log in
register

I need lower gears to make climbing easier

  • Creator
    Topic
  • January 26, 2019 at 6:13 pm #29316
    Huckfinn

    Having found the (“pre-loved”) bike I’d been looking for for a while:

    https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/2014-giant-tcx-advanced-1-2014, as per title I’d like to slightly  tweek it for use in the steep hills of South-East France.

    Basically: with a setup that has a Cassette SRAM 1050 11-28 coupled with a Crankset Rotor 3DF 36/46 what are my oprions? I’d like to get just below the 1 to 1 ratio for climbing as opposed to the current 36:28=1.28.

    Any coment would be appreciated!

     

    Huck.

     

  • Creator
    Topic
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 19 total)
1 2
  • Author
    Replies
  • February 10, 2019 at 7:12 pm #934899
    0
    maviczap
    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    The issue you have with the Rotor crankset is it has 110mm BCD.

    Generally that restricts the inner ring to 34t.  Absolute Black do smaller rings, but I cannot find if these rings fit the Rotor crank-hence email enquiry.

    The road link is a cheap way to fit a larger cassette whether 11-36 or 12-36.   You might need a slightly longer chain, but fitting cass will make it clear. 

    I would approach these steps in this order

    Fit 12-36 cass and road link, check and adjust rear derailleur if needed and check all gears are possible. 

     

    Once satisfied look into modify crankset. 

     

    Email Absolute Black in the meantime for information.

    For a 5 arm 110bcd crank you can get a 33t Stronglight chainring which I have on an ultegra 6750 crankset. No one does any smaller chainrings singulaly

    Or Praxis works do a 48/32 five arm 110bcd chainring set. You have to have the pair as the 32 ring attaches to the 48t outer, it’s clever engineering to allow the use of the 32 on 110bcd.

    Cheaper than Absolute Black, which I’ve just bought for my 4 arm Dura Ace chainset in 46/30 format, but the chainrings are lovely

    February 3, 2019 at 2:48 pm #934897
    0
    Spangly Shiny

    WiFli rear mech works fine

    WiFli rear mech works fine with a 11/34 cassette, have not tried it with 11/36.

    January 28, 2019 at 8:41 pm #934895
    0
    Huckfinn

    You are a proponent of the

    You are a proponent of the “one step at the time” approach

    …wise

    thanks for that !

    January 28, 2019 at 8:06 pm #934893
    0
    CXR94Di2

    Its not too weird, but I

    Its not too weird, but I would hold off and just get the 12-36 cassette

     

    If in the future you want even lower, look at the FSA Adventure crankset.  That has a 90mm BCD and will take 30t inner chainring

    January 28, 2019 at 7:21 pm #934891
    0
    Huckfinn

    I will

    I will

    Thanks!

    In the meantime here’s response from Rotor:

    “..that crank should have a fairly standard BCD… If you are currently running a 36t ring it likely means you have a 110×5 bcd spider on that ring and you can easily put any of our 110×5 bolt chainrings on that spider. We offer down to a 34t chainring that will fit a 110bcd. A 32t ring will not fit on a 110bcd as it is a smaller diameter than the bolts would be” (….as you suggested)

    Also: “Yes, you will have no problem replacing the cassette with the 1070.”

    Cool! Now I’ll check with AbsoluteBlack

    Concerning the link I posted :https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/giant-cog-for-shimano?variant=629914645

    is it just too weird..?

    January 28, 2019 at 6:39 pm #934889
    0
    CXR94Di2

    The issue you have with the

    The issue you have with the Rotor crankset is it has 110mm BCD.

    Generally that restricts the inner ring to 34t.  Absolute Black do smaller rings, but I cannot find if these rings fit the Rotor crank-hence email enquiry.

    The road link is a cheap way to fit a larger cassette whether 11-36 or 12-36.   You might need a slightly longer chain, but fitting cass will make it clear. 

    I would approach these steps in this order

    Fit 12-36 cass and road link, check and adjust rear derailleur if needed and check all gears are possible. 

     

    Once satisfied look into modify crankset. 

     

    Email Absolute Black in the meantime for information.

