Newbee question on gearing
11-17-23, 04:08 PM
#1
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Newbee question on gearing
I'm riding a 2021 Giant Talon 4 with a 2x7 drivetrain. My question is what could I do to gain some more top speed. Specs list crank as ProWheel forged 22/36 and not sure on rear cassette other than 7 speed. We ride paved/hard pack rails to trails only.
11-17-23, 04:34 PM
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Are you running out of gears? In other words, when you're in the big chainring on the front, and small cog in the rear, are your legs spinning faster than is comfortable for you?
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11-17-23, 04:44 PM
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Let us know what the cassette range is. Like smallest cog is a 12 tooth, biggest is a 32 or whatever. That lets us know if we can recommend an alternative. And as per Eric’s question, it seems odd (but possible) you would be running out of gearing in the 36 ring and smallest cog.
11-17-23, 05:20 PM
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Let us know what the cassette range is. Like smallest cog is a 12 tooth, biggest is a 32 or whatever. That lets us know if we can recommend an alternative. And as per Eric’s question, it seems odd (but possible) you would be running out of gearing in the 36 ring and smallest cog.
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11-17-23, 06:41 PM
#5
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Let us know what the cassette range is. Like smallest cog is a 12 tooth, biggest is a 32 or whatever. That lets us know if we can recommend an alternative. And as per Eric’s question, it seems odd (but possible) you would be running out of gearing in the 36 ring and smallest cog.
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11-17-23, 06:54 PM
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The problem you are going to have is that you can’t just replace the rear gears to get a higher gear. You have a freewheel which is limited to 14 teeth. You’d need to change to a freehub which takes a cassette to get to an 11 tooth high gear which would give you a 90” gear which spin at about 40 mph at 90 rpm. You’ll need a cassette which is kind of cheap but you’ll also need a new wheel which isn’t as cheap.
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11-17-23, 06:57 PM
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The easiest way to add top end speed is going to be a larger chainring. Current fads aside, 36/22 is pretty small. That said, that's a fairly cheap bike, not designed to be seriously repaired, much less upgraded. Upgrading the chainrings may require swapping out the cranks as well, and will almost certainly require a new chain. Cheap bikes are great to start with, but it's a lot easier to justify a $100 upgrade to a $2000 bike than a $150 upgrade to a $600 bike.
11-17-23, 07:10 PM
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There has to be an inexpensive way to get to larger front chain rings. Maybe used parts? Goodwill, ebay, somewhere? I put larger rings on an old MTB a few years back that came off a Goodwill find. Swapped out everything from BB, cranks, even the pedals. I had to buy a new chain an move the front DR up, but it was all doable and didn't cost much. I put all the old pieces on the donor bike and donated it to a neighbor that rode it a few times and then let it rust away. 
11-17-23, 07:12 PM
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The easiest way to add top end speed is going to be a larger chainring. Current fads aside, 36/22 is pretty small. That said, that's a fairly cheap bike, not designed to be seriously repaired, much less upgraded. Upgrading the chainrings may require swapping out the cranks as well, and will almost certainly require a new chain. Cheap bikes are great to start with, but it's a lot easier to justify a $100 upgrade to a $2000 bike than a $150 upgrade to a $600 bike.
11-17-23, 07:24 PM
#10
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It looks like the bike is an entry-level 29" MTB. It would be difficult, and not very useful, to increase wheel size.
If the current cassette is 14-28, as mentioned above, then it would likely be possible to get a cassette that fits with an 11t cog. My MTB has 11-50 cassette with a 34t chainring. On flat trails like OP described I would probably go for at least a 42t large chainring with an 11t cog. My dream gravel bike would have a 10-36 cassette with 50/34 chainrings, so you can take my opinions with an adequate scoop of salt.
