cassette advice

bice

I am going to be using an old, square tapered Campag Record chainring 53-39 and want a cassette that could get me up a hill or two, but nothing mountainous. I have a Chorus medium rear mech. But I am reading on posts that this might be problematic with a 29 on the back.

I am used to a triple, although I now seldom use the granny (in London) as I have got much fitter. Presumably a 26 or 27 does get you up a hill.

(Just don't know much about doubles, and I was mighty grateful for a triple going up White Down Hill outside Dorking.)

joeyp101

yeah you will be fine with a 25-27, 29 seems rediculous! i use a 23 and go up any old hill! just depends how much pain you want to go through.

ivancarlos

26 or27 will be more than adequate. The lowest gear on my bike is 39x23 and I've never had to get off.

yakk

Hi there, you can use a 29 with a medium cage rear mech. I have done without problems in the past.
Have fun on hills. Some people appreciate a bale out gear.
Yak

Monty Dog

Knowing Whitedown intimately, and depending on your fitness, a 29 could be necessary - many people are running the 29 sprocket on a short-cage mech, so a medium will be fine. Clearly some posters have never ridden a hill like Whitedown to appreciate your predicament - it might be in Surrey but 1km at nearly 20% is tough regardless, particularly if you've been over Coombe Lane, Crocknorth and Leith Hill before you get there..

bice

Ah, Leith Hill ... but Whitedown is nastier, although shorter.