Originally Posted by rm -rf

This sounds like good advice to me. I like the idea of lowering the 3 chainrings down to a usable size, instead of using a wide range cassette. I'm always shifting to find a good cadence. But some riders don't care so much about cadence.

Here's a 22-32-42 with a 9 speed 12-25. Each of the three chainrings has reasonably close shifts.


And the same 22-32-42 with a 11-32. Wider gaps between shifts, especially above 15 mph, where close shifts are helpful.


Here's the Mike Sherman Gear Calculator settings for the 22-32-42 and 12-25. The popup message is telling you that you can bookmark these settings to recall later. Changing cadence or gear sizes will update all the charts on the fly.

Lowest gears
3.0 mph on the low gear 22-25 is 44 rpm. And with a 22-32, it's 55 rpm . For long, steep climbs with a heavy load, that 18 gear inches on the 22-32 might be necessary. The 22-25 is 23 gear inches.


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To compare: The 22-36-48 and 12-36 mentioned by acantor above. An interesting setup, too. Very low gears, 3.0 mph is 62 rpm.

Originally Posted by bradtx

Carbonfiberboy, I like to run on the big chain ring and somewhere in the middle of the cassette, and it is easier on the cogs' and chain rings' wear. The one exception I've seen is a good friend of mine is a habitual big-big cross chainer on her mountain bike commuter and her largest cog and chain ring became knife edged ninja weapons. My older daughter is just as bad, but she mainly cross chains a RSX compact double with a 7S. There is just no breaking them of the habit.

Brad