If the current cassette is 14-28, as mentioned above, then it would likely be possible to get a cassette that fits with an 11t cog. My MTB has 11-50 cassette with a 34t chainring. On flat trails like OP described I would probably go for at least a 42t large chainring with an 11t cog. My dream gravel bike would have a 10-36 cassette with 50/34 chainrings, so you can take my opinions with an adequate scoop of salt.
11-17-23, 08:25 PM
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The easiest way to add top end speed is going to be a larger chainring. Current fads aside, 36/22 is pretty small. That said, that's a fairly cheap bike, not designed to be seriously repaired, much less upgraded. Upgrading the chainrings may require swapping out the cranks as well, and will almost certainly require a new chain. Cheap bikes are great to start with, but it's a lot easier to justify a $100 upgrade to a $2000 bike than a $150 upgrade to a $600 bike.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-17-23, 08:36 PM
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That’s a 70” gear that spins out at 18 mph at 90 rpm. If you can spin up to 120 rpm, it can squeeze out almost 25 mph.
The problem you are going to have is that you can’t just replace the rear gears to get a higher gear. You have a freewheel which is limited to 14 teeth. You’d need to change to a freehub which takes a cassette to get to an 11 tooth high gear which would give you a 90” gear which spin at about 40 mph at 90 rpm. You’ll need a cassette which is kind of cheap but you’ll also need a new wheel which isn’t as cheap.
The problem you are going to have is that you can’t just replace the rear gears to get a higher gear. You have a freewheel which is limited to 14 teeth. You’d need to change to a freehub which takes a cassette to get to an 11 tooth high gear which would give you a 90” gear which spin at about 40 mph at 90 rpm. You’ll need a cassette which is kind of cheap but you’ll also need a new wheel which isn’t as cheap.
14 was never a limit for freewheels. Why suggest something so daft?
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11-17-23, 08:59 PM
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11-17-23, 09:02 PM
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Banned.
I looked up your bike for sec
couldnt find the bcd
but just upgrade your biggest chainring to bigger
you will need only the buy a bigger chainring and a Allen wrench
buying a smaller cassette might be more expensive and you will need to make am additional purchase for a cassette removal tool
couldnt find the bcd
but just upgrade your biggest chainring to bigger
you will need only the buy a bigger chainring and a Allen wrench
buying a smaller cassette might be more expensive and you will need to make am additional purchase for a cassette removal tool
11-17-23, 09:16 PM
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I looked up your bike for sec
couldnt find the bcd
but just upgrade your biggest chainring to bigger
you will need only the buy a bigger chainring and a Allen wrench
buying a smaller cassette might be more expensive and you will need to make am additional purchase for a cassette removal tool
couldnt find the bcd
but just upgrade your biggest chainring to bigger
you will need only the buy a bigger chainring and a Allen wrench
buying a smaller cassette might be more expensive and you will need to make am additional purchase for a cassette removal tool
And if you don't know about any of that, why are you offering advice? You have plenty of your own threads to hand out poor ideas.
11-17-23, 09:24 PM
#17
Banned.
What do you think about having to raise the derailleur and redo the shifting, and the limitations on how much chainring size difference the front derailleur can tolerate?What about chain length?
And if you don't know about any of that, why are you offering advice? You have plenty of your own threads to hand out poor ideas.
And if you don't know about any of that, why are you offering advice? You have plenty of your own threads to hand out poor ideas.
11-17-23, 09:28 PM
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11-17-23, 09:28 PM
#19
Banned.
What do you think about having to raise the derailleur and redo the shifting, and the limitations on how much chainring size difference the front derailleur can tolerate?What about chain length?
And if you don't know about any of that, why are you offering advice? You have plenty of your own threads to hand out poor ideas.
And if you don't know about any of that, why are you offering advice? You have plenty of your own threads to hand out poor ideas.
Japanese warrior style
there is no will be no issue
with what I suggested
if there is an intellectual will bring forth those issues
until then we have you and your amazon link for amusement
11-17-23, 09:30 PM
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asking questions to which you refuse to disclose the answers to is grounds for self termination.
