Need to change gearing on beloved Croix de Fer 20

[SonR]

Hi - I'm new to cycle chat.
Am 60 year old woman, carrying a little too much around middle, who loves cycle touring (only started 5 years ago on and off). Just returned from cycling just above Lisbon on my lovely steel Croix de Fer 20 bought in April and I dont want to part with it. Lovely part of the world but hilly - after having to walk halfway up 2 very steep hills out of Ericeira and Sintra I wondered if there is any way I can lower the gearing further on the bike without having to pay 2/3rd of original cost of bike!. Looking at the amount of e-bikes for hire in the area it gives you some indication of the terrain . I should have known but I don't want to let steepness put me off! Currently the front rings are 50/34 and rear cassette is 11/34. The bike shop has suggested I could go down to 50/32 and can't go any lower on the rear cogs. I fear that even 50/32 will still be too much for me on steep terrain. Has anyone got same bike and managed to further lower their gearing and if so could you point me in right correction ... hubby not bad at helping rebuild but we are both novices really.
Many thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Mo1959]

I believe there are a couple of sub compact chainsets available, but whether the cost would be prohibitive I'm not sure. A lot of the Specialized bikes do a 48/32 chainset and some of the Felt bikes even do a 46/30, FSA chainsets if I remember correctly. I presume another alternative might be a triple chainset with more mountain bike gearing but I'm not proficient enough to know if this would be doable or not.

I can appreciate your problem. After several back problems and also putting on a bit of weight I am also having similar thoughts.

 

[Crackle]

You limiting factor is probably your rear dérailleur which will most likely have a 32 tooth maximum rear sprocket and a 14/16tooth front chainring difference, so going to 32 is already pushing it.

it depends how much you want to spend but changing the rear dérailleur, the rear cassette and possibly the front chainset rings to a 48/32 will cost near a hundred pounds.

As suggested by Mo you can buy another chainset to replace the existing one but again the front derailleur may need changing, so still in the region of a hundred pounds in parts plus labour costs for the bike shop to do it if you can't.

All that said, if you're touring, there's nothing wrong with the occasional 'picture' stop.

 

[Cycleops]

The easiest option might be changing the chainset to a triple. I think you may be able to do it all for a little more than a hundred quid in parts.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/shimano-deore-9-speed-chainset-170mm-44-32-22-id_8098671.html
Comes with bottom bracket.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triple-tz31-front-derailleur-id_3343354.html
They also do a B'twin triple front for about the same price.
You'll also need a new LH shifter:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/shimano-sora-3500-left-lever-triple-id_8224636.html

If you want to do it yourself it's fairly easy. You'll need a hollowtech bb tool *, (should include a plastic star tool for tensioning the LH crank) Allen keys, pliers and a chain tool for shortening the chain. I recently did the same job and it took me an hour.
* http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tool-h...k-arm-tool-1?sku=5360101464&source=igodigital

 

[the snail]

Another option might be to get a triple crankset and BB from somewhere like Spa Cycles and use the inner two rings with a chainring guard in place of the big ring.
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s109p3383/SPA-CYCLES-TD-2-Super-Compact-Chainset-with-Zicral-Rings

 

[MichaelW2]

FSA Super Compact _46/30 is the smallest double you can buy off the shelf.

 

[pclay]

Or.... Get a Wolftooth Roadlink. you can then put a 40 tooth rear cassette on your bike without changing the rear derailleur.

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/derailleur-optimization/products/roadlink

 

[TheDoctor]

I assume it's a 10 speed rear? 11/12-36T cassettes are available, but it might involve a new rear mech. Once you're down towards / past a 1:1 gear ratio, it's often just as quick to walk, as I find balancing a bike at 5 mph is a bit tricky. I doubt you'll get a 32T inner ring onto a compact chainset, and to be honest, dropping a couple of teeth on the front won't make a huge difference. Getting a super compact or using the inner two rings of a triple would be better.
Either way, kudos for getting out there!

 

[TeeShot]

Another option might be to get a triple crankset and BB from somewhere like Spa Cycles and use the inner two rings with a chainring guard in place of the big ring.
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s109p3383/SPA-CYCLES-TD-2-Super-Compact-Chainset-with-Zicral-Rings

I'd second the Spa super compact route. Fitted a 42/26 to my Spa Audax nearly 12 months ago. (11/32 at the back) New square taper bottom bracket, shorten the chain a bit and drop the front mech a few mm. Bob's your uncle!!
Just finished a coast to coast with panniers and rack bag and was very glad of my low gears

 

[winjim]

I'd second the Spa super compact route. Fitted a 42/26 to my Spa Audax nearly 12 months ago. (11/32 at the back) New square taper bottom bracket, shorten the chain a bit and drop the front mech a few mm. Bob's your uncle!!
Just finished a coast to coast with panniers and rack bag and was very glad of my low gears

What front mech are you using with that? Does it shift OK?

 

[TeeShot]

What front mech are you using with that? Does it shift OK?

SRAM Rival.
Works a treat

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I'd second the Spa super compact route. Fitted a 42/26 to my Spa Audax nearly 12 months ago. (11/32 at the back) New square taper bottom bracket, shorten the chain a bit and drop the front mech a few mm. Bob's your uncle!!
Just finished a coast to coast with panniers and rack bag and was very glad of my low gears

Thirded.

cf Anne's 853 Shropshire Special on here for a practical application:

http://www.beaumontbicycle.com/

 

[MichaelW2]

Once you're down towards / past a 1:1 gear ratio, it's often just as quick to walk, as I find balancing a bike at 5 mph is a bit tricky.

I find that on very steep slopes, 2mph is quite rideable in a very low mtb gear on a loaded touring bike. It certainly beats pushing a bike uphill.

 

[winjim]

SRAM Rival.
Works a treat

That's handy to know. I have been considering doing this exact thing but thought I might need to faff about with a triple mech or something. I might just see if it works with the Campagnolo double mech I have on the bike already.

 

[CharlesF]

I would also thoroughly recommend Spa Cycles. If you can't visit them, phone and tell them your current setup. Spa Cycles suggested one of their super compact chain sets, the only additional part needed was a new bottom bracket. Everything else remained unchanged, I didn't have to adjust the front mech or change the chain.