Gears - need more than (9speed) 11/34 and 34/46 -help???

[numbum]

Have just got back from cycling in the Peaks on my new Giant TCX in practice for w2w and found that my top gear of 34/34 wasn't enough (am fit but have to be careful with my knee)...to get up some of the hills..

This is worsened by the lack of clearance between the front mudguard (1cm!!) and pedal so I can't weave without catching my foot...

I've hunted through websites but 34/11 seems to be the widest ratio I can find . I can get a 32 small chain wheel...is that worth the money? I wanted a triple originally with a granny gear but the tcx doesn't come with a triple. How difficult is it to convertfrom double to triple?

Have had a long MTB derailleur arm fitted so there is scope there.

I am contemplating cancelling the w2w if I can't sort out my gears - would really appreciate some help

thanks

Caroline

 

[RedBike]

This is worsened by the lack of clearance between the front mudguard (1cm!!) and pedal so I can't weave without catching my foot...

Thats more than enough. In practice if you're travelling at any sort of speed then you'll never turn the bars far enough for your foot to ever catch. You might (rather unlikely) catch your foot at junctions but this shouldn't be a problem. Its very common for smaller bikes to have a bit of toe overlap.

I've hunted through websites but 34/11 seems to be the widest ratio I can find . I can get a 32 small chain wheel...is that worth the money? I wanted a triple originally with a granny gear but the tcx doesn't come with a triple. How difficult is it to convertfrom double to triple?

It all depends on your shifters. Hopefully you'll just need a new chainset,chain and front mech. Your existing front mech might not change from a 32 to a 50(?) chainring correctly.

I am contemplating cancelling the w2w if I can't sort out my gears - would really appreciate some help

I don't think there's any need to cancel. That sounds like a bit of an over reaction to me. How many hills like those in the peaks will you come across? Is there any reason why you can't just push up them?

 

[numbnuts]

they do a 12-36 here
http://www.madison.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?catref=CSHG619236
cheaper here
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=31059

 

[jimboalee]

Another opportunity for the 'Eddy quote',,,,

"Don't ride upgrades, ride up grades".

 

[numbum]

HI

At speed the toe clearance isn't an issue. However, going up steep inclines the toe clearance is a night mare - I've caught mudguards several times and the the whole mudguard gets wrapped up in the wheel.. Going up a steep hill if you wobble at all the guard catches...wraps up and you're off!..

I have sora shifters which look like they might be able to do a third chain wheel - I think I read they can somewhere.

W2w(whitby) is being done in 3 days with agroup - 60+ miles a day..Day 2 there is a long hill climbing 300m over 8km (a long walk)which is my concern especially as I've been out of training for a few weeks with a knee injury I got climbing hills..hence the concern over gears.

C

 

[RedBike]

At speed the toe clearance isn't an issue. However, going up steep inclines the toe clearance is a night mare - I've caught mudguards several times and the the whole mudguard gets wrapped up in the wheel.. Going up a steep hill if you wobble at all the guard catches...wraps up and you're off!..

Both my road bikes suffer from toe overlap. My fixie should in theory be a nightmare as I can't exactly stop pedalling to avoid it. However, in practice my foot has only caught the mud-guard once. Then all that happened was I couldn't turn the bars as much as I would of liked until my foot was out of the way.
If you're turning your bars and wobbling that much while climbing then you really might be better off walking.

I have sora shifters which look like they might be able to do a third chain wheel - I think I read they can somewhere.

Most Shimano shifters will take either a double or a triple but some Sora shifters are double/triple specific.

W2w(whitby) is being done in 3 days with agroup - 60+ miles a day..Day 2 there is a long hill climbing 300m over 8km (a long walk)which is my concern especially as I've been out of training for a few weeks with a knee injury I got climbing hills..hence the concern over gears.

Nothing wrong with a walk now and then. If you're using a gear ratio lower than 1:1 you probably wont be much quicker than walking pace anyway.

 

[Joe24]

Then take the mudguards off then!!!!!!!

 

[gbb]

Have just got back from cycling in the Peaks on my new Giant TCX in practice for w2w and found that my top gear of 34/34 wasn't enough (am fit but have to be careful with my knee)...to get up some of the hills..

This is worsened by the lack of clearance between the front mudguard (1cm!!) and pedal so I can't weave without catching my foot...

I've hunted through websites but 34/11 seems to be the widest ratio I can find . I can get a 32 small chain wheel...is that worth the money? I wanted a triple originally with a granny gear but the tcx doesn't come with a triple. How difficult is it to convertfrom double to triple?

Have had a long MTB derailleur arm fitted so there is scope there.

I am contemplating cancelling the w2w if I can't sort out my gears - would really appreciate some help

thanks

Caroline

If you're using clipless and SPD shoes, can the cleat be moved forward on the shoes...this will take your toes further back on the pedals and back from the wheel. There is usually some adjustment.

 

[jimboalee]

If you're using clipless and SPD shoes, can the cleat be moved forward on the shoes...this will take your toes further back on the pedals and back from the wheel. There is usually some adjustment.

Don't do this.
It will move the optimum pressure point of your sole away from the pedal axle.
Cyclists strive for a long time to find the correct cleat position for their style. Once you've found it, keep it.

 

[GrahamG]

I hate toe overlap too. a 1:1 gear is pretty much as low as it gets without going MTB on the gears, don't worry about it - just practise spinning away and there's no shame in getting off and walking, if only just to give your knees a break for 5 minutes.