dh024

I am trying to use my cx bike with a trailer for a bit of backcountry camping/touring, but need to gear down for travel in hilly country and the mountains. I am running a 2x9 compact drivetrain with Tiagra STI shifters and I don't really want to change that setup.

I have an 11-32T cassette in the back, but ideally would like a 26/42 or 28/44 crankset. Any options for doing this, say with a MTB crank? I can't seem to find anything that's possible, but maybe I am just looking in the wrong places?

Any ideas appreciated!

fietsbob

essentially what you ask about is using the inner 2/3 of a triple and losing the left STI lever in favor of a friction bar end left shifter.

Because Shimano designed the shiftibng combination as a whole .. and you ask about breaking up that setup.

you would fill in the unused outer chainring position with a 'bash' guard ring.. (though it doesnt need be so strong as to carry all the weight )

a premium prices option of White Ind, Variable bolt circle cranks , or Compass cycles Rene Hearse replicas ,exist


You are stuck , then .. so Want 2 Tiagra Brifters , stick with the Tiaqra triple .. .. 30t may be replaceable with smaller ..

dh024

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I don't have a triple shifter or triple crankset -- front is only a double, hence the desire to consider whether a different crankset could be used.

I am certainly willing to put on a triple crankset and loose the outer chainring in favour of a bashguard, but if I can't go lower than a 30T inner chainring, its not much use (I already have a 32T on my double).

Is it possible to use a mtb crankset, double or triple, and still shift with my Tiagra 2x9 front derailleur/STI shifters?

BigAura

Here's an Sugino XD2 setup as a double 40x26

fietsbob

Read back thru the archives , you are not the first to ask that question as you will read, .. Opinions Differ .

4th post if you look at the back side of the big ring You will note it is plain and has none of the shifting features.
that would make it compatible with the STI stuff ,, as RBW is about friction shifting , no surprise there..

Retroshift would put a friction lever on the front of a brake lever so You could adapt the bike somewhat .


perhaps you may consider one of Shimano's trekking triples 48,36 28, and perhaps a 3rd ring swap to a 22,
\which the 4 bolt crank would make possible

dont be locked ito a pre concieved notion ..

a cycle tourist must be flexible as to how the deal with the unexpected on the road anyhow so this is a good place to start.

wheelinthai

I share your wish dh024. I'm looking at 38-24 crank set. I simply love STI. I've discussed with local bike mechanics, and they say it's doable. You'll be stretching your chain line limit, however. I'm waiting for a brave soul to plunge in.

MileHighMark

I have successfully used Campagnolo Ergopower shifters with a 22/36 MTB crank. It took a little fiddling to get things adjusted properly, but it worked well once everything was sorted. You may be able to run a similar setup with your current components.

Sugino has sub-compact doubles (ex: OX601D) that would be compatible with your Shimano shifters.

SRAM's 10-speed road levers are compatible with their 10-speed MTB rear derailleurs, and the latter can easily handle 36t cogs. This doesn't help you now, but if wanted to swap out your current 9-speed components, it's worth considering. You could also try a 9-speed Shimano XT rear derailleur with a Shimano 36t cassette.

dh024

Thanks for all the replies. The Sugina XD2 wide crank looks exactly like what I was hoping for. Thanks so much for the tip.

hueyhoolihan

if your crank has a 110 BCD spider (you didn't specify the crank you currently have, except to mention that it is a compact crank, which, to me anyway, is ambiguous. not a complaint, BTW) you can just buy a couple of chainrings of your choice that should work out.

dh024

Yes, 110 BCD. But it was my understanding that a 33T chainring is essentially the lowest you can go. I am looking to gear down to a 24 or 26T chainring for climbing big hills under moderate load.

nun

Using the inner two ring of a triple is a good hack, but might require some fiddling to get the optimum chain line. Take a look at the SRAM and TA for mountain doubles. There's lots to choose from.

LeeG

I have a similar setup with a 30/44 on 74/110 triple with outer chainring guard.

VO Polyvalent Crankset - Cranksets - Components

it's a smidge off, the pedal threadings feel some degree off axis but otherwise it's a good double, I can put a lower inner ring on and for rough use the chainring guard protecting aluminum teeth is a good idea. I don't see any utility for a gear above 95" for touring so you can get a decent range and selection of gears in a double if you give up on the big chainring syndrome.

Compact Triplelizer Chainring

Bezalel

Maybe replace your crankset with square taper 104/64 MTB triple and only use the middle and outer positions. In order to get the chainline right you'll have to reduce the spindle length by about 10mm.

hueyhoolihan

my apologies... i'd forgotten that you mentioned the 24 or 26.