52/34 chainring combo

[MattJB]

Hi,

I am thinking of changing my sram gear combo from a 52/36 to a 52/34 chainring. I run a 11/28 on the back. I mainly ride on the flat but do occasionally venture into the hills where I am not as young or strong as as I used to be. I know that the manufacturer says that it should not be done however I have read that it is achievable but I think that I might need a med RD to ensure that the small/small combo works.

Has anyone else tried it? If so how did you achieve it?

Cheers

[AndrewCowley]

On rolling terrain I'd reckon that a 52 / 34 would drive you nuts. Sure when it gets really steep for a sustained period the 34 would be nice but unless you are a beast and can stay on the 52 up rolling hills this combo would be horrible.

[madmacca]

Hi,

I am thinking of changing my sram gear combo from a 52/36 to a 52/34 chainring. I run a 11/28 on the back. I mainly ride on the flat but do occasionally venture into the hills where I am not as young or strong as as I used to be. I know that the manufacturer says that it should not be done however I have read that it is achievable but I think that I might need a med RD to ensure that the small/small combo works.

Has anyone else tried it? If so how did you achieve it?

Cheers

Why not just put a 30 cassette on the back - 36/30 is actually a slightly lower ratio than 34/28? Replacing a cassette is normally much cheaper than new chainrings.

Even if 52/34 can be done, shifting won't be smooth, as the ramps and pins on the chainring won't be aligned.

[MattJB]

Thanks for the tips.

[Strawburger]

Yes it works fine for me on a short cage derailleur

You have to play around with the front derailleur to get it right, but once set it works, albeit a bit noisy on 34/11

[Bentnose]

I can't stand the 34/50 combination (I have a 36/50 with a 12/28) I think you'd find an 18 tooth jump very annoying. By the way a 12/28 has a better range of easier gears than the 11/28. I was looking at changing to the 11/28 but when I looked at the different cogs compared to my 12/28 I figured it had too many big gaps at the easy end.

[madmacca]

I can't stand the 34/50 combination (I have a 36/50 with a 12/28) I think you'd find an 18 tooth jump very annoying. By the way a 12/28 has a better range of easier gears than the 11/28. I was looking at changing to the 11/28 but when I looked at the different cogs compared to my 12/28 I figured it had too many big gaps at the easy end.

A 52/11 will give a top speed of 60 kph (AT) 100 rpm, while 52/12 will give 55 kph. Given the OP says they are not as young and strong as they used to be, sacrificing the 11t cog to put a 30t on the other end of the cassette seems a reasonable option?

[Bentnose]

I can't stand the 34/50 combination (I have a 36/50 with a 12/28) I think you'd find an 18 tooth jump very annoying. By the way a 12/28 has a better range of easier gears than the 11/28. I was looking at changing to the 11/28 but when I looked at the different cogs compared to my 12/28 I figured it had too many big gaps at the easy end.

A 52/11 will give a top speed of 60 kph (AT) 100 rpm, while 52/12 will give 55 kph. Given the OP says they are not as young and strong as they used to be, sacrificing the 11t cog to put a 30t on the other end of the cassette seems a reasonable option?

I think most of us can give the 11t cog away as we get older, holding onto our youth maybe? Seriously there aren't too many occasions when an 11t is warranted, if this means you can get a better spread at the easier end, great. A 12-30t may be the way to go for the OP.

[eeksll]

Silliest thing I did when I got my new bike was asked for a 11-25 cassette. Replaced it with a 12-29 (campagnolo) for the "cheap" cost of $130

I flirted with the idea of using the shimano cassette instead, however I could not find one from shimano at their normal cheap cost. The following info is from the shimano webiste.

The only cassettes starting at 12 are 12-25, with the exception of the 12-28 from the dura ace line and they are $$$

105
11-28, 11-32, 12-25
ultegra
11-23,11-25,12-25,11-28,11-32
dura ace
11-23T, 11-25T, 11-28T, 12-25T, 12-28T

[AndrewCowley]

The only cassettes starting at 12 are 12-25, with the exception of the 12-28 from the dura ace line and they are $$$

105
11-28, 11-32, 12-25
ultegra
11-23,11-25,12-25,11-28,11-32
dura ace
11-23T, 11-25T, 11-28T, 12-25T, 12-28T

The OP doesn't say whether he's running a 10 or 11 speed set up. Whilst the above is correct for an 11 speed set up, in a 10 speed set up there is a Tiagra 12-28 with 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25-28 cogs.

http://www.this link is broken/Shimano-CS- ... KgodasUB-Q

[Nads]

I bought a new Propel last year that came with 52/36. Down here in Tassie it gets a bit lumpy so I spoke to my lbs about 52/34 and he actually had it fitted to his Propel and it works fine with the 28 cassette.
Apparently Shimano recommend no more than 16 tooth gap, but I have had no problems.

