Campag athena max cassette size choice for alps

gwillis

I'm off to alp du huez in a few weeks and currently use a compact with 11/27 rear cassette and short cage rear mech .
I'm a relatively good climber and living in Wales can't go anywhere without a few hills.
My question is can I go upto a 28/29 rear and can my rear mech take it .
I've had varied responses on the need to go larger than a 27

www.richtreen.co.uk

Fitted a 12-29 on my g/fs Athena equipped bike before we went to France last year without any issues.

thegreatdivide

From what I gather (and I could be wrong) post 2011 11-speed Chorus/Record/SR rear mechs are all one cage size so are compatible with all cassettes including the new 29 cog. It's just a chain length issue. Not sure about Athena though.

I could say you’d be fine with a compact front and a 27 rear in the Alps but would get flamed for it - so I won't ;-)

cc78

If you are a relatively good climber you will be fine on Alpe d'Huez with a 27.

gethinceri

I have Athena with 12-29 on my new bike. It has eaten Rhigos, Bwlch, Tumble and Gospel pass with me quite satisfactorily.

gwillis

Cheers I'm going to stick my neck out and ride the 27 ...... Grind here we come

theobrixton

Don't underestimate the Alpe. Not the longest climb and it doesn't have the super steep pitches of some but it is unrelenting. That said, if you rate yourself a good climber, 34/27 should be fine. Good luck!

P.S. There's a great climb only a couple of ks from Le Bourg D'Oisans called the Col D'Ornan. Nowhere near as tough as l'Alpe but tough enough and much prettier views along the way. And when you turn around you can bomb the descent as there's not many switchbacks. Super fun.

gwillis

Cheers I'm not the greatest climber but finish in the group if that makes sense . All the local climbs ... Tumble etc I'm able to get up relatively ok ... Well grind my way up . I'm told take it easy at the bottom and save some for the last few turns ?

theobrixton

You won't have any choice about taking it easy early as the first couple of ks are about the steepest

Miles253

You'll be fine on that gearing, what kind of time are you going for? I managed an hour last year with 39-25. So I reckon you could smash that, and be far more comfortable (I'm an average climber)

rafletcher

I run 12-29 with a Chorus 11 rear mech so you'll have no issues.

gwillis

Miles253 wrote:

You'll be fine on that gearing, what kind of time are you going for? I managed an hour last year with 39-25. So I reckon you could smash that, and be far more comfortable (I'm an average climber)

I think your a touch fitter than me to be honest the 3 of us who are going aren't so much concerned with timings although a reasonable one would be good . We are going for the whole experience of riding the climbs etc