Need a bigger gear AND a smaller gear

barrybridges

I'm riding the marmotte in just over a month and currently have a compact fitted, with 34/26 the lowest gear I have.

This might sound like an idiot's question, but I know I can change cassette to give myself a lower rear sprocket (29 the lowest with campag I think), but at the moment I do find that my highest gear (50/13) isn't high enough on steep descents, of which there are plenty in the Alps.

So my question is: is it possible to change cassette to give me a larger high gear and a lower low gear, or do I have to pick one or the other?

E.g. can I get a rear cassette that has a lower gear than 26 AND a higher gear than 13 or do such things not exist?

lc1981

Shimano do 11-28 cassettes but I'm not sure about Campag. Why not look on the Campagnolo website or on Wiggle, etc.?

barrybridges

Campag sites says that they do a 12 - 30, but I'd need to change to a long-cage rear mech. Otherwise, I can drop down to 11 at the back, but not with a lower gear below 26.

lc1981

I just had a look and the Veloce cassette is available in 11-25, 12-23, 12-25, 13-26 and 13-29, so it looks like you can't, unless their other cassettes offer different ranges. You could also investigate what options Miche offer.

lc1981

barrybridges wrote:

Campag sites says that they do a 12 - 30, but I'd need to change to a long-cage rear mech. Otherwise, I can drop down to 11 at the back, but not with a lower gear below 26.

Sorry, we posted at the same time so I didn't see this. This Miche cassette is available in 12-29 but I don't know if you'd need a long-cage derailleur to use it.

mercia_man

I assume you've got a 10-speed system. Your best option with Campag is a 13-29 cassette which would give you a usefully lower bottom gear for the mountains but you would spin out on the descents. It's what I use. I can always freewheel down the hills. Ascending comfortably is a bigger priority for me. This would be particularly relevant for a long and gruelling ride like the Marmotte.

The Miche Campag-compatible 12-29 10-speed cassette appears to be available (following a quick Google search) for £28.75 from Parker International, among other retailers. Feedback on internet would suggest the shifting quality is not quite as good as genuine Campag.

I've read previous posts from people who have successfully used 13-29 and even 12-29 with short cage Campag mechs.

Coach H

Just fit a 13-29.

I have this on a compact with a short cage 10s Centaur mech and it is fine. Only changed from a 12-25 a couple of months ago for a particular climb on a particular sportive but I am now leaving it on.

The noticible differences are;
1- easier on legs (and ego) spinning up steep stuff
2- Still managed a 47mph top speed (coasting)
3- Only one shiny unused small sprocket rather than two

IMHO spinning out with a 34-13 (or 12) is one of those things people think about rather than really experience. Should I get to that point on 34-13 I will be going fast enough that pedaling is going to come second to concentrating on the decent, remember in the Marmotte you will also have to concentrate on the other few hundred lunatics going faster than their ability as well as the decent itself!

lc1981

Coach H wrote:

IMHO spinning out with a 34-13 (or 12) is one of those things people think about rather than really experience. Should I get to that point on 34-13 I will be going fast enough that pedaling is going to come second to concentrating on the decent, remember in the Marmotte you will also have to concentrate on the other few hundred lunatics going faster than their ability as well as the decent itself!

It's easy to spin out a 34-13, so I presume you mean a 50-13!

drlodge

I really don't get why people are bothered about ultra high gears - just free wheel for a few seconds. Getting the bottom gear right is certainly the important thing IMO.

bernithebiker

drlodge wrote:

I really don't get why people are bothered about ultra high gears - just free wheel for a few seconds. Getting the bottom gear right is certainly the important thing IMO.

50-11 is not ultra-high, and I would highly recommend this gear for long straight Alpine descents of about 4%, where you are faster pedaling than freewheeling.

So go with a 28-11 cassette (Shimano) and you're laughing.

Coach H

lc1981 wrote:

Coach H wrote:

IMHO spinning out with a 34-13 (or 12) is one of those things people think about rather than really experience. Should I get to that point on 34-13 I will be going fast enough that pedaling is going to come second to concentrating on the decent, remember in the Marmotte you will also have to concentrate on the other few hundred lunatics going faster than their ability as well as the decent itself!

It's easy to spin out a 34-13, so I presume you mean a 50-13!

Good point, well made :oops:

bernithebiker wrote:

50-11 is not ultra-high, and I would highly recommend this gear for long straight Alpine descents of about 4%, where you are faster pedaling than freewheeling.

How fast do you want to go? 50-13 at 100rpm (not excessive) cadence = plenty MPH (particularly in a Marmotte group made up mainly of alpine descent novices)

bernithebiker wrote:

So go with a 28-11 cassette (Shimano) and you're laughing.

Bit difficult with the OP on Campag

I still say 13-29 and if you spin out, relax and enjoy some scenery, you may even save yourself some testosterone that you may need later

edhornby

Coach H is on the money here
"Istill say 13-29 and if you spin out, relax and enjoy some scenery"
especially as you can concentrate on corners,other riders, food and drinks etc

also

" am riding the Marmotte in a month"
don't start fiddling with your bike if it works then go with what you have prepared, trained with, less to go wrong, one less consideration to task load your brain with

barrybridges

Thanks for your replies.

I do understand that there's nothing wrong with spinning, but I'm very much a grinder when it comes to cadence and find it quite uncomfortable spinning. I don't know why, but I've always been more Ullrich when it comes to RPM.

Even on the local hills around here, I find myself unable to pedal on the descents, which aren't that steep or long.

lc1981

Well, if you prefer grinding to spinning, no need to change anything!

barrybridges

Oh I do, except uphill! There's a difference between grinding and crying because you can't turn the pedals!

dulwichiron

make your own, see here viewtopic.php?p=15866771

Monty Dog

Use the downhills to recover rather than spinning like a loon - arriving fresh at the bottom of a climb will be more beneficial than doing a bendix on the descent whereas those in an aero tuck coast by - particularly if you're not an experienced descender.

Wirral_paul

I was about to say the same as MontyDog - you really dont need to fit a 11 or 12 tooth..... just freewheel and enjoy the descent and rest.

What speed is your Campag - 10 spd i assume??