Opinion On 28T to 30T
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Opinion On 28T to 30T
Just recently I am about to be in the need to replace my front ring.
I am running 28T on it at the moment and I do feel i need that ratio. As often in my lowest gear when riding up a big climb in snow. I need to spin.
However seems to be a shortage of 28T's around just 30T.
Would i see much difference if i got 30T for my Fat bike?
I am running 28T on it at the moment and I do feel i need that ratio. As often in my lowest gear when riding up a big climb in snow. I need to spin.
However seems to be a shortage of 28T's around just 30T.
Would i see much difference if i got 30T for my Fat bike?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 1,862
Bikes: Giant Toughroad SLR1 and Motobecane Sturgis NX
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 880 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 195 Times
in
148 Posts
in the lowest gear it will be proportionally harder. If it matters, only you can know after trying. Over the years I went the opposite to lower and lower gears on my fatbike. Especially in the low-speed and high resistance situations like deep snow.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Northern Shenandoah Valley
Posts: 3,249
Bikes: '18 Redline Zander MTB, '14 Surly Pugsley, '97 Trek MultiTrack 750, '70 Peugeot UO-18 Mixte
Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1106 Post(s)
Liked 340 Times
in
261 Posts
Just recently I am about to be in the need to replace my front ring.
I am running 28T on it at the moment and I do feel i need that ratio. As often in my lowest gear when riding up a big climb in snow. I need to spin.
However seems to be a shortage of 28T's around just 30T.
Would i see much difference if i got 30T for my Fat bike?
I am running 28T on it at the moment and I do feel i need that ratio. As often in my lowest gear when riding up a big climb in snow. I need to spin.
However seems to be a shortage of 28T's around just 30T.
Would i see much difference if i got 30T for my Fat bike?
If these changes look consistent, it's because they are. It's about a 7% increase in gear ratio.
I recommend figuring gear inches because, depending on your cassette, you MAY be able to approximate what the change will be with different gears. For example, if your second tallest sprocket is a 42t, then the combination of your existing 28t chain ring and 2nd gear 42t sprocket is 19.9". That's almost the same as your low gear with a new 30t chain ring and 1st gear 46t sprocket (19.5"). So could you live with your second tallest sprocket as your bike is now as your lowest gear?
Obviously, all of that changes depending on the configuration of your bike (tire size, cassette, etc.). But trying to imagine a 7% change can be difficult, so doing the math may enable you to find a combination on your current drivetrain that will be equivalent to your new setup and would allow you to "try before you ride".
#5
Senior Member
Going to a 30T chainring from a 28 would make it 7% harder to climb. The longer the hill, The greater overall effort required. The short hills where I live I can climb with tall gears. If I had to climb a moderately steep hill 1/4 mile long I would need a much lower gear.
On the plus side though it will pay off under light loads. Sometimes it ballances out. A little more effort to climb is rewarded with more efficient riding at other times.
On the plus side though it will pay off under light loads. Sometimes it ballances out. A little more effort to climb is rewarded with more efficient riding at other times.