Cassette issues on Mont Ventoux

archiebailey

Can anyone provide a bit of advice on the cassette I should be using for Mt Ventoux? If you've got any experience changing cassettes without changing the chain, or using the 11-28 105 cassette - please let me know!

I have a Kuota Kharma with FCR600 (50/34) crank, and it currently has a 12-25 105 cassette on the back, which is totally fine for my normal rides. I'm looking to do the Cingles de Mt Ventoux in September, and can't decide what's going to be best:

11-28 cassette - whack it on for the trip, don't bother changing the chain as it is relatively new (3 months). When I get back to the hills of south London, put the old more reasonable 12-25 cassette back on. Will the 11-28 work with my current chain length (at a guess) and a short cage derailleur?

12-27 cassette - as above or maybe consider changing the chain and having this as a permanent set up. Will this make a significant difference on a 12-25 for the ascent?

Stick with the current set-up and grit my teeth for a day on the slopes.

Thanks in advance for any general tips on this subject!

that person wot rides a b

I did ventoux late last month, on a boiling hot day with, surprisingly, no wind. my boardman has a compact chainset, same as yours, and (i think) a 12-25. i only did the bedoin side, the classic side, which is pretty steep, but my gears were just about ok. if you're doing hte cingles de mont ventoux, then you may want a lower cassette, probably the 12-27, so that you'll be ok for all 3 ascents. have fun and try to enjoy it, its a great ride.

archiebailey

Great- thanks for that. Well done by the way.

I did the Bedoin side last year too (I'm hoping that's the toughest, but know they're all hard...) I was on a triple then though, so it's good to hear I'm not necessarily going to start going backwards this time round.

salsarider79

You will need to be careful. Short cage rear mechs have a limited amount of chain slack they can work with, so a 27 is the biggest I'd go. If you run bigger, you may not be able to get the big rear cog, and the chain may come off (too slack) on the faster gears.

You can get 12-27 cassettes, and thats my recommendation.

My other recommandation is to enjoy it. I fancy doing that.

DaSy

I did the Cingles in June, and would say that it is worth having the 27 or 28 on board, as it is a long day climbing, plus you just never know what the weather will do, that may mean you need the low gears.

On my ride the wind was insanely strong, the first climb of the day had people getting actually blown from there bikes, and this just got worse throughout the day, until people were actually trying to stop me taking the last corner to the observatory on the last climb as it was so crazy, there was even a bloke on a big motorbike stopped with his stand down on the last bend as he could get round the bend! I'm not sure quite how I did it, but I rode around him and two guys on bikes hanging onto a railing at the start of the ramp, and made the top fine.

Riding into that headwind when you are out in the last few exposed kilometres can be really tough, so it can be a good thing to have the gears on board, and if the weather is calm, you don't have to use them, nice to know they are there though...

Good luck, it's a great day out.

archiebailey

Thanks! I've got a week in the area so will keep a close eye on the weather up there. Might need a few warm up rides anyway :-)

What setup were you riding then?

DaSy

50/34 x12-25.

The last 6km of the climb out of Sault are where you are likely to use your lowest gears, you are tired by then, and it is likely to be early evening at that point (assuming you do it Bedoin, Maulacene then Sault), so the wind tends to pick up.

It's the same 6km you did on the Bedoin climb, so starts to get a bit mentally tough, especially as you are likely to be one of the last people climbing on the mountain by then. The climbs earlier in the day have lots of people to keep you occupied, and the fun of overtaking people who are doing just one climb is great, especially those that recognise the Cingles plaque on your bike. I had two or three riders spot the plaque as I went past, which caused a bit of a stir.

ADIHEAD

salsarider79 wrote:

You will need to be careful. Short cage rear mechs have a limited amount of chain slack they can work with, so a 27 is the biggest I'd go. If you run bigger, you may not be able to get the big rear cog, and the chain may come off (too slack) on the faster gears.

You can get 12-27 cassettes, and thats my recommendation.

My other recommandation is to enjoy it. I fancy doing that.

I've used 11/28 on a short cage Ultegra 6600 (old type) and it just works if you wind out the 'b' adjustment. 12/27 may work with your existing chain, but I'm not sure about 11/28 as it may push things too far. Depends how your chain is cut though as some mechanics leave more slack than others. I've used 12/27 also and didn't notice a huge difference on even 25% climbs though so 12/27 is probably the way to go. Get your chain measured first as 3 months can still be enough to stretch it if you've done a few miles! You can get a 105 chain for under £20 so I'd change it anyway and re-use the old one once you've worn out the new one, that way the cassette will be nicely bedded in!