TiBones Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 Hey Techies, please help! A while ago I posted a question regarding changing my gearing to give me a bit more oomph on the downhills. I have recently taken my bike to get a 53 ring fitted but apparently Shimano do not do an 11 tooth for an old 8 speed sora cluster any more. My old bike has just such an 11 tooth, also a sora. Can I change just the smallest gear, or must I swap the whole cluster? I am not really keen on this although it appears to be the easiest and quickest solution, simply because of the wear factor on the old cluster. Also can I do it at home, given that I have a chain wrench and that funny little splined spanner that I've forgotten the name of? TiBones2009-01-08 01:04:46
Reg Lizard Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 what about fitting a 54 on the big ring? That should have the desired effect. I am sure that it will be possible. If you change only the smallest ring on the cluster you could experience problems with shifting, I would think.
TiBones Posted January 8, 2009 Author Posted January 8, 2009 cant get a 54 for an 8 spd sora. Guy at the shop asks (in all seriousness) why dont I just change the back to a 10 spd? I then asks him I asks - so then do I need to change my RD? Yes he says he says to me. Then I asks him what about shifters? Yes he says.. And then I asks with tears in my baby blues - and now that Im up to 10 spd, will I need to change my chain and Crank and bottom bracket and blades? Yes he says. OK thanks I say. All I want is an 11 t for a bike that I could ill afford at the time! D@@s!
Johan Bornman Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 If you have an 11, see if it fits. If it fits, it fits. Whatever happened to experimentation? The youth of today are such poofters. Remember, if it aint broke, fix it.
Reg Lizard Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 On the chainrings I don't think the 8, 9 or 10 speed plays a role. So why not try in 105 or ultegra ranges.
Reg Lizard Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 Johan: won't it affect the shifting if the second smallest ring on the cluster is for instance a 13 or 14? (I can't remember how those 8 speed clusters were geared.) Changing from a 13 to 11 might still be ok, but a 14, I don't know.
Johan Bornman Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 Johan: won't it affect the shifting if the second smallest ring on the cluster is for instance a 13 or 14? (I can't remember how those 8 speed clusters were geared.) Changing from a 13 to 11 might still be ok' date=' but a 14, I don't know.[/quote'] Shifting is subjective. I can shift perfectly on old bikes with no ramps and pins in either sprockets or chainrings. I can also perform a crappy shift on a brand new hyper16valvetitaniumramped sprocket from the latest whizzbang supplier. Two and more tooth jumps are common elsewhere on cassettes. Why would it thus make a difference at the high gear end of the cassette? Like I say, experiment and stop speculating. After all, the OP seems to have everything right there at his disposal. It's a 10 minute exercise. Do it.
TiBones Posted January 8, 2009 Author Posted January 8, 2009 If you have an 11' date=' see if it fits. If it fits, it fits. Whatever happened to experimentation? The youth of today are such poofters. Remember, if it aint broke, fix it. [/quote']I live by that credo much to the Missus' disapproval. However I need at least one of my bikes and if I cock up, both will be U.S. Merely a (sort of) affirmative from you JB means I'l give it a bash! Thanks also Reg
The Guy in Pink Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 TiBones, For more Oomph on the downhills you need to learn to spin more, ever higher gears are not the answer. Do some training with a partner and race each other with you both on your 39/15 on the steepest downhill you have. When you can maintain 60km/hr for 500meter on that gear you will be getting there. No-one ever won a race on the downhill (Except in that discipline of course) To win races you need to be worrying about getting more Oomph on on the climbs.
TiBones Posted January 8, 2009 Author Posted January 8, 2009 Thanx TGIP - I spin out downhill at about 83 Kph but, thanks to my friend gravity, I should be able to propel my ample frame a bit faster. Downhills are my friends. I also have no ambitions to win a race, just go faster. 48 years and 106 kgs never gonna get me into the elites!
NotSoBigBen Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 I have done that (swapped just the 12 for an 11). Worked OK, not as smooth shifting from 7th to 8th and back but it was cool. Just do it .........
The Guy in Pink Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 BigBen, An 11 will wear much faster than a 12, as only about 4 teeth in contact with the chain, opposed to about 6 on a 12. The pressure on each tooth is higher, and the wear rate skyrockets.
TiBones Posted January 8, 2009 Author Posted January 8, 2009 Mebbe the answer is to use the 11 on a race like the fast one and change back to 12 on those races what got uphills. @BigBen - thanx if its been done I will bravely go where others have dared to tread and Ill ignore the wear until I can use the little bugger as a neutral!
Reg Lizard Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 And that's the reason why I don't ride on my 11 that frequently.
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