Change cassette/rear derailleur or go sub-compact?

darrenleroy wrote:

 I think what I need to do is toughen the fuck up and lose some weight and ride more. 

You don't need to get fitter and lighter but it does make cycling up hills - and in fact any riding - more enjoyable.

IMHO it's not really about toughening up, more about having goals and then working towards them. Nice to know you found a workable solution.

CXR94Di2 wrote:

No issues with rubbing, first the Di2 front derailleur self trims as you move across the cassette gearing. Second, I ensured that the spacers on the bottom bracket, were spot on to give the correct alignment. I think I sanded down one spacer removing 1mm of thickness

Having read your posts properly,  I saw you're using an xtr front mech, which is very useful to know, I did wonder if it was possible.

Not sure if I can do this on my carbon Battaglin, which has a fixed mech hanger in the front, but my Ti bike does use a band on mech, so ilI' be trying your mod out for sure.

As you correctly said, it's all about getting up the climbs comfortably, rather than worry about how your bike looks or what people say.

I remember seeing someone back in 2009  ono the Tourmalet with a dinner plate rear cassette, which must have been a mountain bike cassette, as no one did big sprocket cassettes for road bikes then, he looked comfortable, so I thought why not.

maviczap wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

No issues with rubbing, first the Di2 front derailleur self trims as you move across the cassette gearing. Second, I ensured that the spacers on the bottom bracket, were spot on to give the correct alignment. I think I sanded down one spacer removing 1mm of thickness

Having read your posts properly,  I saw you're using an xtr front mech, which is very useful to know, I did wonder if it was possible.

Not sure if I can do this on my carbon Battaglin, which has a fixed mech hanger in the front, but my Ti bike does use a band on mech, so ilI' be trying your mod out for sure.

As you correctly said, it's all about getting up the climbs comfortably, rather than worry about how your bike looks or what people say.

I remember seeing someone back in 2009  ono the Tourmalet with a dinner plate rear cassette, which must have been a mountain bike cassette, as no one did big sprocket cassettes for road bikes then, he looked comfortable, so I thought why not.

Check out the compatibility chart I posted. You can use XT with XTR front or rear derailleur.

What you can't do is mix road Di2 derailleurs with MTB derailleurs.

I think XTR in Di2 is the only triple front derailleur available currently.

maviczap wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

No issues with rubbing, first the Di2 front derailleur self trims as you move across the cassette gearing. Second, I ensured that the spacers on the bottom bracket, were spot on to give the correct alignment. I think I sanded down one spacer removing 1mm of thickness

Having read your posts properly,  I saw you're using an xtr front mech, which is very useful to know, I did wonder if it was possible.

Not sure if I can do this on my carbon Battaglin, which has a fixed mech hanger in the front, but my Ti bike does use a band on mech, so ilI' be trying your mod out for sure.

As you correctly said, it's all about getting up the climbs comfortably, rather than worry about how your bike looks or what people say.

I remember seeing someone back in 2009  ono the Tourmalet with a dinner plate rear cassette, which must have been a mountain bike cassette, as no one did big sprocket cassettes for road bikes then, he looked comfortable, so I thought why not.

Check out the compatibility chart I posted. You can use XT with XTR front or rear derailleur.

What you can't do is mix road Di2 derailleurs with MTB derailleurs.

I think XTR in Di2 is the only triple front derailleur available currently.

maviczap wrote:

Back on topic.

My first trip to the Pyrenees I used 9 speed triple 50/39/30 with 28 biggest. I was able to spin up the climbs, as a rider from flat East Anglia, I was able to climb better than my mates from Wales who were on compact. To be fair they were carrying more body weight than my 67kg

Next few years were on 10speed 50/34 with a 30, which I managed, but couldn't spin up like the triple.

Upgraded to 11speed and the last 2 trips, I used a 50/33 with 32, but probably due to a lack of miles ,getting older and weighing 70kg I did struggle on my last trip.

