Why do people use bigger cassettes for lower gearing when they could instead use smaller chainrings?

Asked by: Steven Buck

It’s not possible to make the gap between the chainrings much bigger and get decent front shifting so the large ring has to shrink with the small one. It’s easier for manufacturers to make a wide ratio cassette that retains an 11 tooth sprocket and shifts well.

Are smaller chainrings less efficient?

Bigger chainrings and cassette cogs run more efficiently than smaller ones but extreme cross-chaining can cancel out those efficiency gains.

Is a smaller chainring better?

The size of a chainring (often expressed in terms of the amount of teeth on it, e.g. a 53t ring) plays a direct role in your bike’s gearing, with bigger rings meaning a higher (harder to push) gear and smaller rings a lower (easier to push) gear.

What does the largest cog in the cassette and smallest chainring mean?

Most bikes built in the last few years have between 8 and 11 cogs in the cassette. The largest cogs are closest to the wheel and the gears are numbered from the inside out. The larger the cog the ‘lower’ the gear and the easier it will be to pedal, but the slower you will go.

What does more teeth on a cassette do?

If you ride a lot of hills or struggle with hill climbing, a cassette with a lower ratio largest sprocket (27 or more teeth) may be beneficial. It will allow you to keep spinning for longer, rather than grinding.

What is the best chainring size?

Mountain bike chainrings are available in smaller sizes all the way down to 26t, though I’d recommend most riders try a 30t or 28t first to experience how much easier it is to climb. For gravel bikes, I wouldn’t recommend going any smaller than 38t to maintain top-end speed on downhills.

What size chainring do pros use?

Pros often use a 55×11-tooth high gear for time trials. On flat or rolling stages they might have 53/39T chainrings with an 11-21T cassette. In moderate mountains they switch to a large cog of 23T or 25T.

How much difference does 2 teeth on chainring make?

In this size range two teeth in the front is about the same as one tooth in the back. It’s a very small change but sometimes it’s just that small difference that tips the scale in your favour.

When would you use a small chainring?

“Only use your small chainring in winter”. This is a traditional piece of cycling advice, first suggested to me over 30 years ago. I’d joined my local cycling club and had been going on Sunday rides (usually just me and the ‘old boys’) for the autumn, and now winter was here.

Does a bigger gear go faster?

If the gears are of different sizes, they can be used to increase the power of a turning force. The smaller wheel turns more quickly but with less force, while the bigger one turns more slowly with more force. Cars and bicycles use gears to achieve amazing speeds our bodies could never match without help.

Is an 11 34 cassette good for climbing?

All other things being equal, the 34T sprocket on the 11-34T cassette is going to give you the easiest gear. If your bike is currently fitted with an 11-28T cassette, switching to an 11-34T cassette will make climbing less of a struggle.

What is the hardest gear on a bike?

High Gear = Hard = Good for Descending: The “highest” gear on your bike is the largest chain ring in the front and the smallest cog on your cassette (rear gears). In this position, the pedaling will be the hardest and you’ll be able to accelerate while traveling downhill.

What is the best gear ratio for climbing hills?

You will need even lower gear ratios for steep hills that are 8% or more. The most preferred gear ratios on such tracks are 50/34, 40/34, 36/40, 34/36, 34/32, 34/30, and 32/20. However, remember that using gears with such a low ratio will cause you to pedal more, but it will require less effort.

What is the best chainring combination?

Standard Setup. Currently, the most common gearing setup on new road bikes is a 50/34 chainset with an 11-28 cassette. This means that the big and small chainring have 50 and 34 teeth, respectively, and the cassette’s smallest cog has 11 teeth and its largest cog has 28 teeth.

Is 1×11 better than 2×10?

Neither system is better than the other. In some situations, 1x is better, in others, 2x is better. As cassette range expands, effectively because the largest cog is getting bigger, the advantageous of 2x (or 3x) are decreasing.

Do oval chainrings make you faster?

Because oval chainrings reduce the peak loads on knee joints, riders using them get less stress on the joints (knees) and therefore are able to keep certain level of effort for longer. This results in higher average speed.

When would you use a small chainring?

“Only use your small chainring in winter”. This is a traditional piece of cycling advice, first suggested to me over 30 years ago. I’d joined my local cycling club and had been going on Sunday rides (usually just me and the ‘old boys’) for the autumn, and now winter was here.

What does a smaller front chainring do?

If you like spinning quick then smaller chainring will get you spinning the cranks like you want. But if you like pushing the big gears, go for a larger chainring. Also consider your fitness level when combined with the terrain.

Does a bigger chain ring make you go faster?

Will you go faster if you replace the stock chainring on your bike, like the 50t one shown here, with a larger chainring, like the 56t behind it? 99% of the time the answer is no, you will likely go slower.

Can I fit a smaller chainring?

Yes, you can. This will make it suitable for diverse terrains and make pedaling easier. Putting a smaller chainring on your road bike isn’t a problem but you may have to change your crankset. Most road bikes come with double chainrings and can either be standard or a compact.

How much difference does 2 teeth on chainring make?

In this size range two teeth in the front is about the same as one tooth in the back. It’s a very small change but sometimes it’s just that small difference that tips the scale in your favour.

What is the best chainring combination?

Standard Setup. Currently, the most common gearing setup on new road bikes is a 50/34 chainset with an 11-28 cassette. This means that the big and small chainring have 50 and 34 teeth, respectively, and the cassette’s smallest cog has 11 teeth and its largest cog has 28 teeth.