MTB gear ratios

"Graham" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
What is the best way to "Upgrade" the gears on a basic MTB, in regards to
gear ratios.

Quoted message said:

1) Bigger chainringd

2>😉 Closer ratio smaller sprockets

Perhaps both, depending on the size of your current chainwheel and cassette.
If you have a non-compact drive chainring theres not much point in changing
it and it may lead to knock-on problems anyway. If you have a 42 tooth ring
then consider changing to 48.
If you have a 9 speed 11-32 cassette you won't actually be able to get a
higher gear ratio on the back but will be able to get closer ratios, say
11-25 or even closer depending on the sort of riding you propose doing. (I
use an 11-19 on an old 7 speed winter bike). Closer ratios are more efficent
for unladen road riding.
If your current smallest cog is 12 or 13 teeth, common on older non-compact
equipped bikes, then of course you can change it to one with 11 teeth.

Pete

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

Quoted message said:

"Graham" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
What is the best way to "Upgrade" the gears on a basic MTB, in regards to
gear ratios.

Quoted message said:

1) Bigger chainringd

2>😉 Closer ratio smaller sprockets

Perhaps both, depending on the size of your current chainwheel and
cassette.
If you have a non-compact drive chainring theres not much point in
changing
it and it may lead to knock-on problems anyway. If you have a 42 tooth
ring
then consider changing to 48.
If you have a 9 speed 11-32 cassette you won't actually be able to get a
higher gear ratio on the back but will be able to get closer ratios, say
11-25 or even closer depending on the sort of riding you propose doing. (I
use an 11-19 on an old 7 speed winter bike). Closer ratios are more
efficent
for unladen road riding.
If your current smallest cog is 12 or 13 teeth, common on older
non-compact
equipped bikes, then of course you can change it to one with 11 teeth.

Pete

Sorry should have said the chainrings are 42,32,22. The freewhaeel
(Screw-on), is 14-28 seven speed I think.

TIA

Graham

in message <[email hidden]>, Peter B

(') said:

"Graham" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
What is the best way to "Upgrade" the gears on a basic MTB, in regards
to gear ratios.

Quoted message said:

1) Bigger chainringd

2>😉 Closer ratio smaller sprockets

Perhaps both, depending on the size of your current chainwheel and
cassette. If you have a non-compact drive chainring theres not much
point in changing it and it may lead to knock-on problems anyway. If
you have a 42 tooth ring then consider changing to 48.

One potential gotcha here, the chainstays on an MTD spread a good bit
more than on a road bike and there may not be clearance for a bigger
chainset. Check the clearance behind each of your current chainrings
carefully before purchasing bigger.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

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