Changing chainrings for gravel
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Changing chainrings for gravel
HI all!.
I just picked up a used CX bike that I will be using for gravel and winter riding, it is all SRAM and is 2x10. It currently has a 52/36 and 11/26 on it, not ideal for gravel.
The crank/chainrings are 110bcd. I would like to go 48/32 or even 46/32, and 12/30 or 32 on the back.
I am looking to keep things as budget friendly as possible as its not a fancy bike and I don't want to sink a lot of money into it. The areas that I ride are very flat, very little climbing.
Can I get away with just swapping the rings and adjusting the front derailleur and throwing a new cassette on? I think the rear derailleur says it will accomodate 28t but I hear these can go higher.
Thanks!
I just picked up a used CX bike that I will be using for gravel and winter riding, it is all SRAM and is 2x10. It currently has a 52/36 and 11/26 on it, not ideal for gravel.
The crank/chainrings are 110bcd. I would like to go 48/32 or even 46/32, and 12/30 or 32 on the back.
I am looking to keep things as budget friendly as possible as its not a fancy bike and I don't want to sink a lot of money into it. The areas that I ride are very flat, very little climbing.
Can I get away with just swapping the rings and adjusting the front derailleur and throwing a new cassette on? I think the rear derailleur says it will accomodate 28t but I hear these can go higher.
Thanks!
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HI all!.
I just picked up a used CX bike that I will be using for gravel and winter riding, it is all SRAM and is 2x10. It currently has a 52/36 and 11/26 on it, not ideal for gravel.
The crank/chainrings are 110bcd. I would like to go 48/32 or even 46/32, and 12/30 or 32 on the back.
I am looking to keep things as budget friendly as possible as its not a fancy bike and I don't want to sink a lot of money into it. The areas that I ride are very flat, very little climbing.
Can I get away with just swapping the rings and adjusting the front derailleur and throwing a new cassette on? I think the rear derailleur says it will accommodate 28t but I hear these can go higher.
Thanks!
I just picked up a used CX bike that I will be using for gravel and winter riding, it is all SRAM and is 2x10. It currently has a 52/36 and 11/26 on it, not ideal for gravel.
The crank/chainrings are 110bcd. I would like to go 48/32 or even 46/32, and 12/30 or 32 on the back.
I am looking to keep things as budget friendly as possible as its not a fancy bike and I don't want to sink a lot of money into it. The areas that I ride are very flat, very little climbing.
Can I get away with just swapping the rings and adjusting the front derailleur and throwing a new cassette on? I think the rear derailleur says it will accommodate 28t but I hear these can go higher.
Thanks!
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For a rear derailleur with a listed 28T maximum cog you might get away with a 30T by tightening the "B-screw" a bit. A 32T cog isn't likely to work.
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Did you read what I posted above? A 110 mm bcd crank cannot accept a 32T chainring. If you want a smaller small chainring you need a different crank. You could change that large ring for a 48 or 46 but you can't go usefully smaller for the inner chainring.
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I'd get a 46-30 crankset first (around $130 retail), and if that doesn't get you low enough then get an 11-30 or 11-32 cassette. I wouldn't get a cassette with 12t small cog - you're giving up 9% of your range for no good reason, IMO.
HI all!.
I just picked up a used CX bike that I will be using for gravel and winter riding, it is all SRAM and is 2x10. It currently has a 52/36 and 11/26 on it, not ideal for gravel.
The crank/chainrings are 110bcd. I would like to go 48/32 or even 46/32, and 12/30 or 32 on the back.
I am looking to keep things as budget friendly as possible as its not a fancy bike and I don't want to sink a lot of money into it. The areas that I ride are very flat, very little climbing.
Can I get away with just swapping the rings and adjusting the front derailleur and throwing a new cassette on? I think the rear derailleur says it will accomodate 28t but I hear these can go higher.
Thanks!
I just picked up a used CX bike that I will be using for gravel and winter riding, it is all SRAM and is 2x10. It currently has a 52/36 and 11/26 on it, not ideal for gravel.
