Can I convert Dura-Ace 53x39 to Triple?

Von2

Hi

I am training for both Etapes but know nothing about the equipment itself!

I have Dura-Ace 7800 set and 9 speed (11-23 on my bike (bought bike 2nd hand).
But I want to be sensible so want to go Triple with a better range cassette.

But I don't want to be faced with mega costs.
Can I convert to a triple and more reasonable cassette without a full refit? Can I buy a new Crankset and cassette and get away with it with a proper fitting?

Thanks for your help

Steve

The Journey to the Etapes
www.2011etape.co.uk

Down the Road

Bad news it is almost a full groupset. Shifters Front rear mech and Chainset for a start.
Better option is get an 11-28 cassette and that WILL be low enough with a bit of training.

Mister W

A middle option would be to swap the standard double for a compact. That wouldn't need new shifters and probably wouldn't need a new front mech.

But try the 11-28 first as it's cheap and easy.

Buckled_Rims

Agree with DownThe Road, it's a full groupset.

The other possibility is to find a 9 speed compact crankset 34/50, maybe ultregra or 105, cheaply??? And then get the 11-28 cassette which will give almost the same as a triple.

cougie

You may not even need a triple. Plenty of people can do hard routes on double chainset.
Have you been to the hills yet and how did you get on ?

I'd agree that a 23 is a bit high though. I'd not spend money until I saw how i was getting on ?

Von2

I have done Ventoux on Ultegra 50-40-30 11-30
Given both Etapes are going to be double this (and some) I want the best female OAP help.

On both times up Ventoux (different bike - not available), I found myself on the 30 30 option (sorry, boys :oops: ).

This isn't sounding good


(Thanks for your inputs so far!!!)

elcani

Hi Von

I recently cycled across Spain and Italy, fully loaded (four panniers). My bike has Dura Ace 7900 (compact crankset) but I wanted (much) lower gears. The route I went was to buy an 11-34 Shimano SLX 10 speed MTB cassette and fit a Deore mountain bike rear mech (needed for it's long cage) and a new chain. This kept the costs down to about fifty quid, because I already had the rear mech. It gave me a 34/34 lowest gear which is the same 1:1 ratio as your 30/30. Even if you don't have a compact at the moment, 39/34 is pretty low. You can compare different options using Sheldons gear calculator:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

You could always sell the cassette and mech afterwards to recoup some of your outlay.

Cheers

*EDIT* Just seen you've said you have DA 7800 but its 9 speed. I thought 7800 was 10 speed, but assuming you do have 9 speed, you should be able to get an 11-34 cassette for about £25, plus a suitable mech for £25 and a chain for £10. Sell the mech and cassette for 60% of new cost when you're done and you'll only have spent £40.

Von2

USing a MTB set ... hmmm

Thanks for the idea

Pros/Cons?

PeterBL

Cons: the jumps between the gears.

Buckled_Rims

Not sure if the pull ratio on the shifters are compatible with an MTB RD. Both might be 9 speed, but DA shifters are designed for a fairly close ratio cassettes (less the 14 spaces). The MTB 11-34 has 23 spaces difference which far exceeds Shimanos 14 cog difference recommendation.

The only way to know is to try

Erudin

Von2 wrote:

USing a MTB set ... hmmm

Thanks for the idea

Pros/Cons?

I'm running an MTB rear mech and cassette on my winter/audax bike with Dura Ace downtube shifters, gives me a range of 25.1 to 128.9 gear inches. The cons are its heavy, pros are it copes well with mud/water, cheap to buy/maintain, wide range of gearing, can use for light touring but still got a high top gear.

Campagnolo Chorus Triple Chainset 30/42/53 (2006 model) with Veloce BB (square taper)
9 Spd Shimano Dura Ace SL-A7700 Braze-On Down Tube shifters SIS
LX FHT660 rear hub with a Shimano Deore Cassette 9 Speed HG50 11-32
HG53 Chain
Deore M530 low normal rear mech
Tiagra FD4503 Triple Front Mech

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/dura-ace.html

Link: Rear Shifting article by Chris Juden

elcani

Pull ratios are the same and the combination I describe should shift perfectly (mine did) - but you do need a long cage mech to handle the large difference in number of teeth.

Cheers

Von2

Guys

Thanks for helping with my education ... I am going to see if I can get away with a normal high cassette with a move to MTB's as a backstop ... oh .. and of course a move to COmpact

Cheers

Steve