Gearing low/er

[in4]

I’m thinking of gearing lower. I’ve 45 x 19 on my Nomad atm. That has been mostly fine for me but those hills whilst loaded…!
I’m thinking 36 x 17 will make life a bit easier. I’m no speed junky these days anyway.
Any thoughts accepted with thanks.

[JohnR]

Why change the sprocket as well as the chainring? 40/19 is almost the same gearing ratio as 36/17. Either of these represents a gearing reduction similar to one gear step in the Rohloff hub. Is that enough? Reducing the chainring to 36 would, with the 19T sprocket, reduce the gearing equivalent to two steps in the hub gears.

[in4]

45 not 40 but thanks for your reply anyway.

[Danneaux]

Ian,

I've run 36x17 on my Nomad Mk2 from the start (2012) and am thoroughly satisfied with it. Truly steep hills are easier to climb with a load and I have not had a problem spinning out at the top end (keep in mind my high-rev "hummingbird" cadence).

The one downside is I cannot fit a Hebie Chainglider, so someday I might choose a different combo based around a 38t chainring to make that possible.

Best, Dan.

[Matt2matt2002]

38*17 here. Although on a Raven Tour.

I'm not sure if I've become use to it or if it's what I ' really ' need. After nearly 10 years it's become part of me.
Suits me on all tours. Most recent ones have been with rear panniers only.
Morocco and Sri Lanka where large Ortlieb, 40 litre and my recent Thailand tour, front Ortlieb on the rear.

Gearing has suited my rides. I guess that's what it comes down to?

Best
Matt

[PH]

45 not 40 but thanks for your reply anyway.

John was suggesting you change the chainring to 40 and leave the sprocket at 19, which gives almost identical ratios to your proposed 36/17.  That would have been my suggestion as well, the larger chainring and sprocket will be marginally more efficient, last longer and subsequently prolong chain life.

[j-ms]

I ride with 40/19 to get down to about 5 gear inches on the low end.  Works well for my old legs.

[mickeg]

I have been out of town, not responding during that time to forum posts.

45/19 is 2.368.

36/17 is 2.118.

2.368/2.118 is 1.118, which means that the change you propose would give you almost (but not quite) one more lower gear and you your new high gear would be very close to your current 13th gear.  If that ratio was 1.13, that would be one gear change.

If that is what you want, go for it.

I use a 36/16 when touring, which is 2.25, which is right in between your existing gear and proposed gear.  I get frustrated on shallow downhills because i spin out, but the low gear is low enough for me.

With a 19T sprocket, you are putting less tension on the chain than you will with the 17.  Thus your sprocket wear and chain wear might be slightly greater with the new gearing.  If you kept your 19T sprocket, you could go with a 40T chainring (as was mentioned before) and that would give you slightly less chain and sprocket wear than switching to a 17T.