Originally Posted by
big john
John, you have a 28x26 low gear on your mtb? ...
Yup. It came with a 28/32 low, which I never used, so I tightened up the ratios a bit. I did have a 24-tooth inside ring for several years, but after I replaced my bottom bracket bearings, the mounting bolts began to rub against the chainstay. I need to procure some narrower spacers so that I can reinstall the 24.
I find there is a practical limit to how low a gear I can use and still balance the bike successfully. On anything very technical I tend to get off and walk, cyclocross-style, so a 24-to-96 (currently 28-to-96) gear-inch range works fine for me.
I currently have 43- tor 45-inch bottom gears on my road bikes, because I like short-cage rear derailleurs, most of which have a 24- or 26-tooth low-gear capacity and limited chain-wrap capability. Capo #2 will be a bit of a challenge, because the lowest I can go with the original crankset (157mm BCD) and derailleurs (Campagnolo Gran Sport) will be 44/26, and I am currently building it up with a 46/26 low gear.