I've got a Tiagra groupee 52/39 12-23. Although I'm getting much fitter, I'm not sure the lowest is low enough, for the 1 in 4 & 5 Derbyshire hills I seem to be frequenting. I have to get out of the saddle, and can't really do that for the length of some of the hills. Ideally I reckon going to a more compact set up would be best, but I'm guessing that's a new crank for the less than 39 tooth ring. I still want to maintain the 'out and out' road racer. I guess the other option is to maintain the same 8 speeds of the 9 speed cassette and swap the 23 out for a 25. But then I'm guessing we're in realms of esoteric cassettes or DIY pin removal? Any decent discussions on this? Links?
I've got a Tiagra groupee 52/39 12-23. Although I'm getting much fitter, I'm not sure the lowest is low enough, for the 1 in 4 & 5 Derbyshire hills I seem to be frequenting. I have to get out of the saddle, and can't really do that for the length of some of the hills. Ideally I reckon going to a more compact set up would be best, but I'm guessing that's a new crank for the less than 39 tooth ring. I still want to maintain the 'out and out' road racer. I guess the other option is to maintain the same 8 speeds of the 9 speed cassette and swap the 23 out for a 25. But then I'm guessing we're in realms of esoteric cassettes or DIY pin removal? Any decent discussions on this? Links?
On my hybrid I run 105/Ultegra 50/36 12-27 which is about the most I can squeeze out of the lower end without going to a triple and long throw rear.
I've got a Tiagra groupee 52/39 12-23. Although I'm getting much fitter, I'm not sure the lowest is low enough, for the 1 in 4 & 5 Derbyshire hills I seem to be frequenting. I have to get out of the saddle, and can't really do that for the length of some of the hills. Ideally I reckon going to a more compact set up would be best, but I'm guessing that's a new crank for the less than 39 tooth ring. I still want to maintain the 'out and out' road racer. I guess the other option is to maintain the same 8 speeds of the 9 speed cassette and swap the 23 out for a 25. But then I'm guessing we're in realms of esoteric cassettes or DIY pin removal? Any decent discussions on this? Links?
On my hybrid I run 105/Ultegra 50/36 12-27 which is about the most I can squeeze out of the lower end without going to a triple and long throw rear.
Neil
You can get down to 36 on a standard 130mm PCD crank?, what chainrings are these?
I've got a Tiagra groupee 52/39 12-23. Although I'm getting much fitter, I'm not sure the lowest is low enough, for the 1 in 4 & 5 Derbyshire hills I seem to be frequenting. I have to get out of the saddle, and can't really do that for the length of some of the hills. Ideally I reckon going to a more compact set up would be best, but I'm guessing that's a new crank for the less than 39 tooth ring.
38t is the minimum for 130mm.
I think you would be happier with a compact chainset AND a cassette with a bigger big end.
I've got a Tiagra groupee 52/39 12-23. Although I'm getting much fitter, I'm not sure the lowest is low enough, for the 1 in 4 & 5 Derbyshire hills I seem to be frequenting. I have to get out of the saddle, and can't really do that for the length of some of the hills. Ideally I reckon going to a more compact set up would be best, but I'm guessing that's a new crank for the less than 39 tooth ring. I still want to maintain the 'out and out' road racer. I guess the other option is to maintain the same 8 speeds of the 9 speed cassette and swap the 23 out for a 25. But then I'm guessing we're in realms of esoteric cassettes or DIY pin removal? Any decent discussions on this? Links?
On my hybrid I run 105/Ultegra 50/36 12-27 which is about the most I can squeeze out of the lower end without going to a triple and long throw rear.
Neil
You can get down to 36 on a standard 130mm PCD crank?, what chainrings are these?
Sorry, should have been clearer. I've got 105 derailleurs front and back, cassette is a Ultegra 12-27 but the chainset is a Truvative Touro 50/36 compact double with 110mm PCD.
I can just about grind my way up Blaze Hill / Pym Chair with this without standing up 🙂
I've got a Tiagra groupee 52/39 12-23. Although I'm getting much fitter, I'm not sure the lowest is low enough, for the 1 in 4 & 5 Derbyshire hills I seem to be frequenting. I have to get out of the saddle, and can't really do that for the length of some of the hills. Ideally I reckon going to a more compact set up would be best, but I'm guessing that's a new crank for the less than 39 tooth ring.
38t is the minimum for 130mm.
For some 130mm BCD cranks yes. I have a 7400 Dura Ace crank that had to be modified to take the chain over a 38 by filing chamfers on the inside of the arms to let the plates of the chain run low enough to fully engage the rollers on the teeth.
Quoted message said:
I think you would be happier with a compact chainset AND a cassette with a bigger big end.
Going for a 13-25 would be a good initial step. A quick look at Wiggle et al suggests plenty of choice in the 12/13-25/26 range. What these will tend to do is replace the second lowest with a 23 and then have a 25/26 as lowest rather than have a big jump to the lowest a la megarange touring setups. -- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"
