Bicycle Mechanics - Increaseing gear ratio--first step??

I've got a Trek 2200 set up w/ a triple chainring (52/42/30) and a 12-15 cassette.

I'm regularly maxing out my cadence (>120) in the 52x12 combo and want to add a higher gear ratio.

I live in a moderately hilly area, but not hilly enough where I spend much time (front deraillure willing!) on the small chain ring. I'd say that my riding is divided almost 40%-60% between the medium and large chain rings.

Which would be the least problematic way for me to increase my power potential:

A) Switching to a 11-23 cassette
B) Switching to a 53 tooth chainring
C) both A&B
D) something else?

Thanks!

I've got a Trek 2200 set up w/ a triple chainring (52/42/30) and a 12-15 cassette.

I'm regularly maxing out my cadence (>120) in the 52x12 combo and want to add a higher gear ratio.

I live in a moderately hilly area, but not hilly enough where I spend much time (front deraillure willing!) on the small chain ring. I'd say that my riding is divided almost 40%-60% between the medium and large chain rings.

Which would be the least problematic way for me to increase my power potential:

A) Switching to a 11-23 cassette
B) Switching to a 53 tooth chainring
C) both A&B
D) something else?

Thanks!

A) is what I recommend. It increases your high gear by about 9%.

B) only increases your high gear by about 2% and is not worth it IMO.

D) The only other way to increase your top gear is to increase your tire size. But it doesn't change it very much and you should really pick tire size based on other criteria so I don't recommend this.

A cassette with an 11 tooth small sprocket will give you the most noticeable change in gearing. With a triple, you could even consider going to an 11-21 cassette. You’d still keep low gears for the hills, and have a great spread of ratios available.

I assume you meant that you currently had a 12-25 cassette, not a 12-15... :D

You can fit gears higher than 53. I think 56 is the biggest commonly available.

A cassette with an 11 tooth small sprocket will give you the most noticeable change in gearing. With a triple, you could even consider going to an 11-21 cassette. You’d still keep low gears for the hills, and have a great spread of ratios available.

I assume you meant that you currently had a 12-25 cassette, not a 12-15... :D

Geeze, I can't type worth a darn...yes 25.

The 11-21 suggestion sounds intriguing, I'll keep it in mind.

-ExM

turn pro, you'll get all the gear you want for free, and you'll get paid to ride.

i've been looking at this too. the rear does the most. try getting a 9 rear and maybe puting that 56 up front. it will be hard to pedal. i would be doing a decent speed before i engaged that one if i were you... but it would be fun to be fast! :D

If you are spinning a 52/12 @ 120RPM, you are alot faster than I am on the downhills! I concur with the others, that the easiest change for you is an 11T high-gear cog. These days, standard issue for the Tour de France is 53-39/11-21.

I've got a Trek 2200 set up w/ a triple chainring (52/42/30) and a 12-15 cassette.

I'm regularly maxing out my cadence (>120) in the 52x12 combo and want to add a higher gear ratio.

I live in a moderately hilly area, but not hilly enough where I spend much time (front deraillure willing!) on the small chain ring. I'd say that my riding is divided almost 40%-60% between the medium and large chain rings.

Which would be the least problematic way for me to increase my power potential:

A) Switching to a 11-23 cassette
B) Switching to a 53 tooth chainring
C) both A&B
D) something else?

Thanks!

Dang is my math off?... or isn't that close to 40mph?

thats say....65kmh? I can descend between that and 70kmh quite happily with my 53x12 - If they are short sections of spinning a gear that size, Say less than a minute, try learning to spin faster. On my old 172.5mm cranks I could have 140rpm for a wee while with ease. So perhaps a gearing change and learning to spin faster (if your cranks aren't too long)?

Brendon

I don't think you can increase the front chainring size very much and maintain good shifting. You may also exceed the capacity of the rear deraillieur. It may be good to work on riding with a higher cadence. They once interviewed Stuart O'Grady and he said a 12 rear 53 front was all he really needed.

Dang is my math off?... or isn't that close to 40mph?

Something like that :)

http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

with a 9 rear and 56 front you could do 50 mph at 100 rpm.

but with a 12 rear you'd only be going 37.5

Does LA know about this?

Is this on the flat or IS it just a downhill thing?

who yo talkin to?

thats say....65kmh? I can descend between that and 70kmh quite happily with my 53x12 - If they are short sections of spinning a gear that size, Say less than a minute, try learning to spin faster. On my old 172.5mm cranks I could have 140rpm for a wee while with ease. So perhaps a gearing change and learning to spin faster (if your cranks aren't too long)?

Brendon

Good point. I too am getting up to 43mph (70kph) on descents w/o terribly much effort, bit my rpm isn't going much over 120. I'm 6'2" and my 175mm cranks *may* be a bit too long for high spinning rates, but a new cassette is cheaper than new cranks...;)

Soooooo, last night, I ordered a 11-23 ultegra cassette and will see how I like it.

Thanks for all the thoughts.

-ExM

This thread reminds me of the the protagonist's Cinzano truck-paced 60mph bike ride in "Breaking Away," with camera closeups of the chain erroneously on the 42T ring! In those days, the smallest available rear cog was 13T; now that's spinning!