Bicycle Mechanics - Deore 11-36T 10-speed cassette on a road bike with Ultegra 6600 Derailleur?

Hello, I am building up a hill-climbing road bike and am looking for the forum's advice.

I got a killer deal on a Scattante CFR Elite Road Bike which came stock with a triple crank and 11-25 cassette. I have some mountains with some long steep climbs that I have trouble getting up during long rides without doing the walk of shame. Yes, I know that I need to work on the engine that is pedaling as wel as sheding some more pounds will also help and I'm working on that.

That said, I am looking to replace my cassette with one that can give me the bail-out gear I need. If I need to replace my derailleur I'm OK with that.

From looking at the Shimano website I don't think they make an 11-28 that will work with the 6600 derailleur and the 30/39/53 triple I currently have on the bike.

Ideally I would like to use something like the Deore 11-36T 10-speed cassette. Is this possible?

The components are: BOTTOM BRACKET: FSA SLK MegaExo, CRANKSET: FSA SL-K Light hollow carbon monocoque Triple, 30/39/53T, REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano Ultegra 6600 10-speed, SHIFTERS: Shimano Ultegra 6700, FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano Ultegra 6703, CASSETTE: Shimano CS-5700 10-speed, 11-25T

Thanks for your answers and hopefully in a year or two I can catch up to the 16mph+ riders, at least for a while. :)

The Shimano 11-28 10-speed cassette works well with the 6600 Ultegra drive train. Of course you do need the long cage rear derailleur with your triple crank. A 36 cog would be "over-kill" with your 30 chainring up front.
Another option would be a 28 chainring to replace the 30. I would not go smaller than a 28 tooth chainring on a road crankset but a lot of people do.

You will need to replace your Ultegra rear derailleur with one of Shimano's MTB rear derailleur to handle a cog that large. Road (like Ultegra) rear derailleurs are rated to handle a 27 or 28T largest cog and while that limit can be exceeded somewhat, a 36T is well beyond their capability.

BTW, you could replace the 30T granny ring on your crank with a 26T or even a 24T which will give you a significantly lower low gear at little cost.

And make it a 9-speed-compatible MTB rear derailleur while you're at it. While it might seem logical to use a 10-speed model, they have a different cable-pull ratio that won't jive with your shifters. I'd go with a Shimano RD-M771 SGS if you can find one.

I would swap out the front chain ring with the 28 at least this mod won't interfere with the ratio you have for the flats or gentle rollers. Good luck on improving your climbing power.

From looking at the Shimano website I don't think they make an 11-28 that will work with the 6600 derailleur and the 30/39/53 triple I currently have on the bike.


Funny, I had no problem finding a 10-speed Shimano cassette with a spread of 11-28:
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=32154&category=534
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=36253&category=534

Combining a 11-28 cassette with a switch to a 28 or 26-tooth chainring should get you up most mountains. This is also compatible with your existing derailleurs, although the granny-to-middle chainring shift might be a little rougher.

Mountains in Baltimore?!? Really????

Mountains in Baltimore?!? Really????

Yea I was trying to resist saying the same thing but since you started it... +1

I have seen a post where somebody in a situation similar to yours was able to get an 11-34 spread 10-Speed cassette to work with a 6600 long cage RD.

Shimano can be very conservative in their specifications. Try an 11-34t 10-Speed cassette with your current set up. I'll be surprised if it does not work.

Start out by putting a 24 on the front. If ttat's not low enoung then go with a 28 0r 30 on the back.