[Closed] 22-36 Chainring with a 11-42 cassette - too low?

at 22-42, i'd be more stable walking and the chain length you will require to cope with 36-42 will be slacker than a geometron in the 22.

That really is very low. Seen similar gears on rickshaws so not totally crazy but certainly on the over kill side of things. That said it's a cheap thing to try and you are changing consumable parts so if it doesn't work out try something else next time. Just don't buy a really expensive cassette.

Having recently gone 1x I think it's actually helped my climbing. The simpler system means I'm more likely to be in the right gear and the slightly higher than I might have chosen bottom gear encourages me to push a bit harder.

I wouldn't go any bigger than 36 on the rear cassette if you're running a granny ring. My wife's bike is 22/32 x 11-36. It seems to give her a enough climbing gears.

I'd say way too low. (personally never got on with anything lower than 22:32). You'll also have an enormous amount of torque available so it'll be way too easy to break traction in marginal conditions, which coupled with no momentum from using the really low gear will mean you still spend loads of time pushing.

I run a 26t Oval with 42t XT 11 speed on my Fatty. Works really well and means I can spin up anything. But I spin out on fire roads with the wind behind me and a slight decline. Its worth it though for long days in the saddle. Wouldn't want to run anything smaller and i dont think anyone would need anything smaller. In hindsight i should of stayed with a standard double and 36t rear cassette. But I am still very happy with the gear selection. I have been thinking about gear set-up for my 29er xc bike. Would like to go 1x11 or 1x10. But worry that for long all day rides I will either spin out on longer link roads or not have the gearing for my pathetic tired legs. Conclusion was a standard double works so why change

I'd say way too low. (personally never got on with anything lower than 22:32)

+1. 22/32 is low enough for me to get up stuff that is steep enough to need lots of body english to prevent wheelying/backflipping, I can't envisage 22/42 actually being usable.

and a +1 for needing some insane chain length and the worlds longest rear mech.

My 9 speed set up on one bike is F24-36 and R11-32, so I would say that is pretty low.

For a F22 -> R32 will be more than adequate. The expander is designed for a 1x drive train.

I have a 2x10 set up with 22/36 front and 11-36 on the back (29er).

The lowest gear is really low, but usable. Grip, balance and keeping the front end down start to become a challenge, I wouldn't want any lower. It's handy for bikepacking trips or towing the kids trailer uphill mainly.

My 2x10 29er (scandal) has 11-36 casette and 26-38 chainrings, works well for me, mostly riding wales/hill routes.

Thanks for your input. I'll try it out and report back and if it's no good I have an 11-36 cassette I can put back on.
As far as chain length goes surely what I have now (a 32t single chain ring) needs a longer chain than the 22t granny ring, and I'll never be on the 36t front when on the 42t rear. Right?

My Cube came set up 2x11. 26/36 chainring and 40tooth cassette. 29er hardtail.

never be on the 36t front when on the 42t rear. Right?

You'll know about it if you try too...

I happily run a 20 36 set up on several bikes. It works brilliantly! I've been running it for years with no issues.

I am going to be trying 22 42 on my long term Fat Caad 1. Just do it! 😀

Is the 22-42 on a triple? Would a front mech handle that?

I think a 42 with a 22 would be too low to be practical. Give it a go, though.

my bottom gear on my cargo bike is 22chainring and 34 on the cassette and thats pretty low, even fully loaded you very rarely need it so 22and42 would be OTT to be honest

I think this hangs on your wheel size
A 29" wheel is about a gear harder than a 26" wheel
At that size of sprocket, a 42t is around a gear harder than a 36t. So 22-42 as you describe on a 29" wheel will be about equal to a 22-36 gear on a 26" wheel
For years 22-34 on a 26" wheel was the low gear most MTBs were sold, built and ridden with, and it isn't all that low. A 22-36 on a 26" wheel is still a useful gear for difficult climbing
Though any lower than that may be getting a little too slow, depends on your balance and your willingness to stay on the bike, or instead to get off and push, albeit slightly faster with a lower gear than that

As above though (36-22=14) + (42-11=31) = 45t, which is a lot of capacity for a mech to deal with. Though because you're 'only' using a 36t chainring, some long cage mechs are rated as upto 45t capacity so should just do it. Its the 42t sprocket you'll have to adapt the mech to handle

My old triple was 24/32/42 with 11-36. On the 24 front and 36 rear I could spin up most things. Going 22 front with 42 rear sounds overkill for the climbs and leaves you under powered at the other end for the flat/ downhills imo. I have 24/38 with 11-36 2x10 set up which is plenty for my climbing and just about to ditch the 24 for a 26 as well.

Well, I've fitted it and ridden up the road and I think it's a usable system.

Changed the rear mech for one with a long cage and no chain issues that I've noticed.

I've yet to do any serious climbing with it, but I definitely think it's usable.