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Old 05-27-19, 07:56 AM
  #20  
xroadcharlie
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Windsor Ontario, Canada
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Bikes: 2018 Giant Sedona

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I think nearly every triple chainring bike on this thread goes low enough even for those over 60 to cover 90% of our riding. But if the idea is to keep on the middle ring for most of our riding, It's effectiveness will depend on the cassette. The OP's 42 middle chainring might be fine with a cassette's 38 - 42 sprocket for the lowest gear. However...

My X-Trail bike has a 48/38/28 triple chainring with a 14 - 34 7 speed cassette. So the range is fine for this 62 year old recreational rider 90% of the time. The problem is the 10 tooth jump from 24 - 34 on the cassette. If I want anything close to reasonable changes in ratio's, I'm limited to the 14 - 24 cassette sprockets. That still OK because I don't have any long enough rides up moderate hills, But If I had some longer hills, Or soft gravel to ride on I would need lower gears.

I see many new Hybrid/Road bikes come with a 48/38/28 or 48/36/26 chainring. That should be fine with a 8+ speed cassette with evenly spaced sprockets to 32T.
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