I'm back in the Pyrenees next weekend, and ilI' be using 46/32 and a 34, with more miles and weighing 67kg, so let's hope I can spin up, rather than grind up.

I'd quite happily use a triple but I'm using Di2, anyone using Di2 with a triple, and I don't mean using 2 two of the three?

I have in my parts locker, a Tiagra triple and 105 triple shifter, which will be deployed once age overtakes ability, which won't be long

I'd quite happily use a triple but I'm using Di2, anyone using Di2 with a triple, and I don't mean using 2 two of the three?

Yes 

I built my Tripster V2 last year for mountain climbing using XT di2 groupset, initally with 40/28 crank, a 11-32 or 11-40 cassette.  I modified to get 44/28 crank to give a little more flat down hill speed.  

Ive now changed my front Di2 XT 2 gear derailleur to a XTR Di2 3 gear.  These are fully compatible with my set up.  I then fitted an XT triple crank 48/36/26. It works beautifully either in syncro mode or manual mode.

Shimano spec is that XTR will only take 40t max crank, this is rubbish as 48 fits easily.  Ive hear of 50t triple cranks being fitted with careful setup.

Having a band clamp for the front di2 derailleur is recommended so to allow fine adjustment

Here is shimano compatibility chart and a photo of my new crank with XTR di2 derailleur 

maviczap wrote:

Back on topic.

My first trip to the Pyrenees I used 9 speed triple 50/39/30 with 28 biggest. I was able to spin up the climbs, as a rider from flat East Anglia, I was able to climb better than my mates from Wales who were on compact. To be fair they were carrying more body weight than my 67kg

Next few years were on 10speed 50/34 with a 30, which I managed, but couldn't spin up like the triple.

Upgraded to 11speed and the last 2 trips, I used a 50/33 with 32, but probably due to a lack of miles ,getting older and weighing 70kg I did struggle on my last trip.

I'm back in the Pyrenees next weekend, and ilI' be using 46/32 and a 34, with more miles and weighing 67kg, so let's hope I can spin up, rather than grind up.

I'd quite happily use a triple but I'm using Di2, anyone using Di2 with a triple, and I don't mean using 2 two of the three?

I have in my parts locker, a Tiagra triple and 105 triple shifter, which will be deployed once age overtakes ability, which won't be long

The gearing you found easy for the Pyrenees was down to your weight.  Ive ridden with a variety of riders of different weights.  Light riders, sub 75kg, can get away with compact 50/34 11-28/32 setups when climbing mountains.  When heavyweight riders try mountains they need alot easier gearing, I go upto 40t cass and now a 26t chainring to be able to spin for hours.  Ive seen 90+kg riders die a horrible slow grind death using a standard compact setup.  I weigh 94kg+bike+kit so easily nudging 110kg whilst climbing. 

Ive just come back from the Alps and was able to maintain a decent cadence of 80rpm for the like s of the Glandon, Galibier and Croix de fer, These are climbs of 25+km long average 7+%

Note 

light riders will climb faster than heavy riders on long climbs.  Either let them go or leave 10 mins earlier to meet near the top.

I and another chap left 15 mins earlier for the Croix de fer, we were caught up within a km of the top some 30km long climb

CXR94Di2 wrote:

maviczap wrote:

Back on topic.

My first trip to the Pyrenees I used 9 speed triple 50/39/30 with 28 biggest. I was able to spin up the climbs, as a rider from flat East Anglia, I was able to climb better than my mates from Wales who were on compact. To be fair they were carrying more body weight than my 67kg

Next few years were on 10speed 50/34 with a 30, which I managed, but couldn't spin up like the triple.

Upgraded to 11speed and the last 2 trips, I used a 50/33 with 32, but probably due to a lack of miles ,getting older and weighing 70kg I did struggle on my last trip.

I'm back in the Pyrenees next weekend, and ilI' be using 46/32 and a 34, with more miles and weighing 67kg, so let's hope I can spin up, rather than grind up.

