Mixing Campagnolo cassettes

bigmat

Hi, wondered if anybody had tried mixing and matching sprockets on campagnolo cassettes. I run 9 speed, and have a 13-26 and a 12-23. I am thinking about swapping the sprockets around so that I have a 12-26 (first 4 sprockets from the 12-23, next 5 from the 13-26), and a 13-23. The 13-23 won't get a lot of use.

Has anybody tried this? If it works it'll give me a nice range for the Pyrenees in July, but Campag advise against it and just wondered what the potential problems might be...

Smokin Joe

The cassette on my winter bike is made up with sprockets from three different units as I was faffing about with different ratios. Provided they all have roughly the same rate of wear there is no problem.

redddraggon

Would mix a 13-29 with a 12-25 work well, to give me 12-29?

Would I experience any issues with a medium rear derailler.

bigmat

one cassette has probably done a couple of thousand miles more than the other - would that be a problem?!

Monty Dog

It also depends on models of cassette - Mirage and Veloce can be broken down into individual sprockets, whereas higher models use clusters of sprockets on carriers. Wear is hard to measure - but it will probably cause your chain to wear quicker as worn teeth mean that the load on the chain is carried by fewer teeth, accelerating wear.

aracer

Should work fine, apart from that your 13-23 cassette will go 13-14-15-16-16-17-19-21-23

acorn_user

Why not keep the 13-26. It should be fine. You could also use Miche sprockets, which you can buy individually.

bigmat

actually, it'll go:

13,14,15,16,17,18,19,21,23

and the 12-26 will go:

12,13,14,15,17,19,21,23,26

or something like that - works anyway. I just find the 13 not quite enough when I'm going flat out, even when its only a slight downhill / tailwind / sitting on somebody's wheel who's really good! on the other hand, the 23 isn't quite there going up the steepest hills (well actually it does the job, but I just want something in reserve...)

aracer

Where are you getting the 18 sprocket from, given that comes in neither a 12-23 or a 13-26 (9-speed)?

tenor

Or you could buy a 12-25, remove the 16 and add a 27 or 28 sprocket from the Miche or Marchissio range (?).
12 - 28 sounds useful.
Are you running 53 or 50 big ring?

bigmat

mmm, don't have the sprocket ratios to hand, maybe it isn't an 18 then - I got the numbers from the late Sheldon Brown but haven't checked. chainset is a compact 50-34, hence I spin out on the 50-13. I know, 34-23 should get me up anything, I'm just planning for the worst when I do the etape in July!

bigmat

also, if you can find a Miche 12-25 then let me know where! I couldn't find one for the life of me...

aracer

Having checked at Sheldon's that would be because rather unusually he's made a mistake with the ratios for a 9-speed 12-23 - it has a 16 rather than an 18. Would be rather strange otherwise with a 2 tooth jump from 15 to 17 and then back to 1 tooth again for 18 and 19. Unfortunately you do have two 16s and no 18, hence will end up with the 13-23 I suggested if you make the 12-26 you suggest!

Does make me wonder whether Sheldon's site will now be updated - and by whom. It would be rather a shame if it was just left to moulder and get out of date, but then neither would it be ideal if somebody who didn't know as much as he did started losing accuracy.

bigmat

In the end I swapped the 12 and 13 sprockets off the 12-23 for the 13 and 14 on the 13-26, giving me the 12-26 I always wanted. A quick roadside adjustment of the rear derailleur with my multi-tooll (I love it when I can justify carry that thing everywhere I go!) and it now works a treat. A damn sight cheaper than going for the Marchisio type alternative.