Too many gears?

[Cadire]

I've found that on my 28/38/48 chainset equipped hybrid, that I never use the two outer gears, the 38T middle gear being perfectly adequate for me*.

With that in mind, I'm considering changing the triple chainset to a double, or even a single ( a single because I could then remove the left-hand shifter and free up some handlebar space).

Has anyone else done this? Would I be better served having a single up front and a 10-speed cassette at the back?

*I think this is a subconscious precursor to getting a 'proper' road bike!

 

[Full Metal Sprocket]

I ride single speed and fixed but I would also prefer five and ten gears like the old days,not this thirty gear stuff,probably not needed on my commute either.My audax is single speed but still has the retro downtube levers for if I wanted to re-fit it with gears.

 

[Sharky]

On my commute/training bike, I had a double 34/50, but found that the gear I wanted for most of the time was bang in the middle, so was continually switch from the 34 to the 50 and vice versa. So I swapped the 34 for a 40 and removed the front mechanism, so now I have about 7 very usable gears and no messing about with the front changer. Top end is a lot lower than before, but that makes me pedal faster and improves cadence. Did remove the 50 for a while, but the chain used to jump off occasionally, so I put the 50 back on and this keeps the chain in place.

In your case, just remove the front mech for a while and see how you get on. Keep the gear cable in place until you are sure, then you can remove the handle bar controls. Not really worth changing the front triple for a double or single, unless the rings are worn. Keep them on and if you come to a mountain , you can just change the front by hand or foot.

If you really want to get rid of the surplus rings, just need to buy the shorter chainring bolts.

My other bikes are a mixture of fixed, single speed and 20 speed, so I have choices depending on the day.

Cheers Keith

 

[nickyboy]

I've got a 50/34 12-27. In theory it has 20 gear options. In practice it's about 14.

Using the 34 on the front I go as far as the 17 on the back (6th gear). If I want a higher gear than that I switch to the 50 on the front and 23 rear (3rd gear) and then click up from there to the 50/12.

34-15/14/13/12 and 50-25/27 you can hear the cross chaining so I avoid these combinations

 

[Full Metal Sprocket]

*I think this is a subconscious precursor to getting a 'proper' road bike!

I've been thinking this till I fixed the audax last week.I had a problem after converting it to single gear about two years ago with the chain jumping.It was stored for over two years and not used.Thought about three times about scrapping it but I just thought that it would be an excuse to buy another bike which probably isn't needed.It would have been a real shame to scrap it,so I looked at ways of fixing the chain tensioning issue (and not giving up easily) and found the solution.I was fitting the chain tensioner wrongly.(Not enough of the chain was on the rear sprocket).Saw this last week after seeing a picture of a chain tensioner on a bike on pic on ebay.

Funny though I got a £350 cheque today although I don't know why and was thinking of spending it on a bike.I don't think four working bikes is enough.

 

[Banjo]

If you really only ever use the 38 chain ring then don't change to a compact double or you will lose your favourite size.

A "racing" double with a 39 tooth smallest ring would be better for you or as suggested save some cash and just fix your present set upon the middle ring.

You shouldn't really ride on the middle ring combined with your biggest or smallest cassette cog. The chain angle will be increasing wear on your cogs and chain wheels as well as stressing the chain itself.

If you are happy to ride on just your middle ring and most but not all your cassette cogs then no problem.
Personally I would see it as depriving yourself of other options .On tired legs little hills can be big mountains to cross.

 

[sidevalve]

Back in the good ol' days we were fine with 5 and really up market with 10. I never use the extreme top and only very occasionally the bottom on my Dawes with 14 so if I were you I'd just try as above and remove the front mech for a while - see how it goes.

 

[Cadire]

Thanks all, as usual the advice and opinions on CC are excellent

I have been able to use the two extreme ends of the 8 speed cassette without too much issue, although the smallest cog does make a little bit of noise when it is engaged.

I think, for now anyway, I will disengage the FD and set the limiters for the middle gear. I don't use the two outer gears anyway but it'll be an interesting exercise to see how it goes.

Thanks again

 

[Full Metal Sprocket]

I never liked that 8/9/10 speed chain stuff.In the days of five/ten gears it was so much simpler to split and rejoin the chain without too many issues.

 

[Banjo]

Thanks all, as usual the advice and opinions on CC are excellent

I have been able to use the two extreme ends of the 8 speed cassette without too much issue, although the smallest cog does make a little bit of noise when it is engaged.


I think, for now anyway, I will disengage the FD and set the limiters for the middle gear. I don't use the two outer gears anyway but it'll be an interesting exercise to see how it goes.

Thanks again

If it works and your happy then good result.

 

[andyfraser]

How does the SRAM 1X stuff work when there's only one chain ring but 11 sprockets on the cassette? That's quite an extreme range of movement for the chain.

 

[Bazzer]

If it ain't broke, why fix it? How short of space are you on your handlebars to consider this?

I seem to remember on another thread that you are improving your fitness levels. You may find that as you improve, your cycling horizons expand and places you would have previously considered as bonkers to even think about, start to chew over in your mind as worth a go at. That little ring may be the difference between scaling a hill, even if you had to stop for a breather and not making it. That big ring will add to the joy of the descent.

 

[Cadire]

Well handlebar space isn't the primary reason for considering this, rather an urge to 'fiddle'

The middle gear on the front is, I believe, 38T (the chainset is advertised as 28T/38T/48T) and the rear cassette has a range of 11-32. That's a wide range right there, and the biggest rear cog has me spinning like a dervish, almost as if there as no chain attached! Conversely, the smallest cog can propel me up to around 20mph (give or take a smidgin). As someone who is built for comfort rather than high-speed (physically and mentally) that seems like a decent range for leisure riding I can't imagine ever roaring downhill like MikeW-71, whose videos excite and frighten in equal measures, not on a hybrid anyway (though I notice the rider in front of Mike has straight bars).


Of course if I outgrow my restricted gear range, I can always put the front shifter back on, so I'm not burning any bridges.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Well handlebar space isn't the primary reason for considering this, rather an urge to 'fiddle'

The middle gear on the front is, I believe, 38T (the chainset is advertised as 28T/38T/48T) and the rear cassette has a range of 11-32. That's a wide range right there, and the biggest rear cog has me spinning like a dervish, almost as if there as no chain attached! Conversely, the smallest cog can propel me up to around 20mph (give or take a smidgin). As someone who is built for comfort rather than high-speed (physically and mentally) that seems like a decent range for leisure riding I can't imagine ever roaring downhill like MikeW-71, whose videos excite and frighten in equal measures, not on a hybrid anyway (though I notice the rider in front of Mike has straight bars).


Of course if I outgrow my restricted gear range, I can always put the front shifter back on, so I'm not burning any bridges.

Why remove the FD then? Seems like a total waste of time. Just carry on riding the bike and see how it goes.

20mph top speed is low even on the slightest of downhills and whilst 28x32 is a pretty low low-gear I'd say you've never been up a steep hill if you have been spinning it 'like a dervish'.

 

[Bazzer]

The big ring doesn't need to be used for roaring down hills. Coming down a hill with your pedals engaged in the gears and turning steadily can add to a sense of control in the descent. - Particularly if you are travelling at a speed not previously experienced on a bike.
As to your bike being a hybrid, whilst it might have some drawbacks over a road bike, don't let that title be a limiting factor. One of mine is, and we have had some fun together going up and down tarmaced hills..Sure she can be hard work sometimes, being a big old steel, but that little ring has never let me down.