Carrera TDF Limited Edition 2013 (I think!) - The Wrong Gear?

[Big_Dave]

The "right gearing" is the be all and end all in my opinion, I converted my TDF to 3x10 with 30/42/52 front and 11-32 rear in the summer, it has transformed the bike, I have just geared it down further to 28/39/50 on the front, best thing I ever did was get rid of the stock gearing, I converted it straight out of the box to 3x8, 30/42/52 & 11-32 cassette before going 3x10, If I had to choose lighter wheels or better gearing then it would be gearing first every time, my other road bike is an old steel Raleigh (also 3x10) and is a kilo lighter than the TDF yes the Raleigh is marginally quicker by a couple minutes over say 30 miles or so but nothing to write home about, my advice is get the gearing sorted first as it makes the rides much more enjoyable. Triples are a bit out of fashion these days but I swear by them.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Nice, they will make the bike a little lighter (maybe 1lb )and go for it if you can but the weight saving will only help slightly and a more effective upgrade will be a gearing change, a quick method would be a longer cage rear mech, wider range cassette + chain or as already stated above a new BB and compact chainset .

Triple, better option as normal double and a low range if needed and closer grouping of the cassette.

 

[cyberknight]

Triple, better option as normal double and a low range if needed and closer grouping of the cassette.

Granny legs
Each to their own mate, i like a 50/36 compact with a 12-25 but everyone's legs are different.

 

[Big_Dave]

Granny legs
Each to their own mate, i like a 50/36 compact with a 12-25 but everyone's legs are different.

they would have been granny gears back in the 80's lol 42/52 14-24 real men's gears, *...trundles off thinking thank god they invented triples*

 

[cyberknight]

Read the whole thread, i used to ride 52/42 with a 13- 19 .

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Granny legs
Each to their own mate, i like a 50/36 compact with a 12-25 but everyone's legs are different.

Not at all, I could gear a triple with more useful gears and have the same range as any double ( I choose not too), having said that I very rarely have to drop off the 38 ring, in fact I very rarely have to change to the 50th. I just don't like big jumps between the rear gears, but newbies see it as a weakness without fully understanding the implications, besides I have a 4+kg disadvantage over a many bikes to start with. and thats my best road bike.

 

[cyberknight]

Yes you have more usable gears , i was not disputing that all i said was everyone's legs are different and find what works for them .Its also good to be able to apply effective power at different cadences .