The crank/chainrings are 110bcd. I would like to go 48/32 or even 46/32, and 12/30 or 32 on the back.
I am looking to keep things as budget friendly as possible as its not a fancy bike and I don't want to sink a lot of money into it. The areas that I ride are very flat, very little climbing.
Can I get away with just swapping the rings and adjusting the front derailleur and throwing a new cassette on? I think the rear derailleur says it will accomodate 28t but I hear these can go higher.
Thanks!
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HI all!.
I just picked up a used CX bike that I will be using for gravel and winter riding, it is all SRAM and is 2x10. It currently has a 52/36 and 11/26 on it, not ideal for gravel.
The crank/chainrings are 110bcd. I would like to go 48/32 or even 46/32, and 12/30 or 32 on the back.
I am looking to keep things as budget friendly as possible as its not a fancy bike and I don't want to sink a lot of money into it. The areas that I ride are very flat, very little climbing.
Can I get away with just swapping the rings and adjusting the front derailleur and throwing a new cassette on? I think the rear derailleur says it will accomodate 28t but I hear these can go higher.
Thanks!
I just picked up a used CX bike that I will be using for gravel and winter riding, it is all SRAM and is 2x10. It currently has a 52/36 and 11/26 on it, not ideal for gravel.
The crank/chainrings are 110bcd. I would like to go 48/32 or even 46/32, and 12/30 or 32 on the back.
I am looking to keep things as budget friendly as possible as its not a fancy bike and I don't want to sink a lot of money into it. The areas that I ride are very flat, very little climbing.
Can I get away with just swapping the rings and adjusting the front derailleur and throwing a new cassette on? I think the rear derailleur says it will accomodate 28t but I hear these can go higher.
Thanks!
36/52 will work out great on gravel. Swap out the rear cassette for a 11/34 and you're good to go.
FWIW, my vintage road bike is 40/52t front and 14/34 rear. 2x5.
It may sound down on gears, but it's quite pleasing to have such a robust range of gears where you find yourself using each and every single one during every ride. I'd say its just enough of a ratio spread for gravel use.. at least for my needs.
In the future, if given the option I would go for 36/52 and 11/34.
I actually got a spare biopace crank laying around with 3 ratios (28/38/48) incidentally, i think this would work perfect for gravel.
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I meant get a 33 or 34t chainring and leave the crank alone.
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Depends on the crank. 4 bolt asymmetric FSA cranks will fit a 32t though from experience it is a little hard to find, I bought mine from the UK; their omega and gossamer cranks use them and have been common on cross bikes for the last 6 or 7 years. 5 bolt you're correct though I've never seen a 33t outside of BMX, 34 is the effective minimum.
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52-36 is kinda odd for a CX bike. 46/36 is the normal CX setup.
I'm running a SRAM 2X10 medium cage with a 48/34 FSA front and a 34 -11 Shimano MTB cassette. You'll need to shorten the chain a few links for the correct wrap.
Works great, 1-1 bailout gear and good road speed coverage. Have it tuned so that only the large/large is noisy.
The 48's may be hard to find though. When I found them I bought all of them that were available on line (only 3), and that was a while back.
The 1-1 will get you as steep as CX geometry will allow on dirt fire roads without major traction loss. Any lower gearing would not gain anything.
I'm running a SRAM 2X10 medium cage with a 48/34 FSA front and a 34 -11 Shimano MTB cassette. You'll need to shorten the chain a few links for the correct wrap.
Works great, 1-1 bailout gear and good road speed coverage. Have it tuned so that only the large/large is noisy.
The 48's may be hard to find though. When I found them I bought all of them that were available on line (only 3), and that was a while back.
The 1-1 will get you as steep as CX geometry will allow on dirt fire roads without major traction loss. Any lower gearing would not gain anything.
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What you gain from a 12T smallest cog is a more useful interior gear that the 11T cog displaces.
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What you gain from a 12T smallest cog is a more useful interior gear that the 11T cog displaces.