Originally Posted by
eschlwc
... the again ... all 12-speed bikes provide, at most, 10-speeds, because you never ride in the outer limits of the chainline (big chainring/big cog combo and small/small combo).
I do not use it a lot, but small/small has always worked well for me, but I typically run either half-step, with a 3-tooth difference between the chainrings, or 1.5-step, with an 8-tooth drop. I generally avoid large-large, as you do, but, as I recently reported, I accidentally discovered that my half-step Peugeot runs surprisingly quietly and smoothly in large-large cross, making it a true 12-speed (with an unusually even ratiometric gear progression: 45-42/13-15-17-20-23-26).
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069