Originally Posted by Al1943
Could you not replace the 34 with a 36 to reduce the ratio jump when shifting the front? Possibly make a cassette change to take care of your lowest gear needs?
Al
thought of that - goin with a 36 means I now shift on 62" and that would save a jump by only having to double shift down to the #4 cog at 55" (and skip the 60" cog at #3). But then the lowest gear is 41", and I'd hate to give up the 38" low - I use it an awful lot these days - 3" inches doesn;t sound like much, but where the rubber meets the road it a big diff.
If I go 9 spd cassette, with 13-25, then I get the 38" back. That then means at least 2 new righthand STI brifters to replace the 8 spd stuff. Gonna try it, a new 9 spd 13-25 cassette, on the one bike with a 9 spd brifter and see if it helps/makes a diff. before I jump in for a bunch of new Brifters.