Touring - Swapping wheels and clusters

First of all, this is my first post so i'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their posts. I've been lurking around here for a couple of months now and the information posted here has been invaluable.

Now for my question.

I have an 07 Jamis Nova that I primarily use for a commuter but have done some lite touring on. (Incidently I'm REALLY happy with the bike - for me the perfect all rounder - it's a fast and comfortable commuter/tourer that I can haul around a triathlon course a few times a year when I have to).

What I want to do is set it up for three sets of wheels.

I have some 105 hubs and Velocity Deep V rims that I want to build up with a 12-25 cluster to use when I do those few triathlons a year - I would put 23mm tires on it.

For my regular commuting I want to use a 12-27 cluster (presently a 12-25) on 28mm slicks - very comfortable.

Finally, for my lite touring I want to build up wheels with Velocity Diad rims and a 10 speed cluster something like a 13-34? on 32mm tires.

So i'm thinking I'll need a long cage derailluer (probably a long cage 105 - it's a short cage 105 derailleur now) and a longer chain and then I'm hoping it's just a matter of changing over the wheels and i'm set to go. As they're all 10 speed clusters I won't re-index my 105 STI shifters and my front derailleur won't be affected. BTW I'm using a 50-34 compact crank up front.

So can anyone suggest why this won't work or ways to improve it?

Thanks,

Dave.

I don't know, but will a 105 long cage handle that? An XT rear deraillier may be a be a safer bet.

Hi
I have an 05 (I think) Nova, originally equiped with a tiagra 9 speed triple group, that I use as an all rounder and have done some fairly heavy touring on it.It shifted fine with the stock setup and a 12-27. When I went to a 11-34 on the rear I had to go to a long cage lx rear deraillier. On the front I'm running the tiagra derailler and a 28/38/48 trekking crankset. Seems to work pretty well, have put several thousand km on it this set up with no problems .

Yes you will need a mountain derailleur such as an LX or XT, etc. Not sure if the chain length will work for all cassettes but I bet it might. You'll have to try it and find out or maybe someone else who has done this can provide more info. When swapping you might have to make minor adjustments to your derailleur but shouldn't need anything major.

You need a mtn RD for a 34 cog. If the hubs are all similar, as in all Shimano road hubs, you shouldn't need to adjust anything when you swap them.

Will definitely need a mtn derailer. The other issue is going to be availability and cost of a 10spd cassette that is 11 - 32/34 only one I know of is from IRD at 159.99 from harris cyclery.

Thanks for all your replies. The way I see it there are two problems. First, as Halthane pointed out, is getting an 11-34 (or similar) 10 speed cassette. The second is, as far as I can tell, most if not all MTB RDs are nine speed. So even though the 105 STI shifters are 9/10 speed, it will require an adjustment everytime I change wheels.

I'm thinking it will be easier to go with a triple crankset up front (again, I think the 105 shifters support both double and triple) and the highest number of cogs in the back without changing the RD is 27. This will give a lowest gear of 30-27. Not perfect but with the type of bike I have everything is a compromise and over here in Australia we don't have too many huge mountains anyway!

Cheers,

Dave.

I may be missing something here but I don't see the need for three sets of wheels / tires. I understand the go fast tires and the souring set up with the wide range gearing but why can't this be used for commuting as well? there will just be some low gears you never or rarely use. Sturdy touring tires would seem to be ideal for commuting use as well. Just a thought unless you have extra cash and places to store all of these wheels. YMMV.