Originally Posted by
bud16415
I won’t deny I enjoy all aspects of bicycle mechanics as they are one of the most efficient machines ever invented and always getting better. Fit and gearing is what allows everyone to customize their bike to best suit their needs and I never would comment on what someone else was riding unless they asked my opinion.
As to half step with a wide cassette I find it much simpler than half step from the old days on a 10 speed where you did have to think about what you were doing and shift the pattern. I ride my bike exactly the same as you ride yours on the 42t ring and I don’t know my gear inches when I’m on the bike I only listed them as a way to communicate on here. when someone asks me what gearing I have I know my high and low and that’s about it. If I’m riding along in say 40 and feel a need to go higher I shift in the back say I go over 4 to get to 66. And I need a touch more the shifts aren’t complicated with a STI setup. I just flip the front to the 45t and I’m there. All the shifts are single shifts some just in the front some front and back. But with a 42t to 45t shift it’s so smooth you think it’s in the back. On the big ring I do the same thing cascade across till close then if I need to go lower a half switch to 42t if I need to go up a half back up one and then switch or do them together. I never would try and go up thru the pattern like you would on a 10 speed with the huge jumps.
A lot of triples are actually one and a half step + granny and I do find that confusing if you really want to find a in between gear. Very few people use them like that I think.
It's interesting when you and some others in this forum made comments that my pattern jumps are huge. But did you guys know that touring bikes with 7 speed system 13-34 with a triple 46/36/24 that were sold many years back with some of the best brand names had 21 gears and the spread is the same as my current 2x10? I toured with that for many years on a Shimano RSX system both on my past Norco Alteres and my past Bike Friday New World Tourist. I'm sure some of you had toured with a 21 speed system yourself. Don't you find those big jumps impeding your touring pleasure? There are many people right now who are still touring with only 21 speeds. Touring with my Masi is no different than touring with my Norco or my Bike Friday.
Like I said before, I don't really care about gearing as long as I have a working set of low gears, middle gears and some high. It's there to be used, but there's no need to worry why and what it can't do for me.
Speaking of big jump between 42T and 24T has to do with your crankset. If your crankset is well made with well precision craftsmanship (not the new cranks these days), then 16 to 18T jump would be fine and 20T would be the max with some trimming. Jan Heine tried ever higher jumps too. The problem is with the modern crankset. 100% quality control is no longer practice in house. Most of the quality control is now placed on the hands of the consumer (which is you) since it is cheaper to replace a defective crankset rather than hire guys to check every single crankset for chain wobble. But not all consumers are equally as knowledgeable on how to determine whether the cranks are defective or not unless you have a working knowledge. This way, the manufacturer can get away with many more sub-standard quality components which helps them keep the cost down and more profits in their pockets! Since the frame flexes during riding and especially during touring, any minor wobble can cause chain rubbing on the derailleur plus difficult gear shifting with "large" tooth differential! In my case, I'm running an old school Sugino Super Maxy crank which is known for its quality and workmanship and
there is no chain wobble noticeable. The shifting between 24T to 42T is good but minor trimming is required but that's ok since my Tiagra shifter can do this. This is in contrast to my P.O.S Bontrager triple crankset on my Trek 5000 bike where shifting from 30T to 39 hesitates much more than my Sugino crankset and almost require some trimming! There is chain wobble with this garbage crankset! I'm tempted to just throw this P.O.S junk and replace it with a triple Rene Herse crank from Compass Cycles as it is considered one of the best cranks out there. If I don't have this old school crank handy for my Masi, I would not hesitate buying a Rene Herse double crank.
By the way, the Rene Herse crank takes a 70mm BCD for all 3 chain rings. Which means, you can do half-step on the middle high or half-step on the granny low which is what I want, when I have the money ofcourse!