Originally Posted by jeff williams
I'm a 38T ring to a 11-30 cluster, 20 lb bike. No problems here flatland speed or extreme climbing.
And no chain rattle. Never found I shifted off the mid ring offroad, the outer rings were useless, 36T a bit too slow.
I'm running 7 speed, mostly because my only good Mavic rear is 7 hub body.
Bust it and we go 8.
This summer that wheels gonna DIE!
exactly, i found i never shifted out of my mid ring, EVER. i ride some street and DJ so i like the 36 on there, most of my off road stuff is like hucking and freeride oriented stuff not much XC action or big climbs, and on those my bike isn't much suited to climbing so on the long climbs i generally walk it.