Road Cycling - double gearing for general use

Hey all,

I am coming down to the wire on ordering a gruppo. I know you all recommended Centaur, but I can get the Veloce for $200-$250 less, so am going that way.

My big question now is gearing, here in Missouri we have lots of rolling hills, but no mountains. This bike will be my everything bike, around town commuting etc. However, I wont have a trailer or be carrying too much weight. Maybe a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk or something like that. usually just me.

I am leaning toward a double as its pretty flat here, and having never had more than 12 speeds on a bike, 18 (2x9) seems like plenty. Also, I want the short cage rear derailur. However, I can't decide what cassette to get with the 172.5 crankset & 39/53 front rings for optimal gearing, anyone care to help?

take care,

Steve

P.S. i have been leaning toward the 13-26 or 14-28 so far FWIW

Go with the 13-23 and "Die like an animal!"

On my new ride i have a triple, plus a 9 speed rear block. Its great for me as i can zip up hills, and im really a beginner at road cycling/racing so it helps me on the right path until im reasonably fit.

Good luck!

I'd recommend at least considering something with a 12. Of your choices, either the 13-23 (first choice) or 13-26 would be my preference.

doesn't the centaur have 12-25 cassettes? I would recommend that if they do...

Originally posted by dexmax
doesn't the centaur have 12-25 cassettes? I would recommend that if they do...

Centaur does, in 10 sp, but i've decided on veloce to save $250+ dollars, so in 9 speed Veloce the highest gearing would be:

12-23 with 12,13,14,15,16,17,19,21

I didn't really consider the 12, as that is probably way too high a gear for me for the next year or so, and I figured if I find myself wishing for more high gears, I can buy another cassette later :)

My current 2 bikes are 6 speed. One has a 14-31 cassette, and the other 14-28. The front chainrings are 42-52. I've never found myself wishing for a higher gear on either, and have wished i had one lower gear a time or two on the 14-28.

Since i'm going with longer cranks and the small ring will be 39 instead of 42, I figure the best 2 choices for me are probalby the 13-26 or 14-28.

But then again, if i'm used to the gaps in a 6 speed 14-28 maybe the 9 speed 13-28 will seem smooth by comparison, heh.

take care,

Jester

I am not very familiar w/ Campy cassettes but I can modify Shimano Gearings...

I am thinking of modifying the 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23 to a 12-13-15-17-19-21-23-25(taking out the 14 and adding a 25).

Perhaps you can also do it with campy cassettes... can you?

Originally posted by dexmax
I am not very familiar w/ Campy cassettes but I can modify Shimano Gearings...

I am thinking of modifying the 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23 to a 12-13-15-17-19-21-23-25(taking out the 14 and adding a 25).

Perhaps you can also do it with campy cassettes... can you?

Yes, I believe you can mod them as you describe :) That is probably something I will do down the line, but I have to select an off the shelf combo to order with my group, then later I am sure I will buy extras and play with gearing, knowing my tinkering proclivities, heh.

I guess I could pick the best cassette to modify and just buy one extra gear, Campy will sell to you like that. Maybe the 13-28, remove the 14 and add a 12? is that what you are suggesting?

take care,

Jester

I use a 53/39 with a 12-25 in the rear, there are plenty of climbs around here, but I often use the 12 on decents.

Do any of you remember the cranksets that had biopace? Im riding my stepfathers old schwinn which has that and it seems to help on the hills does anyone still make biopace?

Highpath Engineering in the UK build custom chainrings for any crank, any tooth count and any amount of ovality you could want. They do oval rings in the Biopace fashion, or with the long-short axis reversed, which is apparentl;y better, if oval rings are your thang.
I had a double chainset for general purpose use, but the chainrings were more cyclo-cross sized than std road size. I found that 36/48 was just fine for non-racing use.