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Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios
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 2009-07-09 8:48 AM |
Member 65  Monroe, NY |  Subject: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear RatiosI recently switched to a new bike and I really notice a big difference in my ability to climb hills (harder now). I live about an hour upstate from NY and the area is full of really big hills (near Harriman park). I will be doing the NYC tri in a few weeks but those hills don't scare me to much. I was wondering if my setup is ok or if I should consider a different rear cogs. It is getting easier to climb as I get in better shape but I am still curious. Current Bike: 2008 Fuji Team RC: Front 39/53, Rear 12-23 10spd : http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2008&Brand=Fuji&Model=Team+RC&Type=bike Old Bike:2006 Fuji Roubaix Pro. Front Compact 36/50, Rear 11-23 10spd http://www.bikepedia.com/Quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2006&Brand=Fuji&Model=Roubaix+Pro&Type=bike |
| 2009-07-09 9:12 AM in reply to: #2272492 |
Veteran 139 MA | Subject: RE: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios I'm pretty new...so take this for what its worth, but if you could climb well with your 50/23 on the old bike, you could try replacing your new cassette with one that tops out at 27. I'm not sure if that will get you the same/closer gear ratio's as you had, but it would be easier climbing 53/27. Maybe just going to a 25 would be enough....lets see what people who know what they're talking about have to say. I'm curious myself. Edited by jammers 2009-07-09 9:12 AM |
| 2009-07-09 9:50 AM in reply to: #2272492 |
Regular 78 Niddatal, Germany | Subject: RE: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios Lowest gear with the current cassette is 39/23, not 53/23, as the OP is probably using the small chainring when climbing. Respectively, lowest gear with a 12-27 cassette is 39/27, not 53/27. I'd say, try a 12-27 cassette. They're not that expensive and quite easy to change (you'd need the proper tools, though). First, you should visit Sheldon Brown's Gear Calculator (http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/). Edited by RGos 2009-07-09 9:51 AM |
| 2009-07-09 10:48 AM in reply to: #2272492 |
Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios For training, I'd say throw a 12-27 on. |
| 2009-07-10 7:17 AM in reply to: #2272492 |
| Member 65 Monroe, NY | Subject: RE: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios How about for the NYC Tri? Should I just stick to what I have or move to the 12-27? I didn't find the hills overly difficult last year but that was with the other bike. |
| 2009-07-10 7:26 AM in reply to: #2272492 |
| Member 65 Monroe, NY | Subject: RE: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios Sorry another question. I was just looking online at parts and the dura ace cs7900 cassette is $299 vs. the ultegra cs 6600 at $109. Is there a big difference? The rest of my components are dura ace including the new chain I just put on. That is just a big price jump. |
| 2009-07-10 8:37 AM in reply to: #2275427 |
Veteran 139 MA | Subject: RE: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios I have the Ultegra 6500 (9 speed version) and it works fine for me, but the bulk of my grouping is 105, not dura ace and I have no experience with the dura ace cassette. Looks like the CS7900 is about 50 grams lighter when comparing the same ratios. |
| 2009-07-10 8:54 AM in reply to: #2272492 |
Regular 96 Novi, MI | Subject: RE: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios What gear were you in before? Was it all the way down to the 36/23? Not that it matters because either way, I would work with what you have. There is a difference, but it is small enough, imo, that you should be able to overcome it in a short period of time. |
| 2009-07-10 8:56 AM in reply to: #2272492 |
Regular 78 Niddatal, Germany | Subject: RE: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios The Ultegra CS 6600 will do just nicely. |
| 2009-07-10 12:29 PM in reply to: #2275427 |
| New user 27 | Subject: RE: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios jrsuss - 2009-07-10 5:26 AM Sorry another question. I was just looking online at parts and the dura ace cs7900 cassette is $299 vs. the ultegra cs 6600 at $109. Is there a big difference? The rest of my components are dura ace including the new chain I just put on. That is just a big price jump. Try looking for a DA 7800 cassette. I looked a few weeks ago and I dont remember it being that much more than the price you have listed for the Ultegra. A lot of vendors are trying to dump their "old" DA 7800 right now. |
| 2009-07-10 1:17 PM in reply to: #2272492 |
| Member 65 Monroe, NY | Subject: RE: Choosing Proper Front/Rear Gear Ratios Thanks looks like trivillage has the 7800 for about 200. I think for this race I am going to keep the setup I have. I am only home one more week and I hate to change something so late in the game. I will look into it for a future upgrade. This has been very helpful thanks everyone. |
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