Geo Cruise

I have a 11-32 cassette on the rear of my bike now with an LX mid cage deraileur, I had currently still have my double 53-39 on the front but wish to swap it for a triple but I don't know what gearing I should choose, I would love to keep the 53 for the fast downhill runs but need a good set up. Any suggestions?

skilsaw

My bike came with a 50-39-30 triple and I've changed it to a 48-36-26.
What I needed was the lower end for getting up hills while loaded.

As for having a big ring and really cruising down hills, I just relax and let gravity do the work.

You may need to replace the rear deraileur to a long cage to work with the wide gear range.

10 Wheels

50-39-24 with a 11-34

WashWizards727

In my opinion, you don't really need the 53 chainring. When carrying weight, you will go down hills really fast and will end up braking to make the turns even if you haven't been pedaling. I would go with a 26-36-48

Geo Cruise

can you use a 9 speed chain on an 8 speed cassette?

Torrilin

Put a rack on the bike, go on an overnight or weekend tour. Then come back and tell us what sucked. You probably will want lower gears, because riding with a load does tend to be harder... but then again you could be my partner who sprints to work and back every day on a singlespeed with a 15 lb load. Going up to 20 or 25 lbs doesn't really slow him down at all, nor does going for longer distances.

The best way to tell is to get out there and do stuff.

(also, +1 on the gravity thing... an unloaded rider on a 5% grade can easily hit 35mph just off gravity. loaded just means you get more help from gravity)

Geo Cruise

yeah I have realised the foly of my ways and given up ont the 53 toth idea, I have a brand new race face triple I was going to put on my moutian bike but never did it is a 9 speed crank though ans I am running an 8 speen bike can a 9 speed chain be used on a 8 speed cassette?

NoReg

"can you use a 9 speed chain on an 8 speed cassette?"

What is the serviceability of these different chains? I read somewhere that the 9s, and 10s have flush pins and a standard chain tool doesn't work. Is this this, or was this, true. How does one assemble the chain other than at the master link.

njkayaker

What speeds are you attaining on these "fast downhill runs" while actually pedaling?

Sheldon Brown says:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/speeds.html

sstorkel

As far as I know, the only chain which requires a special tool is the new Campagnolo 11-speed. I've used my Park CT-5 chain tool on single-speed, 8-speed, 9-speed, and 10-speed chains without any problems...

fietsbob

A wide ratio 6 speed freewheel, 14, 17, 20, 24, 28, 34 .. and a 50 40 24 .
worked fine on my several tours.
700c wheel 40 tire..
50/14 high is like a 95 inch wheel, [gear inches]

I like savoring down hills, and even stop in the middle of descents, to enjoy the view.

BigBlueToe

For touring, go low. Save your knees. I like a 24-tooth granny and a big cog in back - 34 is nice. Everything else follows. I'd love to have a 53-tooth big ring, but I don't know how wide a range the derailleurs could handle. What I do have is a 46-tooth big ring. It doesn't allow me to get going very fast on the flats, but I don't mind much, and I love being able to climb long, steep passes without too much knee pain.

Geo Cruise

If you are getting a lot of knee pain even on the 46 tooth you may need to raise your seat for more extension in your leg. I blew my right knee out 20 years ago playing hockey and I still have waves where I will get out my can, especially in the winter but I use my bike to lessen the pain, the non impact motion is a great way to lubricate the joint but I crank my seat up so I have full leg extension the get the most out of the exercise. that said I am going to try to use my race face triple I had for my mountian bike a 44-32-22nd a 11-32 cassette

Doug64

My wife spun out on her 44/32/22 at 30 mph just before checked the brakes at 36 mph on a local hill. We just finished building her bike and it was the maiden voyage or she may have really let her rip! You spend a lot more time going uphill than coming down. On my touring bike I am more than willing to give up that top end speed for the right gearing where I spend a larger proportion of my riding time. We used to run 48/36/24-- with an 11-34. It did well for our cross country trip, but I wanted something lower for the Pacific Coast route last year. I was really glad that I went to the moutain bike gearing. When I built our new bikes this spring and summer I put the lower gearing (44/32/22 w/11-34 on them. 28-30 mph at 90 rpm is plenty of speed on a loaded bike.

Deanster04

Agree with the ranges above 48-36-26 for your 11-32 cassette. Just came back from 2 weeks touring in the Alps and that was the setup my 2 friends used. Worked well. You don't want to have higher gearing for any loaded touring...a 53X11 is absurd for touring. If you have a square taper BB then buy a second crankset with the higher end gearing for road riding with friends. You will just need a chain with a quick link to swap out when you put the 2nd crankset on. A 9 spd chain will work with an 8spd cassette if the spacing is for a shimano cassette...

badamsjr

I was running a 24/34/52 and 11-34 9spd, but wanted lower climbing gears, so went to an XT 22/35/48 with the 11-34. It works good for climbing while towing my loaded trailer.

I went with a Surly stainless steel 35t, and a stainless steel 22t (no name) for longevity.