Do I need a new cog set?

[Allan]

I'm new to mountain biking and I'm okay at it except for steep climbs. Aside from developing the
proper cadence and optimum climbing body position with practice, I can't help but think that a 32 or
34 tooth rear cog would help over my 28 tooth granny gear. I find myself straining to keep the
cranks spinning steadily (my guess is in the 60 to 70 rpm range depending on the hill) and then I
bail or blow up. Will getting a larger cog help or should I keep my old 28 and concentrate on the
developing the legs, skills, and fitness?

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[Jim Edgar]

Allan at [email protected] wrote on 8/24/03 8:48 PM:

> I'm new to mountain biking and I'm okay at it except for steep climbs. Aside from developing the
> proper cadence and optimum climbing body position with practice, I can't help but think that a 32
> or 34 tooth rear cog would help over my 28 tooth granny gear.

(Just to confirm, you _don't_ mean that your smallest front chainring is a 28, do you? )

> I find myself straining to keep the cranks spinning steadily (my guess is in the 60 to 70 rpm
> range depending on the hill) and then I bail or blow up. Will getting a larger cog help or should
> I keep my old 28 and concentrate on the developing the legs, skills, and fitness?

You don't say what your actual gearing is up front, but a 28 tooth rear cog seems to be an
unnecessary impediment to your enjoyment.

If you run a 12-32 or 12-34, the worst thing that happens is that you don't use your small chainring
up front too often. Go for it.

Your knees will thank you, too.

-- Jim

 

[Mike Kruger]

"Jim Edgar" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:BB6FFA9E.4EF38%[email protected]...
> Allan at [email protected] wrote on 8/24/03 8:48 PM:
>
> > I'm new to mountain biking and I'm okay at it except for steep climbs. Aside from developing the
> > proper cadence and optimum climbing body
position
> > with practice, I can't help but think that a 32 or 34 tooth rear cog
would
> > help over my 28 tooth granny gear.
>
> If you run a 12-32 or 12-34, the worst thing that happens is that you
don't
> use your small chainring up front too often. Go for it.
>
> Your knees will thank you, too.

He MIGHT need a new rear derailleur to handle that 34 in the back; that seems to be the case with
the Shimano "Megaranges".

Sounds like a good idea. It can't really hurt, and if Allan masters this set of hills and doesn't
need the 34 any more, there are always steeper hills somewhere else.