Tandem Cycling - 11thru30 vs 11thru34 or 32 cassette

I currently have a 11/30 cassette 8spd and am considering going to a 9spd with a 11/32 or 34 cassette to gain some lower gearing. In everyones oppinion am I going to gain much from this for a $100.00 investment? And should i go with a 32 or 34 for my large cog?.

You will gain about 6.66% lower gear going to 11-32 cassette and about 13.33% with 11-34. It is up to you to decide if it's worth it - you did not list any reasons for lower gears. I went for a custom 11-34 8-speed cassette many years ago - I am touring on my tandem and wanted lower gearing. There is a number of 11-32 8-speed cassettes available stock this days and may be worth a try for the price - definitely cheaper than 9 speed upgrade.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=11471&subcategory_ID=5130
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=12657&subcategory_ID=5130

I upgraded to 9 speed last year after wearing off another 8-speed cassette. I have a mountain tandem and switched to SRAM trigger shifters with matching SRAM dérailleur and SRAM 11-34 cassette. My lower gear is 24 front, 34 rear. We haven't found a hill yet too steep to climb...

Thanks for your reply. I am looking for something lower so that I dont run into a hill I cant climb but also do not wanna run into spacing my ratios to far apart. Do you think the 34 would be the way to go ?.

Go for it!!! Switching from 8-speed 11-30 to 9-speed 11-34 is just like adding an extra gear, no change to the upper 8 gears. You don't even have to use it!!! $100 does not sound too bad either, depending on the collection of parts you are getting.

FWIW - I like my 34 gear. There is a number of hills around here that I will be spinning it all the way up. As I was riding more and losing weight, 34 was getting less use. I probably can get around without it but definitely want it on the tours.

You can try out the possible gear combinations with http://http://www.jbarrm.com/cycal/cycal.html and get an idea of the potential gear combinations.

At the other end -- how often do you use that 11-tooth cog? If you're after more combinations in the middle, a 12-34 might do you better, or even the 13-34 or 14-34 "Cyclotouriste" units from Harris.

32 or 34T? Our opinion: better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

At the other end -- how often do you use that 11-tooth cog?

When I re-geared our Bilenky, I opted for the 11->34. Given the range limits of available front and rear derailleurs, the 11T cog allowed for smaller chainrings, netting big gains on the bottom gears without giving up anything on the high end.

BTW, I did as the OP proposes, and went from 8sp to 9 sp.

Before:

34-44-54
12->32 8 sp.

After:

24-37-52
11->34 9 sp.

Netting a 34% lower granny gear, and only a 5% increase in the the top gear. The 51T spread exceeds the rated takeup of the SGS RD, but it seems to work fine...not sure if it could deal with one more tooth though!

I spent about $225 on the upgrade: Cassette, chain, rings, XT F&RDs, shiftmate, and Mirage Ergo brifters all purchased on sale or closeout, and new cables of course. Oh yeah, it is an SRAM cassette, which was on sale for about 1/3-1/2 the price of a Shimano part.

I ran the 11-34 then went to the 11-32 to avoid the bigger gaps in gearing that the 11-34 has. We're not the fittest tandem out there but the 32 seems to get us over anything we have tackled.

My lower gear is 24 front, 34 rear. We haven't found a hill yet too steep to climb...

Nor many trees either, I'd guess.

Thanks for all your oppinions and feedback . Now I just need to make the decission

Nor many trees either, I'd guess.

Trees would be a problem - not enough traction ;)