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[Closed] New 105 groupset - best gearing ratio for all round use?

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Looking for a new groupset for the road bike, and can't decide on a combo of cassette and chainrings for all round use. Options are:

Chainrings:
34/50
36/52
39/52

Cassettes:
11-28
11-32
12-25

What does the singletrack collective think?


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 5:24 pm
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My choice would be

50/34 and 11/32


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 5:25 pm
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25/12 and 34/50. Don't know why they still persist in using an 11t cog to be fair, especially on the 28t/32t cassettes.

Best option IMO was a 27/12 with a 36/50, but doubt you can get that now.

Saying that, it doesn't matter too much, I have a bike with a standard double and one with a compact doubt and it doesn't make much difference. Although the shifting is better with the standard, along with the fact the inner ring is more useful.


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 5:31 pm
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Depends how heavy you are, and how fit you are, and how many climbs over 10% you are going to find in 'all round use', and perhaps if you want to do big gear work on a non-smart turbo trainer.

For 90% of people the 50/34 11-32 is going to be the correct choice imo.
For me, i'm light, and therefore climb quite well, so would probably take the 52/36 11-32


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 5:35 pm
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50/34 and 11-28 for me.


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 5:38 pm
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If you are unsure more is better, you will have larger gaps but if you come from mtbs you'll probably not notice too much.

I'd say 34/50 11/28 or 32 if you are somewhere hilly or not a great climber.

Unless you are racing then by the time things get a bit spinny in a 50t you are probably not too bothered about pedalling.


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 5:39 pm
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Thanks - if I went for the 50/34 and 11/32 combo, would I need the short or medium cage derailleur?


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 5:42 pm
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medium, probably long though. I'd go 28 which means you can use a short cage mech (just)


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 5:45 pm
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I prefer a 12-25 where i can get away with it. The gaps are much smaller and 11 tooth sprockets get very little use unless your racing.


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 5:48 pm
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50/34 with 11/32 'cos I'm a fat git with a bad knee
When 34/32 'aint low enough it's time to walk

[url= http://www.cyclingabout.com/wider-gear-range-road-shifters-gears-for-easier-hill-climbing/ ]This link[/url] might be helpful


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 6:43 pm
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52/36 and 11-28 for my money.


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 7:27 pm
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53-39 and 12-25 and a big bit of MTFU lol


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 8:22 pm
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12.5 stone biffer here and 50/34 with 11-32 gets me up anything.

However, I'm quite taken with the new sub compact idea. 48/32 up front with something like 12-28 would give me more gears I would actually use.


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 8:26 pm
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My Cube came with 50/34 and 11-32, but the 11-13 sprockets barely get any use, as I'm more of a spinner than a grinder.


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 8:32 pm
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50/34 and 11-28 on mine. It's a cracking groupset. Being a compact, it has the usual problem of a large jump between the chainrings.


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 8:36 pm
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Thanks all!


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 9:51 pm
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42/52,12-23


 
Posted : 26/05/2017 9:55 pm
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I currently have 10 speed 105 , 12_25 with a 50/34 compact on my Defy.That works pretty well in Hertfordshire where there are few long gradients.
I'm 15 stone too.

I sometimes hanker for a slightly higher top for downhill and a very occasionally a lower low gear but think I'd find the bigger gaps annoying. If I was to upgrade to 11 speed I'd probably go 11_28.

Strange to think that only a few years ago I'd ride everything with a 53/39 and 12/25 and manage.


 
Posted : 27/05/2017 6:13 am
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53-39 and 12-25 and a big [s]bit of MTFU[/s] move to East Anglia

I'd go with 50/34 and 11/28 or 11/32 but I'm a very casual roadie and not that fit.


 
Posted : 27/05/2017 8:26 am

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