11-36 conversion to 11-40

[madmarc]

Anyone ever tried converting a 11 - 36 cluster to a 11 - 40 on a 2 X 10 drivetrain. I done a 1 X 10 with 11 - 42, works perfect. Looking for  hillkill gear on my 2 X 10 now

 

 

[Hairy]

would a smaller "small" chain ring not be the best solution for a hill kill gearing combo?

 

less fuss RE a longer chain, etc.

[Jewbacca]

Anyone ever tried converting a 11 - 36 cluster to a 11 - 40 on a 2 X 10 drivetrain. I done a 1 X 10 with 11 - 42, works perfect. Looking for  hillkill gear on my 2 X 10 now

22/36?

 

Going much less than that and you start struggling to stay upright!

[Goodbadugly]

Anyone ever tried converting a 11 - 36 cluster to a 11 - 40 on a 2 X 10 drivetrain. I done a 1 X 10 with 11 - 42, works perfect. Looking for  hillkill gear on my 2 X 10 now

Yes it works. I did it with a 42 cassette. Hill kill.

I used a shimano xt rear mech and shifter.

In the end I had to get a bigger (26) small chainring. The 24-42 combo is really overkill.

[Eddy Gordo]

Anyone ever tried converting a 11 - 36 cluster to a 11 - 40 on a 2 X 10 drivetrain. I done a 1 X 10 with 11 - 42, works perfect. Looking for  hillkill gear on my 2 X 10 now

I am currently using 2 x10 and a 1x10

I prefer the 2x setup

I have 11-40 at the back an 25T oval small ring and a 38 large ring. I use all the gearing on the small ring and the big ring is for descents on sram x9

[dirtypot]

I used a 2x10 with a 24T little ring and an 11-42 cassette for Oak Valley 24hr last year.  Massively overkill, but I didn't struggle to get up any hill.  

[Hairy]

I used a 2x10 with a 24T little ring and an 11-42 cassette for Oak Valley 24hr last year.  Massively overkill, but I didn't struggle to get up any hill.  

if you can't ride up it ... then you can probably walk it faster

[madmarc]

22/36?

 

Going much less than that and you start struggling to stay upright!

I think you right ! maybe i just need to train harder - I was thinking of doing it for the Trans Bavians Hills, because i suck at climbing 

[ChrisF]

Yes, I did on the TREK.

 

It is a straight swop of the cluster, and just adjust the B-screw

[WaynejG]

22/36 chainrings with a 10 speed 11-36 work fine for me.

 

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[ChrisF]

I think you right ! maybe i just need to train harder - I was thinking of doing it for the Trans Bavians Hills, because i suck at climbing 

 

YES, in time you wont need the 40 ....

 

But this is probably one of the cheapest "upgrades" you can do.  AND, 11-36 is still the first 9 gears.  You have lost NOTHING.  BUT, when your legs just cant anymore, you have that granny to drag you up the hill .... and the more you do this, the better your legs get, and the less you will use the 40 .....  why struggle/walk while your legs get up to the task ?

 

 

 

coming back with bust knees and 18 years off bikes I USED that 40 gear !!  And then the day came that I got to the top of Stairway-to-heaven realising I had two gears to go at the back .... and gradually I use it less and less.  GLAD I got it !

[madmarc]

Thanks for the comments guys - I'm doing lots of hill training - planning on getting well acquainted with SBR in the coming months so I will see how well I improve and only do this mod as a last resort.

[ChrisF]

Marc different pattern of thought ....

 

get to know your body, and what your limits are.

 

 

Getting the Garmin 520 was the best thing I ever did !!!!!

 

Seeing my heart rate, and being able to monitor my cadence has opened a new world for me.

 

 

I now KNOW to keep my heart rate in a certain zone while climbing those long hills.  As long as my heart rate and cadence is sorted I can keep going for long periods.  Easy to push the heart rate too high, and then to "hit the wall" half way up a long hill.  SEEING my readings I can tap down a gear, keep my cadence and thus drop my heart rate and keep going for much longer.

 

 

As with most things, once you get the hang of it, you start doing it without watching the screen.

 

 

Last Saturday I did the Hermanus trails on my own.  From the start I knew I was going to push myself a bit harder than on previous rides.  Kept my heart rate about 10bmp higher than normal, enough for a decent sweat, but just low enough to not hit the wall.  On a few occasions I would stand up and power up the hills, sit down and cycle along for a sip of water at the top, while my heart rate drops a bit.  Then it was time to drop my shoulders and keep my heart rate there ....

 

By managing my heart rate I was able to complete the ride in much higher gears than previous rides.

 

 

now if only I can remember all this mumbo-jumbo halfway up Dorstberg ...