Tandem Cycling - Campy Shifters/a0-spd Shimano Cassette - an option

For those interested in this configuration daVinci indicates on their website that they will soon have a modified derailleur that supports this configuration. I've got the 9-spd version and it shifts very well; Todd at daVinci is pretty innovative and I have no doubt that the 10-spd version will work well.

I'm currently running an 11-32, old folks gearing, and will use the 10-spd either for closer spacing or possibly and 11-36. My current thinking is closer spacing since I'm not sure I want to climb anything that needs a 24-36 gear. We're just about at the point where we can sustain a 10% grade if it's not too warm, steeper grades for short durations, so maybe we should leave tougher stuff for youngsters. Our goal, before we wear ourselves out, is to climb Henry Coe (done comfortably), Freemont Peak (done, uncomfortably on a warmish day), Mt. Tam (not done yet), Mt Hamilton (not done yet) and Mt. Diablo (not done yet). Once we can do these climbs non-stop we'll be able to do the medium tough Centuries in our area.

Anyway, if I happen to notice that the 10-spd mod is available I'll post something, I really do prefer the Campy shifters versus the Shimano gear I have on my single.

For those interested in this configuration daVinci indicates on their website that they will soon have a modified derailleur that supports this configuration.

So, you refer to this (http://www.davincitandems.com/comp.html)?


Custom Rear Derailleur
Mix different Shifters with Shimano/SRAM 9 or 10 Speed Cassettes.

http://www.davincitandems.com/images/sram2.jpg

When is the best not good enough?
Even though we offer a wider range of gears than any other bicycle in the industry, we occasionally have a need for gearing a little lower. The Campagnolo rear derailleurs we have been using for years do not work well with rear cogs larger than 29 tooth. We do not want to give up the reliability, rebuildabilty, comfort and front derailleur trim that only Campy Ergo shifters offer, but ten speed chains are proving to be too finicky and not very durable. Keeping to our Credo of "Drawing outside the chalkboard" we modified SRAM X9 Long cage and Medium cage derailleurs to work with Campy shifters. Now you can use any Campagnolo ten speed Ergo shifter and SRAM or Shimano compatible 9 speed cassette together. The CNC machined aluminum cable guide replaces the plastic one on the back of every X9 or X7 derailleur.

Available models:
C0-9 Campagnolo 10 Speed Shifters and Shimano/SRAM 9 speed Cassette.
S0-9 Shimano 10 Speed Shifter and Shimano/SRAM 9 speed Cassette.
Available soon C0-0 Campagnolo 10 Speed Shifters and Shimano/SRAM 10 speed Cassette.

Long Cage - Max rear cog 34 tooth - Chain wrap 45 tooth
Medium Cage - Max rear cog 34 tooth - Chain wrap 37 tooth.
$135


10 speed and tighter spacing is nice to have on a tandem. I'd not relish the huge gaps on 11-36 9-speed, where you may need to warn your stoker before making a gear shift.

Correcto-mundo on your cut/paste. I wouldn't go with the 11-36 even in a 10-spd (and the add indicates the offering will only work through 34t), but I wouldn't mind an 11-32 10-spd. I had changed our 9-spd 11-34 for an 11-32 'cause the darn gaps on the 11-34 were in all the wrong places and had resulted in an almost perfect overlay of 3-4 of the available ratios using our 36t and 48t chainrings.