Originally Posted by
escii_35
I bet we ride around the same speed twiddling around town. I'll add: A 32 middle on 26in wheels for all around unloaded riding is too small.
My all around road ride has a 13-28 7 speed free married to a 48-36-24 I use 5,6,3 gears respectively, daily with three others once in a while when I want to avoid a ring shift.
my 42/32/22 26in bike is just a litttttle bit geared too low with the 32 for me, it is pretty close though, with even the 32/12 combo being comfortable at 25-28kph for me at whatever cadence, but it would be nice a bit taller.
I would be happy with a 34 and it would keep the jump down to a 22 only 12t diff.
I used to have a 11-28, 11-12-14-16-18-21-24-28, but l like the 12-25, with the 12-13-15-17-19-21-23-25 and the 12-13-15 gets used a lot in general riding and with a bunch of weight on the bike, going along at 20-25k is very very common and the 32 still works for me at those speeds. If there is a downhill or tailwind, I can easily go up to the 42.
If I ever change out that mid ring, I will put in a 34. Ive changed the granny and the 42 in the past, so the 32 is probably due, but appears fine as far as I can tell.