Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

occasionally smashing my shin into a pedal

Anything to remind us we're still alive.

I'm that person. I've been running 40T and 42T MTB cassettes on road Di2 and more recently GRX since some ultra races in 2019. Before shadow cage RDs it was 36T and before that 32T and 28T.

Anything to remind us we're still alive

Then what am I supposed to do with all this meth?

Then what am I supposed to do with all this meth?

Sell it to school kids, like the rest of us do.

just the one

you said it not me

To add to the gear chat, 40t seemingly works fine on an R8000 RD without roadlink or any of that faff. Shimano say 34 but are clearly cowards! 46-36 front, mind, although may try 46-34 as I am getting fatter.

Can't imagine many situations where I need more than 46/11 on a bike with big tyres.

R8000 RD without roadlink or any of that faff. Shimano say 34 but are clearly cowards!

Same on R7000 RD or RX-810

It's simple math really, any lower gear and you're into walking speeds/you'd probably be walking anyway.

So? Doesn't mean walking would be easier with a loaded bike to push etc?

I mean it sounds like you want a rohloff rly?

It's just fun going less than walking speed up a hill.

Agree! Slow winch up some dumb steep stuff on a 32/51 is one of the reasons I love the MTB so much.

I am still waiting for my apex 1 stuff on the Soma to finally wear out so I can convert it to a 12sp mullet. Have a ratio kit, and eagle derailleur and a 51 cassette kicking around here.

And bog standard 105 R7000 with 11-40t and 50/34t chainset.

The hanger on the Liv Avail is a mite longer than typical hence why it work.

(Couldn’t fit 46/30 anyway due to stupid braze on front mech).

2 Attachments

It's important to remember that not all derailleur hangers are the same - quite a bit of variety in length. A few mm's difference will have a big effect on setup clearance.

Can you smash change its gears like you can with Shimano? If not, I'm out.

They're more useful for round the world touring (until they break and you're fucked)

You're asking the wrong guy. I never tried. I have Alfine 11 on the cargo and there it's not advisable, but then again Rohloff are much much higher quality by all accounts, ultra reliable and come with a crazy good warranty. I can't really think of many more torque heavy applications than fully loaded touring.

until they break and you're fucked

Unless it is within warranty, or so I hear ... Someone said they ship to any location in the world for you to get it fixed.

This bike is bloody excellent fun. Think I've got the setup spot-on now - had a little bit of rubbing on the chunky tyres but think it might have just been a slightly loose QR skewer because I tightened everything up and it seems to be sweet now.

1 Attachment

The CTC ( as cycling UK once was) magazine contained many an article or letter on chainset ring combinations and how to achieve ever lower gears.

Yes! Who can forget the excitement of fitting a SunTour MTB triple to their road bike in place of those flimsy TA Cyclotourist setups!

First tourers I had , circa 1983-5) had 50/32 SR chainsets
Some years later new bikes had moved to 48/36.

All with 5 or 6 speed blocks . I think 32 possibly 34 was the biggest cog.

Bike firms, Dawes, British Eagele, or Raleigh who were the main suppliers, then had to catch up with MTBs ; so triples and cantilevers then became standard.

The endless discussions of set ups in the letters pages combined with articles on the subject by Chris Juden.

"MTB triple to their road bike"

Was wondering when this gearing conversation would take us back here. Long live the triple.

Long live the triple.

1 Attachment

The endless discussions of set ups in the letters pages combined with articles on the subject by Chris Juden.

Or by Peter Knottley? His advice for a 'cycletouring' set up was a TA 48/26T double, with the 13–24 Regina 5-speed freewheel. For laden touring (he said) take the 24 off the back of the block and fit a 28. It did work, but you had to plan changes between rings carefully.

46/30 with whatever you want on the back is the future. I'll still out-sprint anyone that's complains that a 50 up front isn't enough...

Where and when? I’ll bring the paint.