Originally Posted by George McClusky
Someone told me I wouldn't gain that much changing from a 28 to the 26. Can I get a 12-34 in an 8 speed and would I have to add links.I just put a new Sram chain on. I think it was a 48C.
11/34 is available in stock 8-cog cassettes. There is also a 12/32, but only in an XTR level cassette. I assume it would be possible to cobble something together, but I've never spent the time to figure out the various cog combinations to make it work.
If you are jumping up from a 26 to a 34 tooth big cog, you will certainly have to resize your chain and probably add several links. If it was my bike, I'd just replace the entire chain. Unless you already have a mountain bike rear derailleur, you'll need to replace that too in order to handle the 34t biggest cog.