Swapping a road for a mountain cassette?

[bluebug32]

Has anyone does this? I was using a compact double (can't remember the exact gearing off the top of my head), but really struggling when the hill grades went above 10%. I have some long hilly events coming up soon, so I swapped the rear cassette for a 34 tooth mtb cassette. I'm just curious if anyone else has done this and if he/she liked it? There definitely is a larger gap between each gear, so that's been the only thing to adjust to so far.

[SadieKate]

Inumerable people have done this.

You can always swap back for riding flatter terrain.

[redrhodie]

I did it. I love it! I have an IRD 11-32 cassette with an Ultegra compact double. Climbing is so much more fun.

[bluebug32]

I did it. I love it! I have an IRD 11-32 cassette with an Ultegra compact double. Climbing is so much more fun.

Do you find that it's hard to find the right gear sometimes? I was spinning between a gear that was too hard and then shifting to the next one that was too easy a few times on my ride. Is there an adjustment period?

[SadieKate]

That's just a factor of the wide gaps (spacing). You just have to increase or slow your cadence to match the chosen/available gears.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Do you find that it's hard to find the right gear sometimes? I was spinning between a gear that was too hard and then shifting to the next one that was too easy a few times on my ride. Is there an adjustment period?

Yes, you will get used to it and adjust just fine I suspect.
I love love love my mountain gearing....don't know what I'd do without it!

[violette]

I changed to mountain cassette and never looked back. I had a double comp and couldn't make it up hills, it all changed with the new cassette.