Gearing

[Nigelnaturist]

The gears are on two different bikes.

Basically I've borrowed an old Vanquish that has the gearing 52/39 and 12/23. My new bike has the 53/39 and 12/25 setup. I will not touch the old bike but maybe looking to replace the 12/25 with a new 11/28 cassette that was ll.

I can't be 100% on this but it should still take a 38 inner ring, as most modern doubles do a 16th cap, I can get 12 difference between front gears easily on my triple.
Depending on sp but starting at 12 might be a better idea, not many people use a 53x11 =126" though options are getting less on choice these days, but I don't like big gaps on my rear cassette.

 

[TheDoctor]

Changing a 39T for 38T is pointless, as the difference would be too small to notice. I'd get a 12 - 28 or 30 cassette on.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Are you racing? Because those are ratios for racing.

Since when?

 

[gasinayr]

Here is a handy gear calculating chart that you can use to see what different chainrings / cogs will work out at
whycycle.co.uk/bike-gear-calculator/

 

[Ian H]

Since when?

A bit of reading around the subject will provide context for my comment.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

A bit of reading around the subject will provide context for my comment.

Not when your comment was nonsense.

 

[Ian H]

You have your point of view.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Changing a 39T for 38T is pointless, as the difference would be too small to notice. I'd get a 12 - 28 or 30 cassette on.

Not so, as gives different options, if you are looking to lower the gearing, as you could then have a 50th outer if you wish, the problem with going to larger rear i.e. 30 is the ratios start to get rather large, I really notice not having an 18th, my 38th front on my 12-23 gives me 43.5-83" the 39 44.5-85.5, it all depends what you are trying to achieve.
I personally believe there are not enough cassettes starting at 12th instead of 11th a 50x12 will give 110" more than enough for most people, giving the options to have a wider cassette range and closer ratios, instead of something like 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-28, both the 15-17 and 17-19 are quite large gaps.
My next change will probably be from 38 to 39 for a slightly higher 12th, being a triple the low end is not so important.

 

[earlestownflya]

climbing is always going to be hard...that's part of the game..if you're getting up climbs without getting off..what's the problem?

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Better as faster? Or better as easier?

I am a big guy and suffer a lot on the hills.. Me my personal option for hills and even on flats is 50/34 on the front and 11/30 on the back.. I can do very much everything with this set up...

But fast? What is fast?

 

[Andywinds]

On some climbs with 53/39 12/25 I have no choice but to get off the saddle, even then I went as slow as 3mph. I am not interested in being fast uphill, I just want to make it without feeling like I am going to die. So I have just purchased a 11/28 to replace the 12/25. I've read some reviews where some riders felt a decent enough improvement, I was paraphrasing there.

I am also not a small rider.

Better as faster? Or better as easier?

I am a big guy and suffer a lot on the hills.. Me my personal option for hills and even on flats is 50/34 on the front and 11/30 on the back.. I can do very much everything with this set up...

But fast? What is fast?

 

[earlestownflya]

tha

On some climbs with 53/39 12/25 I have no choice but to get off the saddle, even then I went as slow as 3mph. I am not interested in being fast uphill, I just want to make it without feeling like I am going to die. So I have just purchased a 11/28 to replace the 12/25. I've read some reviews where some riders felt a decent enough improvement, I was paraphrasing there.

I am also not a small rider.

just try and get the biggest sprocket you can on the back..you may have to change to a long cage derailleur in order to do this...alternatively get a compact chainset 50/34

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

On some climbs with 53/39 12/25 I have no choice but to get off the saddle, even then I went as slow as 3mph. I am not interested in being fast uphill, I just want to make it without feeling like I am going to die. So I have just purchased a 11/28 to replace the 12/25. I've read some reviews where some riders felt a decent enough improvement, I was paraphrasing there.

I am also not a small rider.

A friend of mine that lives in geneva and does a lot of Alpine climbing says "better have it and don't use it, then need it and don't have it" he is a great climber and has a triple with a 30 cog in the back..!

 

[Andywinds]

The new cassette will arrive tomorrow or Wednesday so I will let you know if I have wasted £40.

 

[Venod]

"better have it and don't use it, then need it and don't have it"

Couldn't agree more.