curttard

My Raleigh RXM comes with 46/36 and 11-28t, all 105. This seems like a pretty lame combo. The overlap is huge and the range is small. My chicken legs can't pump out 400w like others' here can.

I'm doing primarily road riding with some dirt trails and gravel. In Maryland, so it can be rolling but no mountains. I don't think I need anything crazy but I would like to be able to spin up inclines rather than grind up them. Would I be better off changing the rings or the cassette?

It sounds like Roadlink only works with medium cage and I have short cage. So if I'm getting a medium cage anyway, can I skip the Roadlink and just put a 11-36t back there? It sounds like others have had success with a 105 GS and this cassette without a Roadlink.

DrIsotope

Pick up a 34T for the front, and throw on an 11-32 in the back. Will work fine. Now that I think of it, this is the exact setup on my wife's road bike-- 46/34 with an 11-32, 105 short cage. Will even go full cross-chain without issue, because of the 46T up front.

I don't care for 36T small rings. I got her the 34T Ultegra chainring for like $12.

shoota 

This. Done, end of thread.

justin1138

same.

redlude97

36/46 11-28 is perfect cyclocross gearing, which is what the RXM is. You can manage in either ring in tricky situations and anything steeper you should be running, and descending you should be catching your breath and concentrating on a good line. Since you aren't going to be using it for that purpose, the suggestion for a 34T and 11-32 or even an 11-36 is great.

curttard

Awesome! Exactly the kind of info I was looking for, thanks! So no problems with the 11-32 on a short cage? Supposedly that only supports up to 28t.

shoota 

Technically there can be issues but a lot of us here have done it without issue, including myself. If you find issue with it for whatever reason then getting a GS rd is like $40 so it's no big deal.

ph0rk

Marcus_Ti

Get a 46/30 crank for more range...get a wider cassette if you're willing to sacrifice gear spacing for more range.

ph0rk

wipekitty

Shouldn't be an issue, despite Shimano's specs. I've been running my 5800 short cage RD with 11-32 for about a month now with no problems.

curttard

Having never changed up my gearing before, what do I need to know about buying a new chain?

Of course, this will have to wait while I see what Raleigh does about the fact that I just noticed my derailleur hanger is bent, and it must have happened in packing/shipping.

ksryder

Nah any chain you buy at the shop will be long enough. Just do the "run it around the big chainring and biggest cog plus one link" thing like you'd do normally. Go to the Park Tool website or just do a search on youtube for better details.

shoota 

Mine came bent too. I wouldn't screw around with Raleigh, it's likely to be a waste of time. Besides, what can they actually do? Take it to a shop with the proper tools and get it straightened out. It doesn't take long.

curttard

Yeah, I know it's a simple fix, and I figured I'll just be having my local shop do it, I'm just hoping Raleigh'll reimburse me for it or something -- and for that matter for the bent rotor I already had straightened.

What does a shop charge for straightening a derailleur hanger? Wondering if it would make sense to buy a DAG tool and do it myself and have it on hand for the future.

shoota 

Let me know if they get back to you. I have been meaning to contact them about getting new wheel bearings. My rear wheel bearings went to crap after only a few hundred miles of good weather riding. Not impressed.

chas58

Agreed, don't go 34 in the front. 36->34 chainring is almost trivial. get a 30 to go with your 46. much less overlap too.

redlude97

The difference though is a 34T is a $20 change, whereas the 30 requires a new crankset.

curttard

Yeah, I am definitely not getting a new crankset anytime soon.

shoota 

Definitely worth the $20. I did it for me, my mom, and my dad and it provided just enough low end with the 34-32 combo to get up the short, steep hills around here without grinding.

redlude97

You can go the other way too. I swap the 34 for a 36 on a compact crankset on all my road bikes for better front shifting and a more useable small ring usually paired with an 11-28 which makes for close jumps perfect for group riding

Clem von Jones

Never giving up my 20t granny

curttard

Is the Shimano 105 5750 34t compatible with my Shimano RS500 crankset? They're both 110 BCD and 5 bolt but it looks like the 5750 is 10-speed?

Metieval

best "gearing" (for you) is new crank 46/30 and 11-32

best "cost" 'gearing' for you is do the 36 to 34 swap and go 11-32 rear

ksryder

Yes.