Weaklink

Have been fighting the IRD 11-32 10-speed cassette on my '08 Cannondale RT2. That cassette does not shift well at all, as noted in many other threads.

Thought about installing a JTech 10-to-9 speed converter, as mentioned here, but it does not look like it will work with the Shadow RD. The converter is a 90-degree set-up, whereas the ne shadows have the housing feed into the RD straight, like SRAM.

#1. Bought a Ultegra 6600 12-27 cassette, but that just doesn't have low enough gears for many of the mountains by our house. The bike did shift excellent with this cassette, but I just need lower gears.

#2. Bought a new '08 XT Shadow RD because it is supposed to have a stiffer spring and I though maybe that would help with the IRD shifting. With the IRD cassette, it still shifted like crap. The original RD was a triple Ultegra.

Soooo...

#3. Just ordered a new set of STI 6510 9-speed triple shifters, an XT 11-34 9-speed cassette, and 9-speed chain. I'll use the Shadow XT RD.

I realize there will be larger spreads in the shifting, but that is not a concern at this point. I want to take the tandem on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Assault on Mt Marion and I need the lower gears.

The 10-speed tandem gear might migrate over to my road bike and convert my 105 9-speed Roubaix to Ultegra 10-speed. Although the 9-speed 105 works very well.

I am assuming that the 9-speed chain will work fine with the 10-speed Truvativ Elita chainrings & Ultega FD.

Anyone see glaring compatability issues before I start parting-out the bikes?

Thanks for the double-check,

James

Michel Gagnon

The 9-speed chain will indeed work with your "10-speed" front derailleur and chainrings.

As for the shifters vs # of speeds, if it is not too late, you might check with Jtek Engineering to see if they might build a Shiftmate Straight with the appropriate wheel to convert from 10-speed to 9-speed.

TandemGeek

While there are other options, it sounds like you've got enough sunk-cost into your planned solution to stay your present course.

As for the added steps of 10 speed vs. 9 speed, even though our newest tandem can be set-up to run as a 10 speed configuration I'm still using the 9 speed configuration. For the vast majority of our riding, a 12x27t cassette with the 53/42/30 chain rings provides more than enough 'bandwidth' and close enough spacing for efficient gear selection. When we head to the mountains I simply switch out the 12x27t for an 11x32t or custom 12x32t to get the added GRRRR for those double-digit grades. We're limited to 32t by the Campy Record RD's capacity.

We'll likely adopt the 10 speed 12x27t later this year "because it's there" and I'll likely find that while it's nice to have -- just as it is on our single bikes -- for our performance level and non-racing status it's not essential.

Weaklink

Would have been so much easier if Shimano made a 32 toothed 10-speed cluster. Oh well, tinkering is always fun. Just you watch, as soon as I am done, Shimano will issue a press release on the new cog set....

volpi

I have also a Cannondale 08 road tandem with 10 speed 12/27 rear. It was arrived with 30/39/52 on front and for my mountain rides it was not enough . Simply i have changed the 30 on front with a 24 .
No problem to shift with the front changer in the new situation 24/39/52 and the little 24 on front and the 27 on rear permits to me and to my stoker more relax in mountains rides.

Weaklink

I could use my Ultegra cluster, which shifted well, retain my 10-speeds, and use a granny chainring. Where did you get a 24 tooth? I found 22, but not 24. Thanks, James

volpi

the old mtb had 46-36-24.In Italy it is very easy to found in the bike shops the old 24 at a very small price.I have found a new complete Ritchey Logic 46-36-24 for 50 euro and some old 24 and 26 for 10 euro.You must look and ask for the old model with five arms ( Shimano or not ).Personally i prefer the 24 steel model instead of alu model because it is more strong for tandem use.
Good luck.
Francesco

merlinextraligh

I'm not sure you're going to improve your shifting going to 9 speed.

I have an IRD 11-32 (used with a double for Everest Challenge) and I though it shifted ok. But anytime you're covering that range, its not going to shifft as well as as a more tightly spaced cassette.

If you're still going to cover 11-32 with 9speeds, then your spacing only gets worse, and my bet is you won't see a signficant improvement in shifting.

Weaklink

Understood. For now, I'll stay 10-speed and try the 24T chainring. I'll throw the 11-27 Ultegra casstte back on; that shifted well and I'll still get my lower gears for the really steep hills.

My mountain bikes have 9-speed 11-34 XT/XTR and they shift beautifully under full load going up a steep grade and never miss a shift. The IRD just does not shift as well and although it's a little thing, it really bugs the crap out of me. I find myself putting a 1/4 turn on the barrel adjustment back-n-forth all through a ride, or trying to slightly over-shift with the level so that it takes the next gear. Guess I'm just a little OCD.

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess the new 9-speed shifters will go back on E-bay if the 24T works out.

Thanks Again,

James

Possum Roadkill

Has anyone else tried running the IRD cassette with Dura-Ace 10 shifters? I switched to these and it completely cured the problem. I was having the same issue with the Ultegra levers. The only way I could get a reliable shift was from on top of the hood and I had to make sure I pressed the lever over as far as it would go past the click without clicking again to get a shift. I don't have any shifting issues with the Dura-Ace levers and IRD cassette.

Weaklink

I just wanted to post an update. The removal of the IRD cassette eliminated all of my troubles.

The use of the Ultegra cassette, 24 tooth granny, and n-gear jump stop has work perfectly.

https://www.gvtc.com/~ngear/

I have not dropped a chain in over 700 miles, and the shifting is flawless.

Hope this helps someone.

James