Megarange gears

Charlie said:

I ride a Dawes Galaxy with a Shimano RSX triple (46,36,26) and an IG60
11-28T 8-speed block. My rear mech is a
Shimano STX-RC and my controls are Deore LX STI.

Please excuse this mouthful of Shim-speak. I am not technically-minded, but
thought it might be relevant information to any potential advisers who are.
My actual query is simple: recently I have been experiencing sore knees
after riding up moderately steep hills. This may be an age-related problem
(I'm 57).

What kind of cadence are you doing and are you running out of gears?
one would presume so from the posting.

Quoted message said:

Is it possible to fit a Megarange gear to this set-up? What new componentry
would be involved in converting to 9-speed in order to avoid the large
"jump" to the bottom gear.

Yes. Don't worry about the big jump. You either need the low gear or
you don't. there doesn't really seem to be much in between that is any
use (IMHO). I have megarange 7 on the tandem (it has six usable gears,
13-34) and that is fine, and a megarange 8 on my commuting bike which
is also fine.

There is a bit of a step but it does get you into the mindset of 'time
to sit down and twiddle'.

To move to 9 speed you probably just need new shifters (controls) and
the new cassette. Possibly a new chain.

...d

Charlie said:

I ride a Dawes Galaxy with a Shimano RSX triple (46,36,26) and an IG60
11-28T 8-speed block. My rear mech is a
Shimano STX-RC and my controls are Deore LX STI.

Quoted message said:

Is it possible to fit a Megarange gear to this set-up? What new componentry
would be involved in converting to 9-speed in order to avoid the large
"jump" to the bottom gear.

megarange has per definition a large gap between the last two sprockets
RC rearmechs will take a 32T, a 34 only if you are lucky

Cheapest solution would be to get a 11-34 8-speed and new chain and see
if it works. If it doesn't work get a new rear mech (beware of current
low-normal!) or swap out the 34 for a 32 or. Shimano doesn't do a 8sp
11-32 outside XTR

If you 'need' to go 9 speed you need new shifters, chain and cogs, and
maybe a derailleur as above. Extra cog will be a 30

--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

Charlie said:

I ride a Dawes Galaxy with a Shimano RSX triple (46,36,26) and an IG60
11-28T 8-speed block. My rear mech is a
Shimano STX-RC and my controls are Deore LX STI.

Please excuse this mouthful of Shim-speak. I am not technically-minded, but
thought it might be relevant information to any potential advisers who are.
My actual query is simple: recently I have been experiencing sore knees
after riding up moderately steep hills. This may be an age-related problem
(I'm 57).

Is it possible to fit a Megarange gear to this set-up? What new componentry
would be involved in converting to 9-speed in order to avoid the large
"jump" to the bottom gear.

My (admittedly not too extensive) experience of Megarange is it isn't as
handy in practice as it is on paper. The problem being that you replace
1st gear with a 0th gear, so when you actually *want* 1st gear (which if
you're moving smoothly through your gears you do, right after 2nd) it
isn't there and you're suddenly windmilling rather then doing useful
work in the time it takes to slow down to where the 0th is what you want.

If you put an 11-32 on the back, or get a smaller granny ring at the
front, you'll get lower gears without a big jump that's out of line with
the rest of the changes you make.

Another thing is what sort of pedal attachment, if any, are you using?
I find clipless pedals make a *big* difference to how happy my knees are
at the end of a big day, and into the following day too. I use Time
ATACs, others have reported them as being kinder to their knees than
"official" Shimano SPuDs or SPuD-u-likes, though I imagine it will
depend a fair bit on the specific knee problem.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Charlie said:

Is it possible to fit a Megarange gear to this set-up? What new componentry
would be involved in converting to 9-speed in order to avoid the large
"jump" to the bottom gear.

Do you find you use your top gear (46*11) often? If not, consider
replacing the cassette with one that has a 13 or 14 tooth smallest
sprocket, eg the Cyclotouriste 14-34 from Harris Cyclery.
<url:http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/k7.html#9cassettes>

It's not the cheapest solution, but following on from what Pete Clinch
says, it's better than a "Megarange" cassette because it gives you a
considerably lower bottom gear while maintaining reasonable spacing
across the range.

