Need help lowering gear ratios

[toffee]

Mrs T's new bike has a Shimano FC-R453 50/39/30 chainset with a 11-32 rear cassette. Her previous bike was 48/36/26 at the front and the same rear as now. All components are Sora 9 speed with a Octalink BB.

I need to lower the gearing closer to what she had before as the current set up is hampering her on the steepest hills, that is over 10%.

Can someone point me in the right direction of which is the best way to go. Is it best to replace the 30t chainring with a 26t and will the FD cope ok or change the cassette for a 11-34 and will the RD cope?

Or is a new chainset called for and which one?

Thanks for any help

Derek

 

[toffee]

[QUOTE 4221292, member: 9609"]does her new bike have the same size wheels ?
changing the rear cassette so you have a 34 instead of a 32 will not make much of a difference, 6% that's like half a gear.
changing the chain ring from 30 to 26 will give her an extra 15% which is a little bit more than a full gear lower, and providing the wheels are the same size will give her what she had before.
I would do both and that would add up tp 22.6% and that really would make a notable difference.[/QUOTE]
Both sets of wheels are 700. Any idea about problems of 50/39/26 such as problems changing gear.

Derek

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Both sets of wheels are 700. Any idea about problems of 50/39/26 such as problems changing gear.

Derek

No problem at all. I did similar thing on my winter bike. From 52/42/30 to 48/39/26 I could have gone to 48/38/24 but I didn't

 

[toffee]

So if I want to replace the just the 30t ring where can I get one? I would be gratefully if someone can point me in the right direction as the right one isn't jumping out at me when I do a search.

Thanks

Derek

 

[Dogtrousers]

So if I want to replace the just the 30t ring where can I get one? I would be gratefully if someone can point me in the right direction as the right one isn't jumping out at me when I do a search.

Thanks

Derek

Spa Cycles carry a wide range of chain rings. Worth a look: Www.spacycles.co.uk

 

[Ian H]

Spa Cycles are brilliant if you need bespoke chainring sizes.

 

[toffee]

Spa Cycles are brilliant if you need bespoke chainring sizes.

I hope so because their website is not clear. I have dropped them a line, so will just wait till I get a reply from them.

Thanks all

Derek

 

[fossyant]

SJS Cycles are also good. Ribble also

 

[Venod]

Whats the BCD? (Bolt Circle Diameter)

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?show=3056

 

[Ian H]

I hope so because their website is not clear. I have dropped them a line, so will just wait till I get a reply from them.

Thanks all

Derek

You need Products/Components/Gears/Chainrings and look under either TA or Spa, depending what the BCD of your rings is. TA has the greater range.

 

[toffee]

Whats the BCD? (Bolt Circle Diameter)

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?show=3056

BCD is 130

Derek

 

[Venod]

BCD is 130

Are you sure ? the inner may be a different size

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-bcd.html

 

[toffee]

Are you sure ? the inner may be a different size

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-bcd.html

No

I assume it is 74 then.

Derek

 

[Venod]

If it's r453 as the chart above it would be 74 and the ring I linked to from Spa should be OK, other brands are available.

 

[toffee]

If it's r453 as the chart above it would be 74 and the ring I linked to from Spa should be OK, other brands are available.

Thanks for that.

Derek