Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Granny gear option on road bike?

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Granny gear option on road bike?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-30-22, 01:49 PM
  #1  
Sceadu498
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Dixon, Il
Posts: 98

Bikes: Lemond Alpe d'Huez, Trek 6000, Built up a Carbon Raod Bike with a Wiel Frameset, Diamondback Insight

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts
Granny gear option on road bike?

I have a Shimano 105 10 speed compact crankset (50-34) and I was wondering if I can put on a smaller chainring, 30-32, or is a 34 as small as I can go?

Would like a smaller granny gear if possible. I have a 32 in the rear with a Shimano 105 long cage derailleur currently on my road bike.

suggestions?
Sceadu498 is offline  
Old 05-30-22, 02:04 PM
  #2  
Iride01 
I'm good to go!
 
Iride01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,985

Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020

Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6193 Post(s)
Liked 4,808 Times in 3,316 Posts
Shimano 105 10 speed is the old 5 spoke spider isn't it? You might find a smaller ring. However the rings are paired at those sizes partly to give you optimal shifting. What you might do is look for a new crank entirely. Likely both of the rings will be smaller.

32 rear and a 34 front is pretty low already for the hills on most roads in the midwest and deep south where I'm at.. Perhaps you just need to ride more and build up some leg muscle and endurance.

And don't rule out a new bike. That might be the best way to get the range of gearing you think you need.
Iride01 is offline  
Likes For Iride01:
Old 05-30-22, 02:13 PM
  #3  
andrewclaus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,837

Bikes: 2016 Fuji Tread, 1983 Trek 520

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 676 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times in 430 Posts
A sixteen tooth jump is kind of pushing it already. But I grew up in the "half step" days of chainrings. And the chain wrap specs of the rear derailleur are probably at their limits, so you'd probably need to get a smaller large chainring too, as mentioned above. Or be very careful about shifting large-small.
andrewclaus is offline  
Old 05-30-22, 02:27 PM
  #4  
Rolla
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times in 1,439 Posts
Check to make sure your front derailleur can accommodate that size chainring and the jump from 50 to 32. If so, find out what the BCD for the small chainring is, and see if there are 32T chainrings with that BCD. Another route would be to get a 11-36 or 11-42 10-speed cassette and a Deore rear derailleur (or another that can handle the larger cog size). I think the 105 rear derailleurs top out at 32T.
Rolla is offline  
Old 05-30-22, 02:43 PM
  #5  
Crankycrank
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,670
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 836 Post(s)
Liked 1,061 Times in 745 Posts
Here's another option. bikinGreen CNC Road Chainring 46/30T BCD 110mm 5 Bolts 10/11 Speed Cyclocross | eBay They also offer other gear combos and in black or silver. I have no personal experience with them but met one rider who was very happy with durability and shift quality. Shop around on Ebay for best prices.
Crankycrank is offline  
Old 05-30-22, 07:22 PM
  #6  
HillRider
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times in 742 Posts
The 10-speed 105 compact crank (FC-5750) has a 110 mm bolt circle and a 33T chainring is the smallest that will fit but 34T is far more common. The 10-speed 105 triple (FC-5703) had 130/74 bolt circles and the granny position would take down to a 24T chainring but good luck finding one of these now days.
HillRider is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.