Originally Posted by
wtsgoodtime
I am looking at touring and want lower gearing for mountains. I am trying to decide if I should buy a touring bike or try to swap out a few parts on my entry level road bike. My current lowest gear is 34/25*27=~37 gear inches. I want to shoot for around 18-24 gear inches. I don’t use the top gears on this bike too often so I am fine with sliding down the entire range.
Below is my current setup … all stock. I need to understand what components must be compatible with eachother... e.g. length of derailleur arms to fit larger cogs in my limited understanding so far.
2009 Trek 1.1
Crankset: FSA Tempo, 50/34, BCD is 110mm, I am finding the smallest chainring that will fit 110mm is 34.
Cogs: 8-speed, 12 - 25 teeth
Front Derailleur: Shimano FD-2300
http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/te...9830673813.pdf
Rear Derailleur: Shimano RD-2300
http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/te...9830673817.pdf
Shifters: Shimano ST-2300
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-ST-230.../dp/B0038EI5K2
Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
You will need a few things, but it will work out.
You will need to swap out the rear derailleur with a Shimano Deore as this is the only 9 speed derailleur left that will work with a road shifter. Any Dyna-sys and SLX 10 speed mountain derailleurs WILL NOT work with road shifters. You need to buy a long cage denotes by having the SGS marking on the rear derailleur. Shimano Deore or LX.
And then you need to buy a 11-34 8 speed rear cassette and a new 8 speed chain.
On the front, you will need to replace your 50/34 with a triple crankset but turn it into a double crankset with a 110/74 BCD. The easiest way is to buy a trekker crankset (Alivio quality is fine) with a 46/36/26 and then just yank off the 46 turning the crank into a 36/26T. You will also need a new bottom bracket too to maintain the new chain line with your new crankset.
Your front derailleur should be able to handle a 36/26T setup no problem and that should give you a GI of roughly 21" to 90" enough for what you are seeking for.
I run a 2x10 setup myself and run perfectly fine and I started exactly with a cross bike and 50/34 cranks. Only difference is mine is a 10 speed and yours is 8 road bike.
Go light and you'll enjoy a spiffy bike rather than a dedicated tank, though a tank has its place too.