Originally Posted by
52telecaster
i have done granny and half step with 8 and 9 speed cassettes. if you are going to a 11-34 8 speed cassette i would encourage looking at the 12-34 instead. 11 to anything is damn high geared. also if you want to go to 36 just pick up a sunrace 12-34 or 11-34 then a sunrace 11-36 9 speed. you can remove the 34 and replace with the 36. should work fine. currently i am running 12-36 9 speed with 24-38-41 chainrings.
I kind of agree about the 11 tooth cog... BUT I just rented a bike while on vacation last week that had a 52T big ring and either an 11 or 12T cog. I've never been on a bike with that tall a gear before.. Part of my ride was 6 miles down a hill that ranged from 5-9% grade for most of it, and there was very little of it that I coasted. It was a blast! Don't have any hills around home that are that long and that steep, but there are some at a similar grade that are a mile or two, maybe a little longer. Most of the time I'm content to grind my way up and coast down, but now I've felt the joy of bombing down a big hill. I would like to do it some more...