The quieter action of 18t makes sense for road/commuter rigs as well. For mountain biking the drag difference is arguably negligible - but it makes sense to stick with the 36t if that works for you.
Given they weight next to nothing, are tiny, and can be swapped in basically no time, I’d recommend having spare ratchets with you when riding the 54t setup. Better safe than sorry, and you can I-told-you-so me years down the trail if you never use them. On the other hand, you can buy me a coffee someday if they’re the difference between pedaling home and a long walk/runbike.
Feb. 16, 2023, 6:54 a.m. - Andrew Major
The quieter action of 18t makes sense for road/commuter rigs as well. For mountain biking the drag difference is arguably negligible - but it makes sense to stick with the 36t if that works for you. Given they weight next to nothing, are tiny, and can be swapped in basically no time, I’d recommend having spare ratchets with you when riding the 54t setup. Better safe than sorry, and you can I-told-you-so me years down the trail if you never use them. On the other hand, you can buy me a coffee someday if they’re the difference between pedaling home and a long walk/runbike.