[Saugus18]

OK so I've been checking out other bikes, and if there's one thing I would like on a new one, is at least one, preferably two higher gears than my current bike offers. I have a Crosstrail with Altus 21 speed. Front rings are 48/38/28. 98% of all the other bikes Ive been checking out have the same teeth count on front rings. Even going down the slightest declines, I'm spinning way fast in seconds, I can't keep up, I reach my peddling speed limit in no time... I want higher gears, so my question is this. If I get another bike with the same front rings, but 24 or 27 speeds instead of 21 will I get 1 or 2 higher gears than I currently have? Or do I just get more gears in between the highest and lowest gears I already have?

I want to go faster, and of all the hybrid type bikes I've researched, only two that I saw had a bigger chain ring than 48. One bike had a 50, and another had a 52. I think both bikes were Kona's which I like alot, but were way up there in price. Thanks for any info. I'm looking for a faster lighter more aggressive hybrid.

[qmsdc15]

A small cog with one less tooth will increase your top gear by a similar amount as adding four teeth to your large chainring. If you switch your stock 13-34 cogset with an 11-28 (two less teeth), you'll increase your high gear by 15%. You would have to change your 48 tooth chainring to a 55 to effect a similar increase in your top gear ratio. Changing from 48 to 52 is a 8% increase.

Amazon.com: Shimano 7-Speed Cassette with 11-28 Teeth: Sports & Outdoors

[qmsdc15]

Oops, I just noticed the Crosstail uses a freewheel rather than a freehub cassette. I don't think 7 speed freewheel with a cog smaller than 13 teeth is available.

Have you considered a road bike?

[Saugus18]

Originally Posted by qmsdc15

Oops, I just noticed the Crosstail uses a freewheel rather than a freehub cassette. I don't think 7 speed freewheel with a cog smaller than 13 teeth is available.

Have you considered a road bike?

Road bike? Not really, although I do get slightly flustered when they pass me going up a incline like I'm standing still lol.

But I wonder if I could get this answered ... if I get another bike with the same chain rings as I have now, but with 24 or 27 speeds instead of my current 21 speed, will I get one or more higher gears than I have now? If the answer is yes to this question than that will really open up alot of choices for me as lots of hybrid style bikes have that. If the answer is no, my choices in the hybrid area are minimal at best, and my only options may have to be road bikes, which I'm not terribly interested in. I guess I'm looking for a road(ish) type bike with flat bars, with similar if not total road gearing.

[qmsdc15]

It depends on the number of teeth on the cogset, if you get a cogset with 11 and 12 tooth cogs, you will have two gears that are higher than your current 13. The difference between the 11 and the 13 will be slightly greater then the differences between your 13 and 15, so in that sense you will be gaining a little more than 1 gear . So you see, it depends on how you look at it, whether it's one or two. The difference between 11 and 13 is 15%. The difference between 13 and 15 is 13%. Changing from a 48 chainring to a 52 is a change of about 12%. Changing your top gear from a 48x13 to a 52x11 will increase your top end by 27% which is equal to two additional gears if we define a gear by the gaps in your current gearing.

You should work on spinning. If you can spin 100rpm, which shouldn't be too difficult with some practice, you will be going 30 mph with your current top gear. 48x11 at 100rpm will get you to 35mph. 52x11 with the same pedalling cadence, 38mph.

[Saugus18]

Thanks for the info. But it would alot of practice for me to spin that fast! I mean I'm spinning like crazy at 25 mph, and that's is very short spurts. I can't imagine spinning a steady 30mph with my current gearing, no way. But now I'm wondering if my bike computer speedometer is accurate. I've never seen it hit 30mph yet, and that's going down some pretty steep albeit short hills pedaling fast as I can... it got to 28/29mph a couple of times.

Anyways, whatever my next bike is it will have one or two taller gears, otherwise, I don't really see the point of getting another bike if my biggest objective is to go a little faster. I could spend more on a nicer bike that has better components, lighter ect, but if that means I'm just able to accelerate faster to the same top speed I achieve now its not worth it to me. Might as well just keep the bike i have. Again, I appreciate your take on this! ;?)

[Saugus18]

Just checked my friends new bike out. He got a Kona Dew Plus off of CL for 350 bucks. Last years model, like brand new, great deal. He has the same 48/38/28 front chain rings, but its a 24 speed Deore. I counted the teeth on his smallest rear gear... 11 teeth to my 13. Looks like he'll have the edge over me in the top end speeds. Nice bike, lighter than mine, disc brakes. I'm the one that told him about that deal... I'm thinking I should have went for it!

[Industry_Hack]

Working in your cadence is harder than just buying new gear, but much more effective.

[wild]

Look at A Fuji Absolute the gear is more on the road side, thay call it a flat bar road bike. I don't know what gear thay are useing today but mine is 50-39-30 with 11-28 I think

[BobH]

Originally Posted by Industry_Hack

Working in your cadence is harder than just buying new gear, but much more effective.

Mr. Hack has given you the scoop. If you are small to average height, shorter cranks may also improve your cadence. A higher cadence is also easier on your knees vs. higher crank resistance.

BobH.