Japanese warrior style
there is no will be no issue
with what I suggested
if there is an intellectual will bring forth those issues
until then we have you and your amazon link for amusement
Japanese warrior style
there is no will be no issue
with what I suggested
if there is an intellectual will bring forth those issues
until then we have you and your amazon link for amusement
11-17-23, 09:36 PM
#21
Banned.
11-17-23, 09:44 PM
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11-17-23, 09:52 PM
#23
Banned.
ok and your still here because what exactly.
Like get lost bro
or form sentences that completely omit your personal emotions
and or provide insight to the op
11-17-23, 10:01 PM
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https://www.amazon.com/Sturmey-Arche...003LHMJRQ?th=1
I've never seen an 11t freewheel, please prove one exists? Best I knew of as a result of a similar discussion to this earlier in the year was the 13t I found, until then I shared the illusion that 14t was smallest but I'd be happy to have you correct me further.
I looked up your bike for sec
couldnt find the bcd
but just upgrade your biggest chainring to bigger
you will need only the buy a bigger chainring and a Allen wrench
buying a smaller cassette might be more expensive and you will need to make am additional purchase for a cassette removal tool
couldnt find the bcd
but just upgrade your biggest chainring to bigger
you will need only the buy a bigger chainring and a Allen wrench
buying a smaller cassette might be more expensive and you will need to make am additional purchase for a cassette removal tool
11-17-23, 10:42 PM
#25
Banned.
A useful link would be something like
https://www.amazon.com/Sturmey-Arche...003LHMJRQ?th=1
I've never seen an 11t freewheel, please prove one exists? Best I knew of as a result of a similar discussion to this earlier in the year was the 13t I found, until then I shared the illusion that 14t was smallest but I'd be happy to have you correct me further.
Your responses show that Kontact is right, you don't yet have the knowledge you need. Some pointers. If there's no BCD on a low end bike, start by presuming its riveted and the rings can't be changed. Buying a bigger one will be a waste of money. Cassettes =/= freewheels, you need to understand the difference in the terms. First indicator is that its 7sp, and has a 14t small cog, always the first sign of a freewheel; cassettes, until 11sp, almost universally started with an 11t small cog with just the occasional 12t. A bike with a 13t would have been an aftermarket replacement and an actual 14t would have suggested Jr gearing and a swap. So 14t=freewheel. Freewheels require a freewheel remover, not a cassette remove, and despite the similar appearances, they're not all that interchangeable. Swapping to a cassette then will require an entirely different wheel to match the attachment style of the new cassette and a cassette lockring tool, removal of a cassette would also require a chain whip and not just a cassette removal tool. Now you know why Kontact is telling you to learn more.
https://www.amazon.com/Sturmey-Arche...003LHMJRQ?th=1
I've never seen an 11t freewheel, please prove one exists? Best I knew of as a result of a similar discussion to this earlier in the year was the 13t I found, until then I shared the illusion that 14t was smallest but I'd be happy to have you correct me further.
Your responses show that Kontact is right, you don't yet have the knowledge you need. Some pointers. If there's no BCD on a low end bike, start by presuming its riveted and the rings can't be changed. Buying a bigger one will be a waste of money. Cassettes =/= freewheels, you need to understand the difference in the terms. First indicator is that its 7sp, and has a 14t small cog, always the first sign of a freewheel; cassettes, until 11sp, almost universally started with an 11t small cog with just the occasional 12t. A bike with a 13t would have been an aftermarket replacement and an actual 14t would have suggested Jr gearing and a swap. So 14t=freewheel. Freewheels require a freewheel remover, not a cassette remove, and despite the similar appearances, they're not all that interchangeable. Swapping to a cassette then will require an entirely different wheel to match the attachment style of the new cassette and a cassette lockring tool, removal of a cassette would also require a chain whip and not just a cassette removal tool. Now you know why Kontact is telling you to learn more.
now what since I’m the one that lives under a rock and knows nothing lol