HK -The place for sore tacos

So back in August, I thought it would be a "good idea" to buy a Shimano double to go with my new bike (Mojo HD). I went with the smallest gearing: 38/26. I run a 11-36 cassette, because well, I suck at pedaling. I was running a 30T single ring on the Ventana, but it was really too hard on my knees with the ridiculous amount of climbing here in the Bay Area, so I figured the 38/26 double would be fine...

Yeah, dumb idea. So after suffering for a month, and looking for smaller gears for the double (the other gearing is a 40/28), I've since changed it out for a Race Face Turbine with a 32/24 gearing that works on a 2x10.

So could someone please explain to me how Shimano thought the 38/26, which is really high gearing, was a good idea. Especially since SRAM is going to a 26 or higher for the XX1... what am I missing? My knees just thought the 38/26 was ridiculously hard for my knees.

It is all about choices, if you feel you are fit/comfortable with a taller double, go for it. If not, 3x10 is still a good option with a comfy granny gear, there is nothing wrong with it and it is less finicky to set up than 2x10. Or go with XX1 and 28T front to get the same low gear as 3x10. I was riding 3x9 for a long time, then switched to a 40/28 double but the 28T felt a little too low for me, so I went 32T 1x10, and now I am rocking a winter fixed gear 17x40 on my HT and 22x34 on my Fatwally. My thighs are hurting more than my knees.

I'd say choices are good.

Maybe Shimano didn't have your "ridiculous amount of climbing here in the Bay Area" in mind when they designed the thing?

For my riding pattern 38/26 seems a bit on the low side, but then again, my area is nowhere near as steep as the Bay Area.

That being said, riding single speed has shown me that my body can adapt to a gearing that at first seemed completely impossible. I generally tend to favor a gearing around the 2:1 ratio, currently running 32:17 on my single speed.

But listen to your knees, pick a gearing that doesn't blow out your knees on the climbs and accept that you'll have a slightly lower top speed on the flats.

Sounds like a 3x10 is your best bet. Also have bad knees myself. Best thing to get around that is make other muscles in your legs stronger. Doesn't mean lift heavy but adding weight training will help you.

Gearing is a very personal matter. Two major factors are your fitness level and the local terrain. It's really tough to make anything less than a 3 chainring crank that will fit everyone. There should no shame in adding/changing rings or cassettes until you find what's right for you. After all, if it's not enjoyable are you really gonna go out and ride very often?

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2x9 here, 11-32 cassette, 24x38 rings, I overrev a bit on the road but I can climb very damn easily.

So, if I understand correctly, 26x36 was just too tall of a gear for your hills? I can imagine shimano thinking that 26x36 was plenty low.

Maybe she was running an 11-32 cassette? I once has a 22t granny ring and it came in handy on the narrower MTB cassettes.

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Your question was asked in 2013 when wheels were 26" as more or less only choice.
Now it is 2019 and marketing tell us that 1x12 is what we all need (on 29” wheels). The biggest cog is 50 now and even with a very small front ring 26 it will be possible for superman only to climb trails 30 degrees up.
I am not falling for marketing bullshit so I keep my 3x10 and do not mind using the granny 22 tooth when climbing as so far I have not seen anybody with a 1x (much lighter and newer than mine) bike sitting comfortably in the saddle pedalling when climbing really steep hills. I pass them by climbing sitting in my saddle watching them walk beside their beautiful new bikes.
On the way down they have to pedal with cadence like a Ferrari turbo engine if wanting to go fast.
1x shifts more smooth and all the other bullshit they come with when selling their new gear. It is not funny for the factories not to have something new and fabulous and items that are revolutions and whatever marketing can call their new things in order to have us buy things that are in no way making riding more pleasant for us.
1x is fine in Denmark and Holland and wherever else the landscape is similar to a pancake, but where we are lucky enough to have mountains going above the clouds you either have a 20 ring in front and the 50 tooth rear if you do not want to walk up next to your bike. You could of course have somebody take you and your bike up to the top and enjoy riding down, and then a 36 ring will not be hard. Still same speed as possible with a 3x with 22-32-44 or 24-32-42 will be hard to get.
I am of course totally wrong when I think that most of us are not living from riding fast and trying to break records so I continue with my 3x and 26” with downhill tyres plus sealant in order to be able to get home no matter how many thorns and sharp stones I meet on the way on the trails where I meet more goats than bikes. Strava or it did not happen. Bullshit. I have time to take pictures of the landscape and enjoy the nature and when I cannot go out there anymore (we all get old if we live long enough) I can sit and look at the pictures and either be happy what I did or sad that I am no longer able.
Get fresh air and have fun. F**k those telling you that you need something that will not make you happy.

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I'd tend to agree.
The last 10 years have been one long bizarre marketing campaign, to make people buy stuff that may work for a few proffesionals, but is a drawback for the other 99%, who are just average weekend warriers like most of us.

Magura

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It was interesting working at a bike shop and seeing how many customers scoffed at the base model folding tires, and would outright be offended if you suggested the wire bead tire. The price they wanted to pay was for the wire bead, but they wanted the tubeless three rubber compound folding tire.

Asked several folks who used tubes and had entry level bikes with generic factory tires that they wanted replaced why they wouldn't use a wire bead version of the tread they wanted. They all seemed to think anything less than the top model would be a shitty tire even though they felt the tires on their Giant Talon were "not that bad, really".

One customer had one of the racer only type carbon frames built up with all the highest end lightweight stuff, even got the whiz-bang shock tuner thing with the app to your phone. Downside is he had us help build out part of it but bought the stuff elsewhere. And I think this was just the bike he wanted, wasn't building it for racing to my knowledge.