I guess going 0.1:1 down isn't going to feel dramatically different, but that 0.15:1 might feel more like a whole gear step down? Agh, wish there was a way to try this without having to spend loads of money on chainrings!