Tandem Cycling - Sram XX 10 Speed

My stoker and I are building a new Calfee carbon, and we have a dilemma on components and gearing. We ride 75% of the time in the mountains where the small chain ring is critical. I have decided on Dura Ace, but I cannot get the low end gearing we need with an 11-28 cassette. We currently have a Co-Motion, and the 11-34 with an XTR derailleur is perfect. I am reluctant to go the an 11-34 IRD because of everything I have read on this site. Has anyone tried the 11-32 Sram XX 10 speed yet? If so, what chain rings were used. Was the shifting Dura Ace quality? I would like to use FSA carbon 53-39-28. Any advice is welcome.

What are you using for a small chainring? We use an 11-28 cassette for mountainous rides, with 53,29, 26 setup upfront.

It works great, running an 11-28 gives tighter spacing, better shifting, and is low enough that if we can't climb it with the 26/28, we are just about better off walking.

If you're not running a small inner chain ring (i.e. 26, or even 24) I'd suggest trying a smaller chanring before going to a wider range cassette in the back.

I posted the same question two weeks ago here. Most merchants are stating the cassette will be out next month. I plan on giving it a try.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=584516

Are you running Dura Ace? Did you mean you are running 53-39-26? No Problem going from 39 to 26? No dropped chain? That sounds like a good option if you are.

Yes, I saw that and that is what propmted my question. I saw many of them on the web for sale, so I was wondering who might have one already. Thanks for the input.

Are you running Dura Ace? Did you mean you are running 53-39-26? No Problem going from 39 to 26? No dropped chain? That sounds like a good option if you are.
Yes on Dura-Ace.
I have a 52-39-26 FSA Gossamer and to prevent chain drop, I use a chain shield from this shop.
http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/chainrings.html
It is sluggish from 26 to 39, but I expected that.
It is fool proof.. No dropped chain on to BB since.

Andy can you post a picture of the chain shield, tandems east photo does not give an indication of how it works

chichi,

When looking at it from the derailleur side of the bike, the half circle faces toward the front of the bike while in the BB. The flatter section of the semi-circle faces toward back of bike and sort of aligns to the stoker seat post.
I'll try to post a picture soon if I have time.
It works on the newer FSA carbon or Gossamer, the one with the wavy washer.

chichi,

When looking at it from the derailleur side of the bike, the half circle faces toward the front of the bike while in the BB. The flatter section of the semi-circle faces toward back of bike and sort of aligns to the stoker seat post.
I'll try to post a picture soon if I have time.
It works on the newer FSA carbon or Gossamer, the one with the wavy washer.

I am using the metal portion of the Jump stop, bolted to the fender mounting stud. Had to tweak the shape a little, but works good and looks low key.

Perfect - Thanks for the advice.

Yes on Dura-Ace.
I have a 52-39-26 FSA Gossamer and to prevent chain drop, I use a chain shield from this shop.
http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/chainrings.html
It is sluggish from 26 to 39, but I expected that.
It is fool proof.. No dropped chain on to BB since.

So what front derailleur are you using?
Are you limited to what rear cogs you can use when you are on the 26 chainring?
I would think the chain would drag on the bottom of the derailleur cage.

Which front derailleur would work best with Campy shifters?
I am planning on using 52-39-28 with 11-28 on back.

I am using the metal portion of the Jump stop, bolted to the fender mounting stud. Had to tweak the shape a little, but works good and looks low key.

So the regular down tube clamp on the jump stop won't work on the Calfee?
Does the frame normally come with the fender mounting bolt or is that special order?
I have the jump stop on two bikes and it really works well.

So the regular down tube clamp on the jump stop won't work on the Calfee?
Does the frame normally come with the fender mounting bolt or is that special order?
I have the jump stop on two bikes and it really works well.

The fender mounting stud is what got in the way of installing the jump stop with the clamp.

The mounting stud is an add-on, yes.

The fender mounting stud is what got in the way of installing the jump stop with the clamp.

The mounting stud is an add-on, yes.

So do you think the clamp would fit otherwise?
I'm thinking it might bottom out against the down tube / BB junction with all that carbon there.
Thats why I can't nount one on my Trek 5500 frame.

So do you think the clamp would fit otherwise?
I'm thinking it might bottom out against the down tube / BB junction with all that carbon there.
Thats why I can't nount one on my Trek 5500 frame.

Had to bend down the top of the Jumpstop a bit so it would fit on a Calfee but it now works fine. I posted a picture on this forum.

Yeah now I remember.
Thanks

Are you running Dura Ace? Did you mean you are running 53-39-26? No Problem going from 39 to 26? No dropped chain? That sounds like a good option if you are.

Yes. Dura Ace derailleurs, with FSA Gossamer crank. We use a Deda dog fang as a precaution against a dropped chain.

The shift to the small ring is probably not as crisp as it would be with a 30, but it allows for a tighter cassette spacing and better rear shifting (as well as lower overall weight for the same gear range.)

So what front derailleur are you using?
Are you limited to what rear cogs you can use when you are on the 26 chainring?
I would think the chain would drag on the bottom of the derailleur cage.

Which front derailleur would work best with Campy shifters?
I am planning on using 52-39-28 with 11-28 on back.

I am also using Dura-Ace... No drag on derailleur and limited to only use 4 inner cogs.

Sounds like my setup with the exception of the FSA carbon cranks we will run. Very encouraging - thanks

Thats why I can't nount one on my Trek 5500 frame.

Sorry that this is off topic, but on a frame like the Trek you can use a smaller bottom-bracket mounted chain drop prevention device called the dropstop by Jtek (http://jtekengineering.com/dropstop.htm). Jtek have stopped producing items, but hopefully they still have one in stock that they could send out if you need them to. K-Edge (http://www.acecosportgroup.com/) are supposed to be releasing a similar product soon.