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I'm currently running a 34t front ring with a 11-34 cassette. This combination was purely a gamble for a new build I put together so I had no idea whether I'd be ok with the range it provided.
Used this combination now for a month or so and have noticed I'm only using 3-4 of the larger rings and maybe the 5th largest ring every now and again.
In order for me to make more use of the range do I need to be looking at different ratio cassette's or simply reduce the size of the front ring?
Either way, aside from MTFU can anyone suggest either a ratio for the rear or a different size chain ring now that I'm aware of how I'm doing with the current setup?
Thank you
When you say you use just the largest 4 at the back, do you often feel you need a lower gear too? If you do you could try a 32 up front.
It is very low gearing you are using all the time though. Is this in a very hilly area?
A lower gear at the back would be nice.
After the 32 at the front would the next progression be changing the cassette, maybe 11-36?
To me its a bit hilly but then again I've only just started riding again. The areas are Cannock and Brickhill. Went to Cannock for the 2nd time today and it was a bit better, a couple of times I pushed up however I think that could have been avoided if before the start of that particular section I caught my breathe again.
Even on the way down I find I'm not selecting any of the smaller cogs hence my thinking about adjusting what I have so that I make more use out of the range.
Will a 32t chain ring make all the cogs in the cassette seem a bit easier to pedal?
Yes, a 32 front ring will make all the gears slightly lower.
If you have only just started riding again you will start to get fitter and faster so might not need the 11-36 after a few weeks. But it is another good option to give you a wider range of gears with an extra lower gear.
I went 2x9 last year with a 11-34 and 26/36 chainrings. Now, a year later i. Never use the granny ring due to being fitter. So maybe just try the 32 and stick with that for a few weeks and see how it goes?
I'd switch to 32t on the front and work on standing pedalling, which will give you way more power.
Many thanks for the replies and suggestions.
I'll get a 32T chain ring sorted and keep the 11-36 cassette noted as a future option.
Is it feasible to change the individual cogs in a cassette? To fine tune a range that's more suited to me.
Op, the fifth largest gear will be something like a 21t or 20t and the fastest gear ratio you're making use of is (34t/20t) 1.7:1. So to make full use of your 11-34t cassette you will have to resort to the granny gear, which isn't advisable. Using a smaller middle ring would be better until you get fitter.
Edit: Sorry, OP's beaten me to it.
You can't really do an 11-36 block without going 10 speed. Smaller ring, or give up on 1x9 as it doesn't seem to work for you... Don't really get why folk would do that!
Use Sheldon Brown's calculator to figure out what gear range you currently use. Then play around with chainring sizes to find one which gives you the highest gear you want on the 11 tooth rear.
For example 34 front and 11-34 rear (with 170mm cranks and 26x2.2.125 tyres) gives low to high gears of
26-29-34-38-44-52-59-69-80.
So if you currently don't need the two smallest cogs then the top gear you are using is 59 inches.
Changing to a 26 front would keep a top gear slightly higher than that plus give you two gears below your current low.
20-22-26-29-34-40-45-52-61
http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/