How does front mech capacity rating translate when one goes down to a double?

I’m 8-speed and plan to stay that way for the time being, but 11-32 cassettes have terribly unequal gear spacing, whereas 11-30s are far superior in this respect. Changing from a 22T to a 20T granny would bring back the lower gearing, but could a front mech handle a 20T/36T jump?

So, how much difference can a front mech handle?

they can handle 22/38 so I’d have thought so.

16T jump is about as big as is practical IMO. It works, but even then the jump between the 2 rings is quite pronounced. I used to run 24/38 but still found the 14T jump a bit big, now run a 24/36 on my bike equipped with a double.

Can you still get hold of 12-32 casettes in 8speed, that might give you the more usable ratios you’re after, as it would essentially be the same ratios as a 9spd cassette just missing the 11T cog at the bottom…

Thanks guys.

I don’t recall seeing 12-32s at my usual sources, and in any case I’d probably miss the 11 (bad enough not having the 42 on my do everything mount!).