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11 speed 11-50 cassette...

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
28/50 on a 27.5 is about the same as a 22/37 on a 26in. We have a 5.6k ft mtn near me. It takes about an hour and a half of solid climbing just to make it up to the ridge. From there it's STEEP fire road climbing. After 3hrs of solid climbing with just a few tiny downhill fireroad breaks, I would absolutely need a 28/50.
Remember back when we had 22-32-44 x 11-32 and we couldn't climb anything?
 

Kntr

Turbo Monkey
Jan 25, 2003
7,526
21
Montana
For guys that ride the roads to the trails the eagle sounds pretty good. I live in Montana and our climbs are steep. I run a 28 front and 11-42 rear and its perfect for climbing but I pedal out on the roads all the time.

Is there a formula or webpage where I can punch in my specs to figure out what front ring I should run with an eagle?
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
Is there a formula or webpage where I can punch in my specs to figure out what front ring I should run with an eagle?
No, you are supposed to use it to get stupid-low gearing that was not even possible 10 years ago. So run it with a 24.
 

slimshady

¡Mira, una ardilla!

Kntr

Turbo Monkey
Jan 25, 2003
7,526
21
Montana
Remember back when we had 22-32-44 x 11-32 and we couldn't climb anything?
My 28 front 42 rear is fine for climbing, but I pedal out on the ride home. I ride to the trails. Single ring doesn't work well for me. The eagle might.
 

Kntr

Turbo Monkey
Jan 25, 2003
7,526
21
Montana
Go with SunRace's MX8 11-46 and 32t front ring. I've been using it for over three months now and suits me pretty well. Shimano's 11-46 cassette has stupid jumps between rear cogs.
If I go with eagle 10-50 should I go 34 front?
 

rideit

Bob the Builder
Aug 24, 2004
23,058
11,300
In the cleavage of the Tetons
I'm going 32 just so that I have reasonable climbing gears when NOT in the 50. The next jump down is 42, which is better with a 32 (or even 30) for the climbing around here. I am envisioning the 50 to be a serious bail out gear only...
 

AngryMetalsmith

Business is good, thanks for asking
Jun 4, 2006
21,079
9,788
I have no idea where I am
Sounds like a lot of you guys are climbing some seriously steep goat trails for hours.

If an 11-40 and 32t won't cut it, I'm probably better off walking. I'll take comfy shoes over a silly expensive cassette.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
It's those goddamn plus tires and 50mm rims. If you weren't lugging around 20lbs of wheels and tires you wouldn't need 22x50.
 

SylentK

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2004
2,287
854
coloRADo
We go about 1000 vert feet in 2 miles (average). Like 10% grade? But usually it's a fire road, so you can get your dirt roadie on (there are hammer heads that just do the fire roads. Makes me vurp just thinking about it). Or just put it in super grandma mode and cruise up. You know it's gonna suck, but you can at least save your knees a bit. Of course, the road is great for walking too :thumb:
 

Kntr

Turbo Monkey
Jan 25, 2003
7,526
21
Montana
We have some 1000 vert in 1 mile rides but most are 1000 vert in 1.5 miles. I can pedal a little faster than I can walk.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
We have some 1000 vert in 1 mile rides but most are 1000 vert in 1.5 miles. I can pedal a little faster than I can walk.
Hell, when it gets real steep, it is faster to walk. Hikers will be faster. We did 1900' in 1.5 miles yesterday for an absolutely amazing descent, but it was just on the edge of what can be climbed for most people and I was afraid it was going to cook our brakes on the way down. Towards the top everyone else pushed, but I sure wasn't going fast. Gears didn't seem to matter, some people on 1x with 42s, some people with 2x and serious climbing gears, I'm on 30x11-36. Gears are never a replacement for fitness IME.

The descent was badass.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,031
7,550
Hell, when it gets real steep, it is faster to walk. Hikers will be faster.
I've found that 28 x 36 (second from last gear on my 10-42 cassette) is on pace with hikers at a normal cadence. 28 x 42 gets me passed but keeps me from blowing up.
 

AngryMetalsmith

Business is good, thanks for asking
Jun 4, 2006
21,079
9,788
I have no idea where I am
http://gears.mtbcrosscountry.com/#26/2.30I1567I1608X27.5/2.40I11I3

My 28 x 42t gear is just one easier than your granny (and lots of people more fit than me ride 30t or 32t up front with similar cassettes). It's not as different as it seems on paper.
Both of my Spitfires are 26" with 32t chainrings. The first one had a 11-34 cassette, second had an 11-36, and now has an 11-40. On low slack bikes really low gearing is useless. Much more efficient to walk at that point.