bsyptak

I've been running 42/16 SS for 2 days and it's too easy on the downhills. I'm wondering if I buy a 18T freewheel and change my front chainring to the 52, will the 7 gear inches feel massively different? One concern I have is there are 2 ramps I must negotiate every day which are decidedly easy on the current setup, but I want to be able to still do them with whatever gearing I move up to next.

Thx.

mcatano

If you're running a SS you can always coast downhill, so being under-geared for that would be less of a concern for me than being overgeared for the climbs. If you can get a 15t freewheel for 42x15, that might be a nice middle ground.

m.

bsyptak

By downhill I pretty much mean riding to work. Going home is all uphill, but it's reasonably flat. Thing is on the way to work I top out on my existing gearing on some sections.

You suggest a 42/15 which is 74 gear inches. Pretty similar to the 76 I would get with 52/18. I suppose that would be better than the 18 freewheel, because the 18 freewheel will be worthless with the 42 chainring. So my gear inch combinations would be:

42/16 = 69
42/15 = 74
52/16 = 85
52/15 = 91

Doubt I'd ever use the 52 ring tho.

bostontrevor

It'll feel different for sure, but you'll get used to it. I don't know what your ramps are like, though, so I don't know if it'll be too much work to get up them.

mcatano

I think that 52x18 on a 700c wheel is 78", not 76"?

m.

Ken Cox

I've evolved from 70" to 81" in four steps of about 2.5" each.
Try a larger chain ring, which, with an extra cog will allow more steps.

bsyptak

I downloaded an excel spreadsheet that gave me the above for a 700x23 tire. I think 69 is right so I don't think the 76 should be that far off. ???