Bicycle Mechanics - Extremely low gears with Campy

I have a bike currently equipped with an ISIS format bottom bracket mounted to a compact crankset (BCD of 110, both the BB and the crankset from FSA). 10 speed Campagnolo drivetrain, Centaur level components.

The lowest gear I can see as possible is a 34x29 gear, which is pretty darn low. But, I'd like to do New Hampshire's Mt. Washington hill-climb at some point (7.6 miles, 12% average grade, extended stretches at 18%), and the standard recommendation for mortals is to get a gear ratio of at least 1:1. A couple questions:

1) I could get a Shimano-compatible rear wheel, slide a 9-speed 12-34 mountain bike cassette on there and thus have a 34x34. Is there any way that 10-speed Campagnolo Ergopower shifters / chain / rear derailleur combination could be convinced to "work" with that?

2) I know that triples usually come with a 74 mm BCD for the granny gear. Can a triple chainring crankset be mounted to a double-chainring-compatible bottom bracket if you're only ever going to use the granny gear?

3) Any other suggestions for getting Campy geared under a 1:1 ratio? i.e., does anybody make a double crankset with a BCD of under 110?

Remember, I'm not asking for any kind of even remotely permanent setup. It just has to work for 7.6 miles of straight up. :eek: I'd prefer to replace as few parts as possible...

Thanks
Kevin

I have a bike currently equipped with an ISIS format bottom bracket mounted to a compact crankset (BCD of 110, both the BB and the crankset from FSA). 10 speed Campagnolo drivetrain, Centaur level components.

The lowest gear I can see as possible is a 34x29 gear, which is pretty darn low. But, I'd like to do New Hampshire's Mt. Washington hill-climb at some point (7.6 miles, 12% average grade, extended stretches at 18%), and the standard recommendation for mortals is to get a gear ratio of at least 1:1. A couple questions:

1) I could get a Shimano-compatible rear wheel, slide a 9-speed 12-34 mountain bike cassette on there and thus have a 34x34. Is there any way that 10-speed Campagnolo Ergopower shifters / chain / rear derailleur combination could be convinced to "work" with that?

2) I know that triples usually come with a 74 mm BCD for the granny gear. Can a triple chainring crankset be mounted to a double-chainring-compatible bottom bracket if you're only ever going to use the granny gear?

3) Any other suggestions for getting Campy geared under a 1:1 ratio? i.e., does anybody make a double crankset with a BCD of under 110?

Remember, I'm not asking for any kind of even remotely permanent setup. It just has to work for 7.6 miles of straight up. :eek: I'd prefer to replace as few parts as possible...

Thanks
Kevin 1). Use a shimano wheel and 9 casette and a shimano mtb RD with the alternate cable count as described in the www.hubbhu.com article, to shift it with your campy 10 speed shifter....2). You did not say something right.The question makes no sense.I think you are asking if you could stick a triple on your double BB,and if so, the answer is maybe, since the Centaur double uses a 111 spindle and the centaur triple uses a 111 or 115 depending on seattube diameter and chainstay clearance.If your frame required the 115 you could probably get away with a BB spacer to obtain the clearance....3). No doubles I know of with smaller BCD than 110. Consider a cheap MTB crank and matching BB

Check out some large cogs by Marchisio for a Campy spline. Torelli are the US agents.