Campagnolo Veloce Gear Ratios
Hi
I have a 2010 Bianchi via nirone veloce with a 12-25 cassette. Looking into gear ratios to help with a very hilly sportive, while shimano and sram have lots of options stretching to 11-32, with the campag my only real option to improve climbs is going to be 13-29.
An online gear calculator seems to indicate that would lose me more in higher gears than I would gain at the lower end. In my mind this means sacrificing a lot of speed on decent and flat for a little climbing gain. I am already a slow rider.
Is the 13-29 a better option than I think? Are there options I am not aware of?
Appreciate any comments.
PS I think I am 50-34 on the front.
I have a 2010 Bianchi via nirone veloce with a 12-25 cassette. Looking into gear ratios to help with a very hilly sportive, while shimano and sram have lots of options stretching to 11-32, with the campag my only real option to improve climbs is going to be 13-29.
An online gear calculator seems to indicate that would lose me more in higher gears than I would gain at the lower end. In my mind this means sacrificing a lot of speed on decent and flat for a little climbing gain. I am already a slow rider.
Is the 13-29 a better option than I think? Are there options I am not aware of?
Appreciate any comments.
PS I think I am 50-34 on the front.
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Comments
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34/29 should be low enough to get you up most climbs, if you go much bigger on the cassette, the jumps between gears can be huge!!0
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also bear in mind that the sram 11-32 is not a very evenly spaced out cassette. yes the 13-29 loses a little in top gear (and gains some in the lower gears) but it is also better spaced and therefore more likely to find a gear you like to use when not in an extreme climbing or decending mode - which is probably more of the time, is it not?
as an aside - if you can, check that your bike will accept a 13-tooth smallest cog by the way - get written confirmation from the importer / manufacturer. I cut a lovely groove into the carbon chainstay of my s-works roubaix using a campag 13-26 cassette while installing and setting it up. Wrote the £1500 frame off before it had even seen a road0 -
I've just done this, going from 11-25 to 13-29.
Personally I didn't go into 11 unless it was a minor decline or wind assisted flat.
I do notice not having that last 'sprint' gear.
As for going up hill, I'd be in 25 around 8 - 10%.
Now I have a couple more gears, I find it really helpful when the going gets over 10%, or the distance gets beyond a mile or so.
I now 'spin' on my usual climbs between 65-75 rpm, instead of grinding at 45-55 rpm.
I can also come back down the cassette on the last few hundred metres.
I could probably make more sense if you have any specific questions!0 -
+1 beware getting a cassette with massive jumps from one sprocket to the next, it can make finding a comfortable cadence near impossible.
If you find you're spinning out in the 50 / 13 combo, just get into an aero tuck and freewheel0 -
Campag do 11-25 for 10-speed which works for me for most climbs (to be honest an 11-23 works for most climbs). I cobbled together a 12-26 when I was running 9 speed by putting 2 cassettes together. I imagine you could do that with your 12-25 and the 13-29, so that you'd end up with 12-29. Shifting mightnot be perfect, but would do the job if you just need those low gears for a specific event.0
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29t is the largest sprocket available from Campag. And 34t is the smallest chainring you will get on that compact chainset. Using a chainset with smaller chainrings is possible, and switching to a triple is another. But switch to triple and you will need a new front mech and a new rear mech.
If 34x29 doesn't do it, you need to question whether you should be riding a hilly sportive.0 -
Cheers for all the helpful responses folks.
Think your right berk bonce - if I cant do it on a 34x29 should I be doing it... well I'll give it my best shot but have seen better than me pushing up 'the struggle' and the various cumbrian passes so wont feel a complete failure if my feet touch the ground.
Dont feel skilled enough to make one up like big mat but from what you have all said the change to a 29 will make enough difference to be worthwhile - postie john really useful!
and thanks gkerr4 - will look into that0 -
When I bought my road bike I opted for Campag Centaur with 34/50 chainrings and 13/29 cassette which is made up of 13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-26-29. I found I missed the 18 tooth cog so I bought a 13/26 and found it much better.
The reason I opted for 13/29 was I planned to go to the French Alps and felt 26 may not be comfortable ( low enough) for me. I swapped the cassettes over before I went and am I glad I did, it wasn't easy but I managed ok on the 34/29 and don't think I would have on the 26.
In this country I mostly ride on the flat and have to look for hills, in the Alps it's the other way around.0 -
Hi,
You can also get 12/13 to 27/28 10-speed Campag compatible cassettes from BBB and Miche0