Feeling a bit stupid! Gearing implications

heartofwhite

I have just discovered that instead of having 50-34 on the front and 11-32 on the back, my bike has 50-34 and 12-23

Can anyone advise what the implications are in the difference? It is an 18 speed Sora

I have been riding the bike for 6 months and never thought to check!

Cee-Jay-Cee

There are no implications. If you've been managing with 12/23 then there's no need to change but it's a strange combination to find on a sora equipped bike which will usually have a 12/27 or 11/28 cassette. If however your finding hills difficult then change the cassette to a 12/28 and you'll find a big difference.

heartofwhite

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

There are no implications. If you've been managing with 12/23 then there's no need to change but it's a strange combination to find on a sora equipped bike which will usually have a 12/27 or 11/28 cassette. If however your finding hills difficult then change the cassette to a 12/28 and you'll find a big difference.

The bike is second hand and it must have been used for triatalons. Why do you suggest 12/28 and not 11/32?

Cee-Jay-Cee

heartofwhite wrote: »

The bike is second hand and it must have been used for triatalons. Why do you suggest 12/28 and not 11/32?

32 on a 9spd means big gaps in the last 3 or 4 gears and if you've managed ok for the last 6 months with 11/23 then you certainly have no need for a 32.

heartofwhite

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

32 on a 9spd means big gaps in the last 3 or 4 gears and if you've managed ok for the last 6 months with 11/23 then you certainly have no need for a 32.

Ok cheers the reason I ask is due to the possibility of buying a Peloton Race SL this week which comes with 11-32 on the back rather than 12-28

Cee-Jay-Cee

How did you find the hills with the 11/23?

heartofwhite

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

How did you find the hills with the 11/23?

It is currently 12/23 and I found some tough alright but managed them ok. I do a lot of Sportifs and they tend to have a few hills. I would just be worried that if I did not pick the 11/32 I would end up suffering! Then again I have no experience with this setup. Perhaps I should mention it to the shop

christy02

My sora has 11 25 and find very steep hills hard going. As per my post I am changing to a 11 30 which am hoping will make a difference. Reckon 11 23 is murder on steep hills!!!
May need to change rear dÃ႒©railleur to go to a 32..

Zen0

I don't think a Sora rear derailleur will take a 32, or even a 30. If you were to put a Tiagra derailleur on the back you could go to 30.

Cee-Jay-Cee

heartofwhite wrote: »

It is currently 12/23 and I found some tough alright but managed them ok.

If that's the case all you need is an 11/28 and you'll notice a big difference on the hills. I really wouldn't go for a 32 as the gaps are huge and it honestly sounds like you don't need it.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Zen0 wrote: »

I don't think a Sora rear derailleur will take a 32, or even a 30. If you were to put a Tiagra derailleur on the back you could go to 30.

Yeah that's true sora is rated at 27 but will take 28 easily (I fitted one to a friends bike and it works perfect)

One other thing op if you go with a 32 you'll need a longer chain unless the bike comes equipped with the 32 cassette already fitted.

C3PO

heartofwhite wrote: »

Ok cheers the reason I ask is due to the possibility of buying a Peloton Race SL this week which comes with 11-32 on the back rather than 12-28

Worth checking that the Peleton has a compact and not a standard crank up front!

heartofwhite

I think it is time to go for a 11-28 as this will give me more relief climbing but still reduce the gap in gears.

If i do go for the Peloton this week, what would I expect to pay if I asked them to swap the standard 11-32 with an 11-28?

mcgratheoin

heartofwhite wrote: »

If i do go for the Peloton this week, what would I expect to pay if I asked them to swap the standard 11-32 with an 11-28?

Probably nothing - most new bikes will have the option of several different cassettes. A new 11-28 shouldn't be more than €30 to buy yourself so I'd expect the shop to throw that in for free - it's literally a 5 minute job to swap them over.

It's 105 on the Peleton Race yeah? http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-105-5700-10-speed-cassette/

heartofwhite

mcgratheoin wrote: »

Probably nothing - most new bikes will have the option of several different cassettes. A new 11-28 shouldn't be more than €30 to buy yourself so I'd expect the shop to throw that in for free - it's literally a 5 minute job to swap them over.

It's 105 on the Peleton Race yeah? http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-105-5700-10-speed-cassette/

Pretty sure it is this one:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-ultegra-6800-11-speed-cassette/

mcgratheoin

heartofwhite wrote: »

Pretty sure it is this one:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-ultegra-6800-11-speed-cassette/

bit more expensive, but if you want it it's still just a swap job for the shop so I'd ask them to throw it in for free.

On a separate note, if you're going from a 9 speed to an 11 speed cassette, the ratios are going to be less gappy so maybe stick with the 11-32? You won't have the same issues with the new Ultegra as you would have had sticking a 32 on the back with Sora.

heartofwhite

I just rang Fitz Cycles and it would not be a problem changing the 11-32 for an 11-28 at no extra cost. I will pop into them tomorrow!