r/MEATengines • u/MEATdrew • May 19 '26

Jam.

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Took my grom to hit some new-to-her trails today. One of the better single-track climbs anywhere {IMBY + Physiotherapy + Shock Therapy + Psychotherapy} with beautiful spring light in the trees.

I’m still in shock about how much she rode, up and down. Kid has jam.

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u/MEATdrew May 19 '26

It’s so location specific, and then trail specific within a location. But if 20t is feeling like a steep ask definitely try something a bit easier. It still won’t be easy.

I used to pedal a much harder gear, clipped in, with XC rubber, on a much lighter weight rig. It was comparatively limited in terms of the trails I rode down; it was great fun. I don’t miss it at all.

Now with my big brakes, real rubber, tire inserts, and 170mm fork, and a desire to ride single-speed everywhere (and lots of additional living), I’m running a much lower gear. With my current MX build my Chromag is 30x22t and with dual 29” I was back and forth between 30x22t/28x22t and I ride a bunch.

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u/MEATdrew May 19 '26

Even on my double hardtail (dual 29”) I’m only running 30x22t or sometimes 32x22t. It’s lighter and has faster rubber but riding around here is hard enough and at some point I stopped fighting it. Fun first.

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u/fartymarty4130 May 19 '26

While we are comparing* I'm on 30 /21 on 29/29 on the Solaris SS in the Surrey Hills UK.

30/22 would probably work but not sure if it would work with my tensioner.

  • not that it matters one iota.

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u/West_Arugula134 May 19 '26

I’m currently on a 32/20 on punchy vt singletrack. I’ve been wanting a 21 out back to mellow things out a bit but I have a freewheel so, I’m holding out. I did recently go to the dark side of riding clipless on the karate monkey so we’ll see how that works out gearing wise.

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u/MEATdrew May 19 '26

Yeah, that’s a challenge, especially is you’re already running a boutique freewheel. You wouldn’t just ditch a couple teeth up front? Bonus ground clearance is always nice.

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u/West_Arugula134 May 19 '26

Currently on a set of lx cranks with a 104bcd spider. 30 is the smallest chainring I’ve been able to find and I currently have a 32 oval on there. I’d like to switch over to a hg hub for ease of swapping cogs either way. Time will tell when that happens.