mountain gearing

rick fetters at [email hidden] wrote on 7/3/03 11:49 PM:

Quoted message said:

I have an Ultegra triple chainring crank on my road bike and need to get lower gearing for the
mountains where I ride. The smallest chainring is 30T currently, and I would like to go to 26T or
24T if possible. I like the tall gears of the big chainring and would like to keep if possible. My
question is the following, in order to use a 24T small chainring and still get smooth shifting, do
I need to change the middle and possible the large chainring too? I know I can just change-out the
cassette, but I don't think that would give me sufficient low gear for the hills I ride.
Suggestions? thanks,rick

You might look at swapping out your cassette instead. This is frequently covered here & you might
google groups search for gearing options. You don't mention what you are running in the rear, so
it's hard to judge.

If you are running 9sp Ultegra, note that the spacing is the same for 9 sp mtb cassettes (i.e.
they are compatible), the use of which may necessitate a longer cage derailleur. But, that could
put you in the 12-34 range if need be, which would give a fairly low gear with your existing
chainring setup.

Hope that helps,

-- Jim

(rick fetters) said:

I have an Ultegra triple chainring crank on my road bike and need to get lower gearing for the
mountains where I ride. The smallest chainring is 30T currently, and I would like to go to 26T or
24T if possible. I like the tall gears of the big chainring and would like to keep if possible. My
question is the following, in order to use a 24T small chainring and still get smooth shifting, do
I need to change the middle and possible the large chainring too? I know I can just change-out the
cassette, but I don't think that would give me sufficient low gear for the hills I ride.
Suggestions? thanks,rick

30/32 is same as 24/25. 28/32 = 24/27

To get the 30/32 you'll likely need a MTB rear derailleur. I'll sell you an XT Long Cage that I
experimented with instead of Campy and didn't use, for $35 shipped. If you now have a 12/27
cassette, it can be converted to a 13/32. You can buy an 11/32 for about $40 but the
31/32 is smoother. This entire option is more than $50 and less than $100.

If you want to use a 24 on your Ultegra triple I believe that the shifting will not be smooth if it
works and you'll need a chain watcher. The chain will also drag on the bottom of the front
derailleur in a combination like 24/21. The plus side is that it is very cheap to try. I think a 28t
cog will cause you zero problem. This 24cog option is as little as $10 but won't work. A barend
shifter might make it work.

Why do not say goodbye to that funny 52/42/30 cranckset and the triple FD. Try TA Specialites Zephyr
Cranckset with 50/36/24. It has all you want. And a lot lighter. Use a DA triple FD, (oops, is
heavier) Ultegra does not shift more than 12 tooths. Chain will drop!

Good luck, Sjef

Quoted message said:

Van: [email hidden] (rick fetters) Organisatie: groups.google.comgroups.google.comOpen ↗ Nieuwsgroepen:
rec.bicycles.tech Datum: 3 Jul 2003 23:49:04 -0700 Onderwerp: mountain gearing

I have an Ultegra triple chainring crank on my road bike and need to get lower gearing for the
mountains where I ride. The smallest chainring is 30T currently, and I would like to go to 26T or
24T if possible. I like the tall gears of the big chainring and would like to keep if possible. My
question is the following, in order to use a 24T small chainring and still get smooth shifting, do
I need to change the middle and possible the large chainring too? I know I can just change-out the
cassette, but I don't think that would give me sufficient low gear for the hills I ride.
Suggestions? thanks,rick

I have a 12-34 on the rear and 26-44-48 half-step-granny on the front. This gives me everything from
a wall-crawling 20 inch low to an almost racer's 105 at the top.

My old Sh. 600 has no trouble whatsoever making the big jump from the 26 to the 44, so modern wide
range Fr. derailers should have no trouble handling today's more common alpine setups

It's gotten me through the Climb to Kaiser many times with little pain (150 miles, 13,500 feet
climbing, Max. El. 9200', steepest grade 16%+ ). "Mountain" enough for you? ;-3)

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

First try a 12-34 cassette with a mountain rear derailleur. If that's not low enough, I hear
there'll be a 26-36-48 2004 XT with the same lightweight crankset and bottom bracket design
as 2003 XTR.

L. D. Lide

I am trying to keep this as simple (read cheap) as possible. The changing of the rear cluster and
going to a 28T chainring might be just enough low for the hills I ride. Do I have to get a MTB rear
derailleur to fit a 11-32 or 12-34 cluster: and if I do will my existing Entegra shifter work? I am
getting conflicting advice 😉 on weather the FD can do 28-42-52? thanks for the suggestions so far,
they have given me something to do more research on. The bike is almost new (less than 500 miles)
and I didn't even think about gearing before I got it; this is my first road bike in 16 years. rick

[email hidden] (rick fetters) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Do I have to get a MTB rear derailleur to fit a 11-32 or 12-34 cluster: and if I do will my
existing Entegra shifter work? I am getting conflicting advice 😉 on weather the FD can do
28-42-52?

Maybe. Yes. Yes. Yes.

rick fetters said:

I have an Ultegra triple chainring crank on my road bike and need to get lower gearing for the
mountains where I ride. The smallest chainring is 30T currently, and I would like to go to 26T or
24T if possible.

It should work OK. There are those who complain about the lack of crispness of the shifts. That
doesn't matter a damn if you can't get up the hill. You might invest $9 in a "chain watcher", since
that long drop will make it more likely to miss granny. With the chain watcher, no problem at all.

I like the tall gears of the big chainring and would like

Quoted message said:

to keep if possible. My question is the following, in order to use a 24T small chainring and still
get smooth shifting, do I need to change the middle and possible the large chainring too? I know I
can just change-out the cassette,

If you already have a triple, you have the rear derailleur you need for this. Should be no
trouble at all.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | You will say Christ saith this and the apostles say this; but _`\(,_ | what canst thou say?
-- George Fox. (_)/ (_) |

rick fetters said:

I am trying to keep this as simple (read cheap) as possible. The changing of the rear cluster and
going to a 28T chainring might be just enough low for the hills I ride.

I missed something. Why only a 28? I thought the inner circle was 74mm, which should
accomodate a 24.

Do I have to get a MTB rear

Quoted message said:

derailleur to fit a 11-32 or 12-34 cluster: and if I do will my existing Entegra shifter work?

A 28/34 is an awfully low gear, and a cassette like that will have big jumps throughout. Not a good
solution IMO.

I am getting conflicting advice 😉 on

Quoted message said:

weather the FD can do 28-42-52?

No problem. My front derailleur, a 1980's campy meant for a double, works fine with my 46/30/22
touring setup.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Arguing with an engineer is like mud wrestling with a pig... You _`\(,_ | soon find out the
pig likes it! (_)/ (_) |