Road Bike Racing - Blocking JR Gears @ Nationals?

My 12-year old races occasionally. He wants to go to the USAC Nationals this August in Irvine. Currently he has a stock Specialized Allez with a triple up front (52t largest) with an 8-sp 12/27 cluster. Up 'til now, I've just locked out his 2 biggest gears and the officials have had no problem with it. I have heard it said, though, that at important races, the officials require actual gearing.

What do you all know/think?

If I need a new cluster, anyone have an online source for 8-sp 14-25 Shimano cassettes?

Google search "Junior Gearing Cassettes"

http://brandscycle.com/itemlist.cfm?pageId=206&startRow=31

Google search "Junior Gearing Cassettes"

http://brandscycle.com/itemlist.cfm?pageId=206&startRow=31

Thanks, but...


...anyone have an online source for 8-sp 14-25 Shimano cassettes?

I you were a good dad you would upgrade your son's bike to 10 speed :D

In the vein of not being helpful, Excel has the 9spd Tiagra junior casette.

Sorry bout that. I can find 8 speed 13-26, but nothing in the 14+ range. You may just have to block it out.

Can you put a 50 on the front and achieve the correct roll out?

Otherwise I would call Harris Cyclery. They sell non-standard 8spd cassettes (13-26, 30, 34), so maybe they could build you a 14-26 that would work.

Thanks for the ideas. I'll have to think about the diff. suggestions. I was trying to avoid going to 10-sp because of the cost (brifters, derailleurs, cassette, etc...). I'd hate to just block it out and show up and have him DQ'd because of that.

mark,
if it's 8 speed, the gears can be all loose instead of bolted together like some cassettes. you guys would just need the last two (smallest) cogs to build a cassette. you might be able to find a 14t end cog and a 15t second to make it work

It is fairly easy to build up custom cassettes in 7, 8, 9 or 10 sp with Miche. I don't know who carries it in the USA. http://www.hillbrick.com.au/component/page,shop.browse/category_id,1/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,66/

Yes, you NEED a Junior specific cassette for important races. There are two alternatives you have. You can either get a Miche custom cassette. I believe that Miche sells through QBP, a parts distributor that a lot of LBS's use.
Next, you can run a 46t (IIRC) chainring up front instead of the 52 and run the 12t in the rear. I believe that will put him at the same gear inches as a 52x14. You might want to check a gear chart on that though, but I do know that there is a rin in the mid-high 40's that will do.

52/14 = 48.28/13 = 44.57/12

So you'd need to go to 44 on the big if you leave a 12 on there, 48 if you can find a 13'er (assuming 52/14 is indeed the upper limit).

All of the juniors I have seen are running a 44x12 or 45x12 whichever one gets you there.

to reiterate: blocked gears are not legal at national events.

mkadam, I'll see you guys out there, I'm doign the 17-18 group, this is going to be my last Junior National, it's really a tough crowd out there! My old teammate is doing the 10-12 race, he's beastly.

to reiterate: blocked gears are not legal at national events.

As a junior, I'll support that. Lucky kid... I want to go to nationals so bad!:(