XC Gear ratios.

[neilll]

Nearly always 12-28 and 26/36/44.....the difference being my 'road bike' (MTB with slicks ) and that is 26/36/48. (all 7-speed).

Now old age/unfitness is creeping in i'm investigating a 22t granny

 

[Rampage]

Thanks for your replys, I decided on 11-28. I'll change the granny ring if I need to.

I was considering changing to 9 speed, but decided against it. It was enough messing about trying to get a new 7 speed casette to fit onto a 7 speed freehub! :?:

 

[Mr. Zero]

22-34-46 with an 11-30.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

God's own ratios with a seven speed are 24-36-46 and 12-28. This always seemed to cover everything even with the sharp hills of Devon.

 

[cce]

44-32 with an 11-28

i run a 22t inner but it's just for looks - it's not spaced right and the chain catches the middle

 

[IbocProSX]

Retro I run 44-32-22 with 12-28 other cranks are 46-34-24

Modern XC I run 34-46 on CX cranks with 12-27 for racing, what can I say Holland is flat I do switch to an 11-34 cassette for marathons and the local 24hours team race.

Modern 29er I run 44-32-22 with 11-32, and I am assembling a 20-30-42 Compact Drive set for when I take it to real hills (abroad that is)

Enjoy

 

[messiah]

If you want to keep the chainrings and remain 7speed your options are limited but you can use a SRAM 12-32 cassette, or a shimano 13-30. I think the SRAM one looks funny because the 32 looks huge against the others, it also has big steps between the ratios which is not good. The shimano 13-30 is probably a better compromise.

If you go 8spd the options are better with 11-30 and 11-32 without quite such big steps. BITD I ran an 8spd freehub body on my 7spd XT hubs so I could run the XTR cassette which had lower ratios 12-32 I think? I had to make a seal and respace the hub but it worked for 2 years until I went compact drive at the front... and will never go back. I also used to run 24-34-46 rings so I could stay in the middle ring longer

I spin low gears as my natural style and live where there are many big hills and thats my excuse and I'm sticking with it.
My Lloyd currently runs 8spd - 20-32-42 with an 11-30 cassette is low enough. Not quite as low as 9spd set up but low enough.

 

[retrojon]

My Cannondale has an 11-28 7 speed cassette.

The gap between 4th and 5th is too big. Think it is 18t to 15t, so 3t gap.

It is really annoying as it is just in between the speed I want to ride at.

 

[dbmtb]

Even in flat Denmark, 22-32-42 and 12-34, on the bike that never goes on tarmac.

For more all-round rides with a bit of tarmac, I'd want a closer ratio top end though. But that's what a cyclo-cross bike is for.....