I'd quite happily use a triple but I'm using Di2, anyone using Di2 with a triple, and I don't mean using 2 two of the three?

I have in my parts locker, a Tiagra triple and 105 triple shifter, which will be deployed once age overtakes ability, which won't be long

 

The gearing you found easy for the Pyrenees was down to your weight.  Ive ridden with a variety of riders of different weights.  Light riders, sub 75kg, can get away with compact 50/34 11-28/32 setups when climbing mountains.  When heavyweight riders try mountains they need alot easier gearing, I go upto 40t cass and now a 26t chainring to be able to spin for hours.  Ive seen 90+kg riders die a horrible slow grind death using a standard compact setup.  I weigh 94kg+bike+kit so easily nudging 110kg whilst climbing. 

Ive just come back from the Alps and was able to maintain a decent cadence of 80rpm for the like s of the Glandon, Galibier and Croix de fer, These are climbs of 25+km long average 7+%

 

Note 

light riders will climb faster than heavy riders on long climbs.  Either let them go or leave 10 mins earlier to meet near the top.

I and another chap left 15 mins earlier for the Croix de fer, we were caught up within a km of the top some 30km long climb

Yep, I get that and take my hat off to you, as you're nearly 30kg more than me. I've done all those climbs, bar Galibier the long way up the telegraph. Croix der Fer was a big test, just because of the length of the climb.

Thanks for the photo, I might experiment with my Tiagra triple. Any issues with chain rub on the front mech?

darrenleroy wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

get a compact triple, 50/36/24, solves all your problems and you can keep the 11-25

 

I'm not getting a triple. I mean, I'm not Peter Sagan cool, but I have some dignity. 

The word is vanity. 

What ever get you up the hills in the most comfortable way

CXR94Di2 wrote:

darrenleroy wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

get a compact triple, 50/36/24, solves all your problems and you can keep the 11-25

I'm not getting a triple. I mean, I'm not Peter Sagan cool, but I have some dignity. 

The word is vanity. 

What ever get you up the hills in the most comfortable way

Absolutely, many a time I've watched pros come to a standstill and almost falling off due to running out of gears. Tour of Britain a couple of years back and suprisingly it was raining in the Lake District, watched with great hilarity as an old codger with a walking stick outpace the chasing bunch up a wet steep bit., it was comedy gold

darrenleroy wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

get a compact triple, 50/36/24, solves all your problems and you can keep the 11-25

 

I'm not getting a triple. I mean, I'm not Peter Sagan cool, but I have some dignity. 

Good grief!  I borrowed a mate's bike that had a triple whilst my bike was being fixed, and it was great!  I used the front shifter much more than I would normally, and having that option to change 2-3 teeth's worth up and down at the front was brilliant.

VeloUSA wrote:

If you decide on a  Wolf Tooth Roadlink ensure the seller accepts returns because Wolf Tooth says

* Compatible only with Shimano 10- and 11-speed rear derailleurs

   * Not optimized for or recommended for use with other brands.

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/pages/roadlink-tech-page

 

 

 

Sorry, missed that the OP was talking Italian - worth a search to see if they work then!

alotronic wrote:

Cheapest way to get where you want is leave the 34/50 on the front and buy a £20 'road link' which is a thing that sits on the end of your mech hanger and pushes the rear mech further down. You can then use a 36 or even 40 as biggest sprocket on the back via a MTB cassette - gives you the same range as a subcompact with a 12-28 or 12-32. I put one on my bike for some welsh hills last week for a 34 x 36 granny gear and it worked a treat.

This ⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆

I'm running  praxis works 46/32 chainrings on the front, and my Ultegra GS cage just about managed to run a SRAM 36t largest sprocket without a roadlink. With a roadlink copy installed, then no problem running a 36.

You can find these roadlink things on a well known auction site. The original roadlink things are overpriced for what they are, but cheaper than a new rear mech.