Originally Posted by
Barrettscv
Typically half-step gearing has two chainrings with a 3, 4 or 5 tooth difference. The cassette would also need to have a 2 or 3 tooth difference in the progression.
You could do an 11-13-15-17-20-23-26-30 cassette with a 49 & 46 chainring combination, it's not ideal, but that would work. I'm not sure you would like it in a hilly area.
I think what you are really inquiring about is chainring selection, not half-step gearing.
In that case, a 49 & 34 chainring set is a good choice.
No, I am interested in half step because I could set up my bike as half-step plus the 34t chainring. It's just I've never tried half-step and am unsure of its benefits both in a hilly area and on a bike with an 8speed cassette. Plus I've always thought cranks set up with half-step plus granny simply
look cool...but based on the advice given and my own research into previous forum threads it just isn't the right set up for the bike.