Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
1. You'll need to use a cheaper cassette. Assuming you want to keep the spacing between gears even, you have to remove the biggest cog. Ultegra and DA cassettes have the 3 largest cogs on a carrier so removing just the biggest one would be a project. The first (smallest) cog is unique because it has serrations for the lock ring so I don't think you'll want to remove that one.
Good point. So, if I snag a HG-compatible 9-spd cassette -- such as the
**edit: Shimano CS904 XT: edit** which has 28 and 32 as the last two cogs, I could drop the 32t and still have the 28t. Or I could build my own 9-speed cassette, which would be more fun. The question: are all Shimano 9spd HG cassettes -- Deore, Ultegra, 105 or otherwise -- using the same spacing in between cogs? What about SRAM 9spd? Same spacing as Shimano?
Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
2. Don't worry about BB spindle length. It'll be fine. The whole object of the 8 of 9 is to use the narrower 7-speed freehub body so there's no need to change the crankset.
gotcha. So I could keep the Sugino Alp cranks and 52t outer chainwheel and substitute a 36t for the inside (original was a 42t)
Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
3. You are aware that you'll need 9-speed shifters? That's generally the most expensive component to buy.
Yes, and you are correct on price, at least current e*ay trends
