How do I put a better granny gear on my cyclocross?

[vash]

I want to conquer a monster of a hill. (mt diablo, for the locals). My current baby gear is a 25 out back. Love to improve that for my bad knee. Can I simply buy any shimano 9 speed cassette an go? Or will I need a new rear derrailler? And chain? Need a pic? My components on my bike is not special.

[creaturecat]

go to a 9 speed cassette with a 30 or 32.
if you have a short cage derailleur, you will have to change it.
you can always lengthen the chain by installing a few extra links.

[Laneco]

I put an XTR 34 on the back of my cross bike. I did wind up going to a long cage derailleur.

I still piss and moan on the hills, but I do manage to get up them.

angela

[John Rogers]

Something to remember.......never start out climbing a hill in the lowest gear, ALWAYS save one for later!

[jyl]

No love for triples, then? Get the granny low with a 28/25, but keep the tighter ratios of the road cassette?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by john rogers

Something to remember.......never start out climbing a hill in the lowest gear, ALWAYS save one for later!

John, I thought it was spin easy gear and hit em' hard in the steep section and up shift a couple of cogs.

I know what you are saying, I remember those 42x21 days.

Vash, can you get a smaller front chain ring?

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by look 171

John, I thought it was spin easy gear and hit em' hard in the steep section and up shift a couple of cogs.

I know what you are saying, I remember those 42x21 days.

Vash, can you get a smaller front chain ring?

Yes, but I still save one for later. I start spinning in about 4 (where 1 is lowest) and when my lower back gets sore or when the grade gets steep for a bit I shift up and get out of the saddle .

I think it is mostly psychological having one to fall back on.

[John Rogers]

Hummmmm, you guys must have never driven a tandem up the 22 mile climb from Tecate MX on the way to Ensenada MX and hit the last steep grade just before the road levels out on the mesa??!!

[red-beard]

For the serious hills in Bastrop, I run a 12-28 in the back and 53-39-30 in the front. I laugh at the tri-atheletes who have to walk up the hills, as the fat-assed red-beard keeps on going!

[vash]

My "little" up front is a 36. I'm pretty not-strong. Haha

[red-beard]

We had one guy recently with mountain bike cassette and rear derailleur on his road bike. I think he had 50-39-30 up front and a 12-38 in the rear. I would have loved to see that bike do the 15-20% grades in Bastrop! He rebuilt it 2 months ago to "normal" specs.

[jyl]

My road bike has 53-42 front and 12-26 in back. Sometimes that is, err, too hardcore. The one I'm building will have 52-42-32 in front and 11-25? -28? (unsure) in back.

[red-beard]

12-28 works well. Make sure you have a good long cage.

[cantdrv55]

On my primary road bike, I have a compact crank and a SRAM 11-28 in the back. I should be able to do Mt Diablo but the motor weighs too much.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by vash

My "little" up front is a 36. I'm pretty not-strong. Haha

A 27 big cog isn't uncommon, if you have a 25 on there then a 27 should be fine. Take a pic of the rear of that bike and we should be able to tell you if it will work or not. Add a couple of link will help. I usually run an extra llink in my chain because it run smoother. I never use the two smallest cogs along with the small ring up front so the chain slap is kept to a minimum. Try going to a even smaller front ring like a 34?

[jhynesrockmtn]

My Cyclocross bike is a 12 yo Kona Jake. A few years back I started commuting on it frequent and added fenders, heavy bags, etc. I had a Lemond road bike that came with a triple crank. Swapped that on to the Kona. I rarely get in to that up front but when I need it it is there. Required a new shifter on that side.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by john rogers

Hummmmm, you guys must have never driven a tandem up the 22 mile climb from Tecate MX on the way to Ensenada MX and hit the last steep grade just before the road levels out on the mesa??!!

You are my new hero for dragging a tandem up a 22 mile climb. Holy sweet jeeuss. Oh. tandems have always put the fear of God in me on the flat or the long false flats areas when they come out on our club ride. I know there will be some broken legs on that ride. We get you back in the rollies.

[Laneco]

If you really want to cover ground, jump in and draft behind a tandem on the flat. Feels like being pulled by a semi!

angela

[vash]

thanks everyone..pics later for you Look.

you guys helped me fixed my crazy shifting mountain bike.

[jyl]

I vote for the electric motor and battery concealed in the seatpost, driving the crank spindle inside the BB.