The only other component you should have to change when converting from
8 to 9 speed is the chain - 9-speed cassettes require a narrower chain,
the SRAM PC59 being a popular choice.

d.

I said:

eg the Cyclotouriste 14-34 from Harris Cyclery.
<url:http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/k7.html#9cassettes>

....you'll have to scroll down a bit to see the Cyclotouriste, but also
have a look at their other cassettes while you do - the Big Dozen 12-32
also looks like it might be suitable for you.

d.

Charlie said:

I ride a Dawes Galaxy with a Shimano RSX triple (46,36,26) and an IG60
11-28T 8-speed block. My rear mech is a
Shimano STX-RC and my controls are Deore LX STI.

Please excuse this mouthful of Shim-speak. I am not
technically-minded, but thought it might be relevant information to
any potential advisers who are. My actual query is simple: recently
I have been experiencing sore knees after riding up moderately steep
hills. This may be an age-related problem (I'm 57).

Is it possible to fit a Megarange gear to this set-up?

An "MTB" rear derailleur may be required for 30+ teeth rear sprockets.

Quoted message said:

What new
componentry would be involved in converting to 9-speed in order to
avoid the large "jump" to the bottom gear.

Shifters (gear levers), chain.

But 9-speed won't be necessary if you could stand an 8-speed 11-30.......

To keep the gears reasonably close it will help to not go larger than
30-tooth at the back, but change the inner chainring for a 24T as well. I
suggest just trying that smaller ring before making any other decisions as
it might be enough to do the trick with the existing cassette. Any 74mm
ring will fit; 24T is the minimum. Regardless of what Shimano say, your
existing derailleurs should cope with 24/36/46 + 11-28 as long as you
avoid using the small-small combinations (inner ring + smallest few
sprockets).

~PB

On 06/03/2005 04:02:02 'Pete Biggs' p@honeydewbiggs{remove_melon}.tc said:

Charlie wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My actual query is simple: recently I have been experiencing
sore knees after riding up moderately steep hills. This may be an
age-related problem (I'm 57).

Quoted message said:

To keep the gears reasonably close it will help to not go larger than
30-tooth at the back, but change the inner chainring for a 24T as well. I
suggest just trying that smaller ring before making any other decisions as
it might be enough to do the trick with the existing cassette. Any 74mm
ring will fit; 24T is the minimum. Regardless of what Shimano say, your
existing derailleurs should cope with 24/36/46 + 11-28 as long as you
avoid using the small-small combinations (inner ring + smallest few
sprockets).

Quoted message said:

~PB

The poster does not say if he is getting worn out on these steep hills, just that he gets sore knees, if it is just the kees then the problem is not really gear range, although a lower gearing may help, it is more likely that his knee joints a wearing, what is needed is a combination of shorter cranks, 170mm or 165mm and I would recommend clipless pedals with 6 degrees or there abouts of float, non centering type to allow the knee to assume a natural angle.

--
Buck

I would rather be out on my Catrike

www.catrike.co.uk

Thanks to every body for all the information. At least now I won't feel
clueless when I go along to my LBS!

"Buck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 06/03/2005 04:02:02 "Pete Biggs" <p@honeydewbiggs{remove_melon}.tc>

Quoted message said:

Charlie wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My actual query is simple: recently I have been experiencing
sore knees after riding up moderately steep hills. This may be an
age-related problem (I'm 57).

Quoted message said:

To keep the gears reasonably close it will help to not go larger than
30-tooth at the back, but change the inner chainring for a 24T as well.
I
suggest just trying that smaller ring before making any other decisions
as
it might be enough to do the trick with the existing cassette. Any 74mm
ring will fit; 24T is the minimum. Regardless of what Shimano say, your
existing derailleurs should cope with 24/36/46 + 11-28 as long as you
avoid using the small-small combinations (inner ring + smallest few
sprockets).

Quoted message said:

~PB

The poster does not say if he is getting worn out on these steep hills,
just that he gets sore knees, if it is just the kees then the problem is
not really gear range, although a lower gearing may help, it is more
likely that his knee joints a wearing, what is needed is a combination of
shorter cranks, 170mm or 165mm and I would recommend clipless pedals with
6 degrees or there abouts of float, non centering type to allow the knee
to assume a natural angle.

--
Buck

I would rather be out on my Catrike

www.catrike.co.uk