Originally Posted by
RubeRad
+1. I think the FD should be ok jumping from 46-50, you will need to raise it a hair.
I'm like you, I have 9sp 11-32 on my commuter, which most people would consider fairly wide spacing, and I usually shift two at a time. I might as well have only 5 gears back there, because I only ever use the odd ones! If you feel that your current cassette is spaced too closely, so that shifting doesn't make enough of a difference, AND you want a lower bottom end, you will love a larger cassette like 11-36.
Yep, I feel like I have a 7 speed cassette, or something like that, on the back. I would need to change the RD to go up as high as 36. The max mine can handle is 32T. I was planning on trying that, but may now have a look at the cost of a new RD.
I noticed on eBay today while looking at rings that someone is selling off a 34T front ring. I am thinking of trying this - and the 11 - 32T cassette - if I can buy it cheaply enough. If it does not work, then I won't have lost too much money on it.