Gearing Question
#1
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Roubaix Fan
Joined: May 2013
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From: North-Central VT (just outside Montpelier)
Bikes: 2004 Titus Racer-X, 2010 Specialized Roubaix Pro SL2
Gearing Question
I'm running a Specialized Roubaix Pro SL2 with a mix of Red and Force components. My chainrings are 50/34, my cassette is 11-28 (Ultegra I think). Living in Vermont I've been struggling with the Cat 4 and steeper climbs, I could really use one or two easier gears. I know, 34-28 isn't bad, but being a spinner, I just can't spin it fast enough, so I end up more like Jan Ulrich and have to pound the gears to get up our gap rides, resorting to switchbacking using the whole road at times. I was wondering if I can go to an 11-32 cassette and keep my Red rear and front Force derailiers, or can I go down to a 30 small chainring, (but then do I need to go down to a 48 big chainring)? I have the Pro model S-Works carbon crank (stock on this bike), so I don't even know if going down to smaller chainrings is an option which is why I thought the cassette option might be the better way to go..
#2
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
may just have to add a the Long cage RD or at least Medium, if you will adopt a Triple crank.
Hollow tech stuff means whole crank as the tube spindles are attached tothe Rt Crankarm now..
Compact double .. 34:34 is the best you can Do..
Hollow tech stuff means whole crank as the tube spindles are attached tothe Rt Crankarm now..
Compact double .. 34:34 is the best you can Do..
#3
Thread Starter
Roubaix Fan
Joined: May 2013
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From: North-Central VT (just outside Montpelier)
Bikes: 2004 Titus Racer-X, 2010 Specialized Roubaix Pro SL2
I figure red can handle 54/39 rings and 11-28 cassettte, wonder if the Red RD can handle 50/34 and 12-30 cassette. Has anyone actually tried this? I know all the literature says 28 is max on the back, but I want to see if anyone actually tried the new 12-30 with the compact 50-34...
#4
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
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Wrap, chain take up, math is tooth counts (Big+ big ) --( Little + little ) .
don't own that exact kit . so Hands on owners of that combo,
May be a while before someone else pipes up.
good luck or just give it a try
don't own that exact kit . so Hands on owners of that combo,
May be a while before someone else pipes up.
good luck or just give it a try
#5
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
You cannot go below the current 34T chainring by enough to matter as your crank's 110mm bolt circle diameter will accept a 33T chainring as an absolute minimum. If you really need a true granny chainring you will need a triple crank and SRAM does not offer one in any of their road groups.
#6
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From: Boulder County, CO
Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track
I figure red can handle 54/39 rings and 11-28 cassettte, wonder if the Red RD can handle 50/34 and 12-30 cassette. Has anyone actually tried this? I know all the literature says 28 is max on the back, but I want to see if anyone actually tried the new 12-30 with the compact 50-34...
Try it and see. If it doesn't work, an Apex rear derailleur can be had for less than $80. And if you're concerned about mixing SRAM levels, don't be. Contador won the Giro using an Apex rear derailleur before WiFli became available for Red.
It's highly likely you'll need a longer chain.
Last edited by oldbobcat; 05-13-13 at 10:28 PM.
#7
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Joined: Jun 2012
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This might help you.
https://home.earthlink.net/~mike.sherman/shift.html
https://home.earthlink.net/~mike.sherman/shift.html
#8
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From: Northern CA
Bikes: Pinarello Paris/Ui2, BMC TeamMachine SLR01/Campy Record EPS
I've used a SRAM Red WiFli (longer cage) RD successfully with an SRAM XG-1099 11-32 cassette in combination with a compact (50-34) crank set. Works beautifully and letts me keep my cadence > 75 on all but the very steepest grades around here. And I'm a poor climber... BTW, it did require an addition link length in the chain.
#9
Low car diet
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Corvallis, OR, USA
Bikes: 2006 Windsor Dover w/105, 2007 GT Avalanche w/XT, 1995 Trek 820 setup for touring, 201? Yeah single-speed folder, 199? Huffy tandem.
Generally good practice to change the chain when changing cassettes. Unless the chain is very new, I wouldn't personally add links.
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