Bicycle Guys - Need a Granny for a Double...

[Laneco]

The "Death Ride" is coming up very fast and I haven't really put in enough training. I'm going anyway, but to make my day a little more fun, I'm looking for a change in gearing for the road bike. I do not want to go to a triple right now as I don't want to invest alot of money. Some cash is okay, but not alot. I've got some spare parts and I'm hoping to come up with something that will work.

Ideas?

The bike is 52x39 front, dura-ace shifters/derailleur with a TruVative Isis drive crankset. The rear is dura-ace 12-27 9 speed with dura-ace derailleur. The shifters are ultegra. Wheelset is spinergy spox 700C if that matters.

What I have as spare bits are a mountain 9 speed XTR cogset (34 tooth granny). Is this interchangeable with a 9 speed dura-ace? Cause that would be PROBLEM SOLVED! Willing to swap out the chain if needed.

If that can't be done, where can I get an inner chain ring that will fit my existing setup but be something like a 35 or 36 (do they even make that)?

angela

[look 171]

Your 9 sp RR will not work with that big of a cog. You may have to get another derailleur. How about you mtb's derailleur? I think most 9sp DA RR will work with a 24 or 26 large cog, I think. You might need to add a couple links to the chain. How about a smaller inner ring? Can you just get a cheap 37 tooth ring along with that set up?

[Laneco]

What's an RR?

Checked the stash, do have a spare XTR rear derailleur.

angela

[look 171]

Rear Derailleur. Sorry.

An older ultegra might work.

Jeff

[red-beard]

Call JensonUSA - 1-888-880-3811

See if they have something compatible.

If I ever do the deathride, it will be with a triple. I'm presently running a 50-39-30 front (I'd like to swap the 50 for a 53!). My rear choice is usually a 12-25, but I have 11-27 for the hill country.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Call JensonUSA - 1-888-880-3811

See if they have something compatible.

If I ever do the deathride, it will be with a triple. I'm presently running a 50-39-30 front (I'd like to swap the 50 for a 53!). My rear choice is usually a 12-25, but I have 11-27 for the hill country.

Or, better yet your LOCAL bike shop if you do not service the bike yourself. it woulsd suck if the chain overshifts into your spokes on a climb in the ride!

[red-beard]

Somehow I think Angela can tear it apart and put it back together.

[Harold_89_911]

You might try to go for a compact crank (50/34) up front. With a 27 in the back you would have good climbing gears. The drawback is that you would loose a little in top-speed with the 50-12. Should be a straight and reversible swap with only a minor re-positioning of the front derailleur.

I'm running a 50/34 with 12/25 on my climbing bike for the Colorado Mountains and it works well for me.

Enjoy your ride...

[dd74]

Angela,

I strongly suggest you get a compact crank for your bicycle. I've seen too many triples fail on the centuries I've been on.

I have the exact same setup as you, D/A-9 with a 12/27 cassette, and for the double metric I completed last week (125 miles) which started with a 10-mile climb, I decided on a 50/34 Shimano R700 crankset. The entire difference in feeling a bit fresher than with a 39 is you have at least two climbing gears in addition to what you have if you went with a standard crankset. In fact, the 27-tooth gear becomes a 32-tooth gear with a compact, which is not at all far from the 34 you mentioned.

As to the 50-tooth ring, I never missed the 3 extra teeth that come with a 53, because during this ride I was rarely in top gear. If I was, it was during 8% descents where even if I had a 53 or 55, I'd still run out of gear to pedal.

Compacts are easy to find on Craigslist, Ebay, etc. Just try to stay with Shimano products because the compact is interchangeable between 9 and 10 speed Dura Ace. When you finish with it, heck, take it off, put the standard crankset back on, and stow away the compact for your next hilly ride.

BTW, you can use the same chain you already have.

[Laneco]

I resolved the issue today at effectively zero cost...

Threw a set of road bike tires on the 'cross bike. I weighed the wheels out and allowing for the disc (700c disc brakes), they really weren't much heavier than the road bike wheels.

48, 36, 22 MTB XT with a 12-34 on the rear. Deep, deep hill-climb gearing. Very comfortable somewhat more upright riding position than my road bike and I might be VERY happy with a big ole' handful of disc brakes on a few of the descents.

All the cool guys can laugh all they want - I got my ride picked out! DEATH RIDE OR BUST BABY!!!! See ya at the top! I'm easy to spot; fat, red hair, 'cross bike and wearing a tiara...

angela

[red-beard]

One of my buddies from Houston will be out there.

[9dreizig]

I"m arriving back in town on Sat.. If anyone is hanging out after the ride and wants to get a cocktail (or needs a place to stay Sat night in Reno) let me know. Warning I may put you to work wrenching as the engine is out of one of the 930's ..

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Laneco

...and wearing a tiara...

Pix, please.