Originally Posted by bud16415

ClemY

Let me try and explain my thought process with this and I also consider myself well into the “old geezer” category. I tried a mountain crank just like you suggested 22,32,42 early on with both my 11-32 and my 12-36 cassettes. What I found early on was with 9 cogs in the back that covered a wide range such as these mtn cassettes do, with the correct center ring based on my strength and cadence, I could mainly stay on my center ring. Cascading up and down the cassette I had range for every type riding I do on the bike both loaded and unloaded. The bike came with a 42 center ring that was just a little high until I tried the 12-36. At that point with a 42t crank I had GI between 31 to 94. With the 32t center ring I got GI 24 to 71. Maybe if I was more of a spinner a lower center would be my sweet spot but after a lot of thought about where I wanted my cadence and speeds to be I found 42t to give me the widest possible usable span without doing a front shift. So your point and mine are the same you don’t need half step in today’s age. I could throw away my big ring and never look back, with a 1 x 9 with a granny.