EEEEEKKK! My chain came off

[DebW]

Thanks that's what I'm up to now. I'm looking at the Shimano Deore XT M770 165mm 4 arm Crank 22-32-44. Although I don't have clue about the 165 mm part. I just want the EASY gears.

165 mm is the length of the crank arm. That length would generally be for a rather short rider.

[KnottedYet]

Are there bolt receiver holes on the spider you have now, that would take a 3rd chainring? My bike came with 2 chainrings (like yours). I needed a granny gear, and my shop was able to just bolt a 3rd ring onto my spider. I think the one I bought cost $19 or $20, and the guys didn't charge me labor to add it on.

(might be cheaper than buying an entire crankset, if your spider has the space for it)

[pardes]

Since I only bought the bike two weeks ago, they are going to exchange the compact double for a triple as well as add a larger ring to the back.

Being really nerdy I figured out what the difference would be for getting easy granny gears. Currently my 1st gear is equivalent to 6th gear on a triple. It's going to make a big difference on roads that I've avoided because it nearly killed me to even walk up them.

Here is the geeky, nerdy, anal retentive table.

[SadieKate]

Good for them. I suspect that they are replacing your cassette completely. I haven't ever seen a cassette with a single loose ring on the inside. They'll probably give you an 11-34 mtn cassette.

[madscot13]

that looks a whole lot nicer!

and good on them for switching out the crankset without giving you grief.

[lph]

I LOVE that gear table

Now all you have to do is practice balance at low speed. Once you can ride really, really slow without falling over there's almost no limit to the hills you can tackle.

[Crankin]

Great job, Pardes. Now, you can follow all of the advice you were given. I think we all thought you had a triple. Your geekiness has stood you well.