Lower gearing options?
 

I have a 2014 Specialized Tricross. It has Sora 9 speed components on it. I've been using it as my gravel bike and it has worked well. But the gearing is too high for me. It has a 50/34 crank and 11/32 9 speed cassette.

What are my options for going with lower gearing? Mainly wanting to go up to something like a 11-42 in the back. I'm not opposed to changing the crank as well. I had looked at switching the whole thing over to GRX or something but with what I'd spend I'd be better off just buying a new bike. I don't mind spending a little money. I just don't want to go crazy.

Your Sora rear derailleur will probably not work with a 42 tooth cassette, so you will at least have to change your rear derailleur.

There are also derailleur hanger extensions that adapt derailleurs to work with larger cogs.

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/...ducts/roadlink
Says it allows up to 40 tooth cassette.

Switching the crankset gets my vote. Smaller rings would drop your gearing across the board, and you wouldn't need to change the cassette or rear derailleur. Only concern would be if the front derailleur can move low enough to shift it.

Concur. I think Sheldon Brown said something like brazed on front derailers are an invention of the devil, because you can't lower the derailer to make it work with smaller rings. Curvature may be wrong, but it'll still often work (just not quite as well) with the smaller rings. Not sure what's on OP's bike, though.

Agree with above about chainrings. I used to have a "30" that worked with my five bolt (AIR) crank. Perhaps there's something that will fit yours, whatever it is.

If you are thinking about changing cranksets, seriously consider a triple. You may need a new front derailleur and shifters but what you get in return are great gear choices. With (say) a 50-38-24 you can run a 12-25 9-speed, have lower than 1:1 and gear choices all the time including on long climbs.

Ben

What is the BCD on your crank? Something like a 30-46 up front and say a 34 or 36 rear would work.

Thanks. I think it will go low enough. I don't have the bike in front of me, but just from what I recall I think there is plenty of room to move it down.

I believe it's 110. Here is the link to the bike if that helps - https://www.specialized.com/us/en/tr...t-disc/p/49858

New crank - smaller double or triple. 46-30 "gravel" crank or if you need lower a 44-32-22 mountain crank. If you get a triple you can get a Sora triple front shifter.

What do I need to look for to make sure a crank will fit? I was looking at something like this but not sure if it will work. https://shop.fullspeedahead.com/en/omega-crankset-4659

I see that it has a braze-on front derailleur mount. That might limit the size of your smallest or even larges chainring if you change the chainring or crankset.

If it's possible to fit it with your existing front derailleur mount, I think a smaller crankset will work better for you and be the most economical fix for you.

Good luck and cheers

I see it's available with 46-30 rings. You realize it's a 10 or 11 speed compatible crankset? I'm not sure but you might need to get a 10 speed chain if the 9-speed one doesn't work well with it. However it should be compatible with you existing front derailleur mount.

Cheers

My bike originally came with a standard triple. Wanting lower gearing, I had a local shop install a compact triple. And yep, the curvature of the derailleur in front was off resulting in poor shifting. I'm not averse to modifying equipment so I marked the front cage with a sharpy and ground away with a Dremel tool, maybe 1/16 inch, until the curve more closely matched the 50 T chain ring and could then be lowered closer to the recommended thickness of a dime, maybe 1 mm. Shifting was improved somewhat but improved much better when I closed up the cage slightly with visegrips.

Many rear derailleurs are designed to accommodate a max of 34T on the cassette. That won't help much.

I'd take it to a bike shop and ask them what you need to replace the stock chainring or crankset with a 46/30 unit if that is practical. Sometimes it's worth paying them to do it. While I'm happy with my 48/38/28 triple, It came with the bike. Converting yours over might create more problems then its worth.

This would provide a low gear down to about 25 gear inches. This should be fine for most situations one would use a gravel bike.

There are made adapters to lower a braze-on FD: https://wickwerks.com/products/fit-link-adapter/
You might also be able to install a band-mount derailleur below the braze-on mount.

Thanks. That's a nice idea but wow! $44.50 USD? I'd be very tempted to just cut off the braze-on mount and then use a clamp-on derailleur.

Cheers

Hello All, Good subject. I'm using Sora 3500 drive train on my climbing bike. The RD is a 3500 GS, Shimano specs say 32T is the largest , but I installed a 11x36 and only turned in the "B" screw a few turns and worked perfectly. My 73 year old legs are looking to the future . I was considering a GRX 30/46 (10 speed), but couldn't justify the cost , till last night , while looking through Biketiresdirect, and they have the GRX 30/46 (10 speed) on sale for $90, plus I have a $10 credit, and I jumped on it, free shipping. It's in the mail. Total capacity for the Sora 3500 is 41T and that's exactly what I'll have, with this setup .

This will take me from a 25 GI to a 22 GI. which will serve my legs well. If the 10 speed crank set chain rings are to closely spaced, I have some 0.6mm chainring spacers to solve the problem. I'm assuming the OP has Hollowtech II BB. KB.

OMG: I't now $119. I got it on a "Gold Member" 1 day sale, but still a good price at $119. KB

I would do the same. Actually I already have! even a 30 front 34 rear is pretty low and I would do that first then consider a cassette change after that if not low enough. The "Sub Compact" cranks are available from Easton, FSA, and a few others... 9-speed is a good drivetrain to work with as road & mountain components are cross compatible.

OK, just got the GRX 30/46 , 10 spd. Crank set. Works perfectly with my Sora RD/FD , with 11x36 cassette. Nine spd chain works great with the 10 spd crank set, too. Now if the weather will warmup a bite, I can't wait to try out some local hills . KB

Bringing your gear inches down to about 22.5 from 28.7 ought to make a big difference on tough hills. A low gear of 21.4 gear inches on my Giant Sedona is enough to climb a rather steep hill nearby of soft gravel and loose stone. Pavement or packed gravel would be noticeably easier.

Happy climbing!

Thanks, I knew GRX came in 11 speed, but when I saw it also came in 10 speed, I started shopping. Now I need a break in the weather , to try it out. This should keep my legs happy for a few more years.

Next upgrade , will be a Wolf Tooth Road Link and install a 40 or 42 cassette.