Move from triple to compact is killing me.

[VeloLisa]

Hi! I am in the exact same boat as you are! I just got a new Madone 5.2 WSD with the compact set-up. I tried putting a 12-27 on it. It helped, but still wasn't enough to get me up one of my favorite climbs comfortably. (12% avg. grade, with a pitch of 20%) So, I decided to go with the IRD 11-34 cassette with a MTB XT rear derailleur. It works fine, but it does not have that wonderful, crisp shifting that I had with the 12-27. That is one thing I noticed right away, going from a triple to the compact double - how very much nicer the shifting was! But, the IRD cassette is acceptable. And the climbing gears it gives you are awesome! However, it is heavy at 363 grams. But, that is still lighter than a triple set-up would be.

Because of the weight and the less than perfect shifting, I decided to pull the trigger on a SRAM XX 11-32 cassette. It weighs 185 grams, which is less than the 12-27! And I'm hoping it shifts nicer.

But, bottom line, I guess it all depends on how picky you are. As I said before, the IRD 11-34 is quite acceptable. And it did give me the gearing I needed. If you're in the Sacramento CA. I will let you try it out!

Oh! And BTW, if you are interested in the SRAM XX cassette, this site has 15% off all their SRAM XX components, plus free shipping.
www.BicycleOutfittersIndy.com

[Cataboo]

Wow. When does your XX crankset come or do you already have it?

The thread I was reading about IRD derailleurs said that the older XTR rear derailleurs shifted much better with it.

[VeloLisa]

No, I have the Ultegra SL compact crankset and an XT rear derailleur. It is my understanding that the SRAM XX cassette will work with my Shimano group. At least I hope so!

[Mr. Bloom]

I'd give yourself some time to adjust before you write off the Madone. Lighter makes a huge difference, but it's not necessarily automatic, especially when the geometry is a lot different.

I'm not able to read all the responses, but I made the same change last year when I got my Madone and was INCREDIBLY frustrated. I missed the redundancy of the triple and didn't like having to plan my shifting in advance.

But, after a couple of months - and a 3 hour professional fitting, I got over it. I think the fit was the biggest issue.

Hang in there.

[lo123]

I'm not able to read all the responses, but I made the same change last year when I got my Madone and was INCREDIBLY frustrated. I missed the redundancy of the triple and didn't like having to plan my shifting in advance.

But, after a couple of months - and a 3 hour professional fitting, I got over it. I think the fit was the biggest issue.

Hang in there.

Thanks.
Had the pro fit done. Worth every penny. The major issue here is health related and will never get better and will most likely get worse.

I took the Madone out with the 27 cassette last night on a ride with lots of moderate rollers and my hip had been bothering me all day. It does beautifully there. I still can't just spin up if I needed to, but cycling felt better than walking or sitting

My current plan is to hang with the 27 cassette for now. Do climbing related workouts on the trainer and building up supporting muscles around the hip. A few slower paced hilly rides are coming up and I'll give them a go to see how I'm going with the 27. If I feel like I need the 34 on a given day, I can put skinny tires on the TriCross.

If, by the spring, I feel like i need it, I think I'll get the 34 cassette.

t is my understanding that the SRAM XX cassette will work with my Shimano group. At least I hope so!

That's what I've heard.

Thanks for the offer to try yours out, but alas, California is a bit far from Alabama.