gear questions

[PscyclePath]

Sorry, I forgot the obvious.


Front Derailleur Shimano R440
Rear Derailleur Shimano 105
Crankset Bontrager Select, 36/50 teeth
Rear Cogs 9-speed, 12 - 26 teeth

"Uncle Al" had a note on this situation in last week's RoadBikeRider.com newsletter... Essentially, if you have a Shimano 9-speed rear cassette, you can play around back there to give you a set-up that will essentially let you climb a brick wall, or pull the set screws out of Hell through a crawdad hole, provided that your tow chain holds up ;-)

Details here (and subscription to this free weekly newsletter is a good deal):

o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

7. UNCLE AL

The Lowdown on Gearing Down

My shop has seen a steady stream of dudes asking if there's "any way to gear down" their road machines. Seems some sort of geologic phenomenon has tilted all the climbs a bit more skyward, to the point that these hardmen are crying (very quietly, mind you) "Uncle!"

Most gals, on the other hand, buy bikes with low gears to start with and don't have to suffer their way up those same climbs. Nor do they seem compelled to stomp the heart out of their riding mates. It proves there is a double standard, one that is clever and one which is, uh, less clever.

Let's say you've already got a compact crank with 34/50-tooth chainrings and a 12-27 cassette. But with that ever-tilting terrain, the 34x27-tooth low gear ain't quite low enough. What is a roadie to do?

If you're the proud owner of Shimano 9-speed rear gearing, you can do lots.

---Ditch the short-cage derailleur and put on a heretofore forbidden long-cage MTB derailleur. Yes, on your road bike. Use at least a Shimano LX for good performance. Shimano XT-SGS and XTR-SGS work a bit better and weigh less.

---Add an 11-32 or -34 cassette and a longer chain.

Your same 9-speed shift levers will work fine with this new stuff. Then go pull stumps as a new training method.

If your buddies razz you about that pie-size gear cluster, show 'em how it works by chatting your way side by side up the nastiest climb in your area. Slowly up your cadence (and speed) while they leave behind a trail of blood, sweat and tears, wishing they had those gears.

What if you're running a Shimano 9-speed drivetrain with a triple-chainring crank? You can make the same cassette and rear derailleur changes. Remember that a road derailleur will not handle cassettes with a cog larger than 27 teeth. Well, okay, you can probably squeeze on a 28 cog, but one more tooth won't help much. You need to have 32 or 34 teeth to make a significant low-gear difference.

If you're running a Shimano 10-speed drivetrain, you're stuck with a 30x27 (maybe 28) low gear. If that doesn't cut it, you could "train your weakness" if climbing happens to be it.

I know you Campy folks are crying foul about now. But remember, Campagnolo has been pushing 10-speed stuff for years and does not have a corresponding mountain group. You'll struggle finding a 13-29 9-speed cassette these days, but there are plenty of 13-29 10s cassettes available. Just be sure and stop at the bank on your way to the LBS. About half of your retirement fund should be enough.

Campy represents itself as racing equipment and they mean it. Shimano, with its vast participation on the mountain bike side, presents many more gearing options.

Let's hope Shimano never quits providing us with 9-speed components. That would be a sad day.

(Click feedback@roadbikerider.com to tell us a mechanical matter you'd like the Unc to write about. To read more from Alan Ardizone, owner of award-winning Cascade Bicycles in Montrose, Colorado, click here.)

[rij73]

Cheapest option is indeed what PsyclePath proposes. Change the rear derailleur and cassette to a 34 large cog. Unfortunately, with your 36/50 crankset, that gives you a low gear of 28 inches or so. Much easier than what you have now, but not as easy as what you want.

One way to go as low as you want is to get a triple crankset with a 26-tooth small chainring plus the 34 in the back. That means changing everything, I believe. Both derailleurs, shifters, crankset, and cassette. Yikes! With what that will cost, you might be better off exchanging the bike if possible.

[mimitabby]

great article, thanks psyclopath!

Pardes, i'm with the go to your most trusted bike shop and ask them crowd, and yeah, if you could trade it back in, since it's still new, that would be great too.

[7rider]

Your Bontrager Select crankset also comes as a 34/50. The 34 small ring in front - combined with some bigger rings in the back - should lower your low-end gearing quite a bit. If the bike is new, ask your LBS if you can swap the crankset out for a 34/50.