[madmacca]

The only cassettes starting at 12 are 12-25, with the exception of the 12-28 from the dura ace line and they are $$$

105
11-28, 11-32, 12-25
ultegra
11-23,11-25,12-25,11-28,11-32
dura ace
11-23T, 11-25T, 11-28T, 12-25T, 12-28T

SRAM make a number of 12+ cassettes, which will work with a shimano drivetrain.

[eeksll]

The OP doesn't say whether he's running a 10 or 11 speed set up. Whilst the above is correct for an 11 speed set up, in a 10 speed set up there is a Tiagra 12-28 with 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25-28 cogs.

http://www.this link is broken/Shimano-CS- ... KgodasUB-Q

Yes! I just got one those from wiggle for my old road bike/commuter for < $30. I think thats a fairly new ratio cause I have only just "discovered" that ratio. Ideally I'd like a 13 tooth minimum cog on this bike.

SRAM make a number of 12+ cassettes, which will work with a shimano drivetrain.

according to the SRAM website they don't make any in 11 speed cassette starting at 12.

Its almost like they can't figure out what new cassette tooth to add for the extra cog on the 11 speed. The way I see it, if your on 10 speed dont bother upgrading to 11 speed unless you want a 11 tooth cassette cog or are willing to stump up for the Dura ace 12-28 cassette or the campag 12-29 cassette.

[AndrewCowley]

Shimano should allow you to mix and match and build your own cassette. I know you can DIY this to a degree but it's a pain because you need to buy multiple cassettes.

For my 10 speed commuter I'd like something that goes like 28-26-24 down to maybe 12 or 13.

My other bike incidentally has a dura-ace 11-28.

[Bentnose]

The OP doesn't say whether he's running a 10 or 11 speed set up. Whilst the above is correct for an 11 speed set up, in a 10 speed set up there is a Tiagra 12-28 with 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25-28 cogs.

http://www.this link is broken/Shimano-CS- ... KgodasUB-Q

This is exactly the 10 speed cassette I have on my bike, much better jumps than the 11-28, might just have to stick with 10 spd for now.

[hamishm]

in a 10 speed set up there is a Tiagra 12-28 with 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25-28 cogs.

http://www.this link is broken/Shimano-CS- ... KgodasUB-Q

Also Ultegra 12-30. http://www.this link is broken/Shimano-Ult ... e-10-Speed

[Duck!]

Even if 52/34 can be done, shifting won't be smooth, as the ramps and pins on the chainring won't be aligned.

This. SRAM front shifting is pretty ordinary at the best of times; why make it worse with misaligned ramps.

[Bentnose]

God, I thought a 16T jump was bad enough, 18T is beyond the pail.

[CKinnard]

you might find it just as cheap to look around for a used 50/34 chainring.
if you are getting on in age, no doubt 50 would suffice.

[rkelsen]

I am thinking of changing my sram gear combo from a 52/36 to a 52/34 chainring. I run a 11/28 on the back. I mainly ride on the flat but do occasionally venture into the hills where I am not as young or strong as as I used to be.

The question is: Do you really need the 52 tooth chanring?

[Bentnose]

I am thinking of changing my sram gear combo from a 52/36 to a 52/34 chainring. I run a 11/28 on the back. I mainly ride on the flat but do occasionally venture into the hills where I am not as young or strong as as I used to be.

The question is: Do you really need the 52 tooth chanring?

I was running a 48/11 big gear for years and never had an issue, my current 50/12 is a smaller gear and is very rarely an issue.

[Duck!]

The other thing that needs to be considered is if the extra gear jump added to the size of the cassette will fit within the capacity of the rear derailleur. If you're already using a cassette at the big end of what the derailleur can handle, increasing the difference between the chainrings may mean there's simply not enough chain length available to cover the entire gear range.