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I've recently build a new bike and after my last natural epic it turns out I was a tad ambitious with the 32t front ring. The long techy climbs were significantly harder than before, although that could be down to stripping this drive train from a Ti hardtail and fitting to a Bird AM9! Nevertheless... It needs sorting so do I change out the 32t to a 30t chainring or go for a bigger cassette (currently running Sram Xo1 10-42t)?
Personally I'd go down to a 30t chainring first as it's the cheaper option - but it depends on how undergeared you feel you are... You can always swap it back again too.
Smaller chainring. Perhaps try oval too. More clearance, cheaper and can put the 32 back on if you get stronger.
30T ring will give you a 7% lower bottom end. You'd need to go to a 45 tooth or bigger cassette to get that low with 32T ring. As said - chainring option is miles cheaper to try, plus cassettes are difficult to get hold of at the moment, and your rear mech might not handle a much bigger cassette (depending on what it is)
That's what I was thinking, I'm not miles away tbh, it only became an issue on the long techy stuff in the Dale's recently. 30t chain ring it is!
Yeah, tbh I think I would be limited by the mech anyway. For ease and cost the chainring is the way forward I reckon. Cheers all!
You also might need a longer chain for a bigger cassette. Chainring is easier.
That’s what I was thinking, I’m not miles away tbh, it only became an issue on the long techy stuff in the Dale’s recently. 30t chain ring it is!
I'd recommend trying the oval chainring option, especially if it's the climbing that is the issue. I went from a 34t to 32toval on my gravel bike and really seemed to make a difference, but felt better on the knees too. Not a scientific comparison by any stretch but worked for me. Now going down similar route on my rigid 29er...
Changing the cassette will extend the range, changing the chainring will move the range.
Oh, and it sounds like you are overgeared not under.
it only became an issue on the long techy stuff in the Dale’s recently
You'll have to tell me where those are! 🙂
If you're close to managing the climbs, then an oval might just get you up them. Otherwise drop the chainring size.
I feel your pain though. I was running a 34t oval in the Dales until this year, now it's a 32t oval, I fully expect to be down to 30t before long!
When the missus was struggling a bit on long and or steep ups, we changed her cassette to a 46, as opposed to 42, this still gave her a reasonable spread of gears and still allowed for good progress on the flat. Smaller chainring can leave a rider spinning out all too easily on flat or gradual downs at speed. I’d think about this before just swapping chainrings, assuming you can find a cassette and it’s in budget.
Change both. I run 28/50 and it's just right!
Changing the cassette will extend the range, changing the chainring will move the range.
Oh, and it sounds like you are overgeared not under.
This is the correct advice /\
The climb in question was Fremington edge. I looked at oval rings, Wolftooth (that I run) do an oval option. I wasn't quite sure what to go with after reading that the 32t oval positive rotation is the same as a standard 34t?so I just stuck with what I am familiar with and ordered the 30t standard.
None of this would be an issue if I'd put enough time in the sadlle over the summer?! Still a full COIL (SHOCK & FORK) enduro AM9 will take some adapting too... Need to work on my 320w FTP!
Haha loved how you compared me to. Your missus 😂
Overgeared is correct, lol... There's always one 🤓