Switching to MTB Cassette

Roger_This

I know there's a thread already out there about 'smaller gears', but there are 250+ replies and I don't think I can work my way through all of them... so bear with me.

I have a Specialized Tricross and I'm finding that the lowest gear is a struggle on the longest steepest hills so I'm considering switching from my 13-26 to a 11-32 cassette (and mech, probably).

1. Anyone else done this on a Tricross? Any snags I should know about? Issues to consider?

2. Very subjective, but - how much 'difference' will I notice? Would I be better replacing the Tricross?

Thanks.

cyberknight

Your going to need a new mech defiently and most mechs max out at about 28 , to run a 32 you are going to need a long cage mech like a MTB one of a similar speed to your current one and it should work ok.
I have a boardman road comp that came with sram apex 11-32 and you defientley notice how easy it is to spin up hills rather than grind away .There is a bigger jump between gear ratios but nothing that an bit of thinking pre shift cannot accomodate.
In the end i changed to an 11-28 as i never used the 32 and only use the 28 in extreme cases .

Roger_This

Kind of decides it for me - if 11-32 is suitable for a Boardman roadie, it'll be fine on my Tricross.

Can I have your old cassette? Only kidding...

Cheers.

cyberknight

I did try swapping it a while back , i think it had less than 200 miles on it but i got no offers
a tiagra mech will go to 30 so at a push might get a 32 but tbh your not liable to notice much difference with 2 teeth, i assume the tricross is 2300 8 speed ?

Roger_This

8 speed indeed.

Really agonising over this, don't want to waste money on a change of cassette and mech if I really need a tourer or hybrid setup with '26' chainring. The smallest on the Tricross is 30. I think I need to try out a few bikes at the local EBC and see how I get on.

ineedalager

I did this on my Specialised Allez I used a Deore long cage MTB rear mech and an 11-32 MTB cassette. It works perfectly. The Allez is now my winter bike for this year that setup is still on there because I can't see the point in changing it to an 11-28 as my climbing has improved since then and the 13-26 is out as I spin out down the hills.

The 2011 Allez is 8 speed 2300 also and has a 52/39 double cranks, Even the steepest hills are a breeze with this setup.

jimmies

would you need to get a longer chain on there if you go up to a 32 on the back from a 28 ?

rolf_f

jimmies wrote:

would you need to get a longer chain on there if you go up to a 32 on the back from a 28 ?

You would - but the OP isn't just going up to 32 from 28 - he is also planning on going down from 13 to 11. So the range is increasing by a substantial 6 teeth.