B
Bonge Boo
Guest
I hope someone has some suggestion on how I should best proceed?
After a very very long time off the bike, I recently started riding my
ancient mountain bike again. However off-road isn't an option any more,
so I decided to get a racer so I could go faster and further. Commuting
to work (2.5 miles) is the plan. I have some steep hills around me.
Ebay came up trumps and I got myself a slightly scruffy, but
mechanically sound Specialized Allez. It's great! Apart from the fact
that the gears are way to long. You'd need to live in Holland to make
use of the gearing, unless you've got the thighs of Ullrich and oxygen
carrying capacity of Armstrong...
Today I decided to see how feasible it would be to ride to work. Getting
there is great. Getting back is purgatory. I was on the lowest gear and
couldn't possibly do anything but stand up and stamp on the pedals.
Really exhausting, bad for the joints, etc.
The bike has a Sora 2005 groupset, apart from a 9 speed Tiagra rear
mech. Chainset is a 52x39 and the cassette is a 12-25.
Having done these rides on my mountain bike, which has a front 48x38x28
and 12-30 rear, I frequently have to get in the lowest gear and just
spin up the hills.
So my question is really this. What is the most cost effective way of
getting myself some gearing that is going to be more usable? If I could
get to near a 1:1 ratio I'll be fine.
I believe that if I try to put a triple on the front I'll have to
replace the chainset, mech and STI lever? Is that right?
So another alternative might be to swap the rear cassette with an
8-speed 34 tooth "mega-range" and put a MTB rear mech on it? That would
mean a new chain as well I s/pose.
Alternatively I could try to find a much smaller front chainring. I
reckon a 30x44 would do the job nicely. But I'm guessing that will balls
up the STI?
Help! Any suggestions gratefully received.
After a very very long time off the bike, I recently started riding my
ancient mountain bike again. However off-road isn't an option any more,
so I decided to get a racer so I could go faster and further. Commuting
to work (2.5 miles) is the plan. I have some steep hills around me.
Ebay came up trumps and I got myself a slightly scruffy, but
mechanically sound Specialized Allez. It's great! Apart from the fact
that the gears are way to long. You'd need to live in Holland to make
use of the gearing, unless you've got the thighs of Ullrich and oxygen
carrying capacity of Armstrong...
Today I decided to see how feasible it would be to ride to work. Getting
there is great. Getting back is purgatory. I was on the lowest gear and
couldn't possibly do anything but stand up and stamp on the pedals.
Really exhausting, bad for the joints, etc.
The bike has a Sora 2005 groupset, apart from a 9 speed Tiagra rear
mech. Chainset is a 52x39 and the cassette is a 12-25.
Having done these rides on my mountain bike, which has a front 48x38x28
and 12-30 rear, I frequently have to get in the lowest gear and just
spin up the hills.
So my question is really this. What is the most cost effective way of
getting myself some gearing that is going to be more usable? If I could
get to near a 1:1 ratio I'll be fine.
I believe that if I try to put a triple on the front I'll have to
replace the chainset, mech and STI lever? Is that right?
So another alternative might be to swap the rear cassette with an
8-speed 34 tooth "mega-range" and put a MTB rear mech on it? That would
mean a new chain as well I s/pose.
Alternatively I could try to find a much smaller front chainring. I
reckon a 30x44 would do the job nicely. But I'm guessing that will balls
up the STI?
Help! Any suggestions gratefully received.