Changing the Gearing on my Touring Bike
06-09-21, 08:52 AM
#26
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Photo is from my rando bike with chain catcher.
06-09-21, 04:52 PM
#27
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I use friction shifting for my triples; thumb-shifters can be had for under $20, though the finish on the $30-50 models are much higher quality.
The chain keeper is mostly (in my experience) helpful when there is a large drop from middle to small ring - the chain can miss the small ring and can be difficult to get unstuck. The first time you wrap a chain around the bottom bracket and frame, you'll wish you had one.
The derailleur might ride high on any non-standard rings. There is a reason Shimano makes several cranks with near perfect 10-tooth steps: the derailleur swings out and over each ring with (relatively) small clearances. That said, from the anecdotes here, and my own experience, it is not a practical problem - at least, for touring.
The chain keeper is mostly (in my experience) helpful when there is a large drop from middle to small ring - the chain can miss the small ring and can be difficult to get unstuck. The first time you wrap a chain around the bottom bracket and frame, you'll wish you had one.
The derailleur might ride high on any non-standard rings. There is a reason Shimano makes several cranks with near perfect 10-tooth steps: the derailleur swings out and over each ring with (relatively) small clearances. That said, from the anecdotes here, and my own experience, it is not a practical problem - at least, for touring.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
06-13-21, 11:26 PM
#28
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Shimano makes a 12-36 rear cassette that works well with the 48/36/26 front crank. I made the change from the 11-34 and love it. The 26 granny and 36 rear get me up most hills here in Wales - with luggage!
06-14-21, 06:19 PM
#30
Senior Member
My Bruce Gordon was designed for touring from the beginning, it has a 46/36/24 on the front, and seven cogs in the rear. I use it as three separate 'ranges.' The 24 gets used with the three largest rear cogs, at which point it overlaps with the middle ring which gets used with the rear gears 2-5. The 46 gets used with the 5-7 on the rear, but the combination of Vermont's terrain and my puny muscles makes that a rare event.
06-14-21, 06:44 PM
#31
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My setup is a 42/37/24 triple, with a 13-28 9 speed cassette. I use an Ultegra GS RD, and a CX70 front derailler, which is not spec'd for a triple but works just fine. With this setup, I ride primarily in the middle/37 ring.
The cassette is a modified Shimano HG-50 13-25. As stock, it has 13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25. I remove the 14 and add a Miche 28T at the back, for 13-15-16-17-19-21-23-25-28. I do most of my riding in 15-16-17, one-tooth steps, very comfortable. The 37-28 is low enough for most of my riding, but when I hit the occasional killer hill, I have a lowest gear of 24-28. Works every time!
I use 42 big ring and the 13 first position cog to pedal downhill. That is plenty high for me.
What matters most to me is comfortable steps between gears, and this setup works for that. I have ten usable, sequential steps, plus the granny. If you're wondering why I have a 37T middle ring rather than the more-common 36 or 38, it was on sale at Harris Cyclery one day while I was in. I would have preferred a 38T, but they were sold out! When/if it wears out I will replace it with a 38T. I like TA chainrings, available in every size and BCD.
All best.
Last edited by BCDrums; 06-14-21 at 06:56 PM.
06-14-21, 10:03 PM
#32
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I have a couple of Race Face 94/58 BCD cranks from the late 90s that take 20 tooth inners. Those are on my nonShimano (i.e. no Shimano allowed) mountain bikes. On my touring bike and another mountain bike I have 104/64 XT Hollowtech II. I’ve modified the inner ring by filing away some of the post material to fit a 20 tooth inner. Here’s a video I used (not mine) to modify the crank
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
06-15-21, 06:31 AM
#33
Miles to Go
What is your goal in changing the big ring? You want to get out of the middle ring and spend more time in the big ring?
I have 26/36/48 rings, and don't use the tallest 1/2 of the gears in the big ring, but I have all the gears I need.
I have 26/36/48 rings, and don't use the tallest 1/2 of the gears in the big ring, but I have all the gears I need.
06-17-21, 02:28 PM
#34
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06-17-21, 04:56 PM
#35
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And all this is while using indexed STI shifters.
Furthermore, a chain catcher is cheap, weighs less than an ounce, and is readily available -- suggesting that many cyclists still find them useful, including some of the respondents in this thread.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
06-17-21, 05:00 PM
#36
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