    January 28, 2019 at 6:20 pm #934887
    0
    Huckfinn

    Ok

    Ok

    Let’s forget about that (but, WAIT, what about this?: https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/giant-cog-for-shimano?variant=629914645..)

    So the bottom line is 

    1- Replace the 36t in the Crankset with a 34t

    2- Replace the cassette with Powerglide 12/36

    3- Install Roadlink and check chain compatibility

    …..That’s all, right?

    AND/OR: Can I go smaller than 34t in the Crankset? 

    January 28, 2019 at 6:09 pm #934885
    0
    CXR94Di2

    Not in 10 speed.  If you

    Not in 10 speed.  If you wanted more, it then involves new 11 speed shifters derailleur and cassette.

    January 28, 2019 at 5:53 pm #934883
    0
    Huckfinn

    Thanks for the suggestion!

    Thanks for the suggestion!

    I’ll check with Sram about compatibility.

    That would be the Powerglide PG-1070 right? (55Euros is perfectly fine)

    Can you get any higher than 36..?

     

    January 28, 2019 at 5:44 pm #934881
    0
    Fish_n_Chips

    Check the rear mech gear

    Check the rear mech gear range.

    Change the inner ring.

    Check chain tension/length/adjust.

    Build legs up by intervals up a hill.

    Recover and eat well.

    January 28, 2019 at 4:41 pm #934879
    0
    CXR94Di2
    Huckfinn wrote:
    “Youve bought bike, modify away”

    cheeky

    At the beginning you said:”…swap the inner chainring to 34t.  Swap the cass PG1030 11-36 10 speed.”

    That’d be just fine!  ok, if 34 inner chainring is sufficient.

    What is the roadlink for (& would I need it even if I kept the existing 36tchainring)? The Road Link is a small bracket which lowers the derailleur- allowing bigger cassette to be fitted eg 11-36

    +

    Do you think I’d have to also swap the shifters or whatever the mechanism is called?   No the shifters stay the same because you are staying with 10 speed.  The bike is currently 10 speed

     

     

    See my comments

    January 28, 2019 at 3:20 pm #934877
    0
    alansmurphy

    Just as a word of advice, if

    Just as a word of advice, if you’re going for more climbing gears you really need to look at your gears past the midway point. I added a 34 or 36t rear cog onto an 8 speed when recovering from injury so had a 34t front and 11/34or36 rear, it was horrible.

     

    The jumps between cogs made the next gear up from the easiest ffel like you were climbing in the worlds toughest gear. You either need a 10/11 speed cassette or be prepared to drop the 11t 13t etc. cogs!

     

    January 28, 2019 at 3:05 pm #934875
    0
    Huckfinn

    “Youve bought bike, modify

    “Youve bought bike, modify away”

    cheeky

    At the beginning you said:”…swap the inner chainring to 34t.  Swap the cass PG1030 11-36 10 speed.”

    That’d be just fine!

    What is the roadlink for (& would I need it even if I kept the existing 36tchainring)?

    +

    Do you think I’d have to also swap the shifters or whatever the mechanism is called?

     

    January 28, 2019 at 2:47 pm #934873
    0
    CXR94Di2

    You would need to email

    You would need to email Absolute Black to confirm which of their sub compact chainring fits the Rotor crank .   If they dont fit and you still want 30-36 combination, it will involve crankset change(possible bottom bracket bearings) too.  

     

    As per previous thread, its a case of buying a bike and modifications or frameset- build your own.  Youve bought bike, modify away

    January 27, 2019 at 5:05 pm #934871
    0
    Huckfinn

    Hi,

    Hi,

    thanks for that! (by the way, In The Court Of The Crimson King, , brings back nice memories!!).

    Anyway, I notice on their page that the WiFli only supports up to 32t. Is that correct?

    PS: what about something like the AbsoluteBlack 46/30 sub-compact chainrings. I could replace the current chainrings with that (or maybe just the 36t with any 30t one)?

    AND replace as suggested the cassette with a  PG1030 11-36?

    30 chainring with 36 at back seems excellent for climbing!!

     

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 19 total)
1 2
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.