Ostuni

Got a number for the Assault on Mount Mitchell.

Likely will use the bike that currently has this drivetrain:

FSA SLK 50/36
Ultegra 6600 FD/RD
Ultegra 11/23 cassette

To prepare for the AOMM I plan to lose 10-lbs, add the toughest hills around to my daily training rides, do the Freewheelers AOMM training rides, etc.

Guess there are three questions:

1. Would replacing the 11/23 cassette with a 12/27 be a good mod to make for the AOMM's extreme climbing?

2. Could that cassette swap (it will be going on a AC 350) be done on the given RD, FD and crankset? (Reckon the chain will have to be swapped, but don't want to make many other expensive mods...)

3. How does a lazy, reluctant climber learn to love climbing?

serotta

If you are a lazy, reluctant climber, I'd re-think that 11-23 in favor of an 11/25 or a 12/26 at least. You need a bailout gear for fatigue, bonking, etc.

merlinextraligh

12/27 will go on with no other changes necessary. With the compact 36, I'm not sure you'll need the 27, but it won't hurt, and if you're not a really strong climber I think you'll want lower than 36/23. 36/27 should allow you to spin up anything on AOMM at a decent cadence. Of course, it ultimately depends on your style and strength. Find a hill with a 8 to 10% grade, and try it out. If you can comfortably spin your lowest gear up it, you're fine. If its a grind you need a lower gear

Grasschopper

No I am pretty sure he is right about needing a chain with a couple extra links...well of course that is if the current setup has the chain sized properly.

Ostuni - all you need is the cassette and a properly sized chain. FD and RD will be fine. Another route would be a 34t inner ring on that compact and you could probably get away with a 12-25 if you do that. Again you shouldn't need anything other than the cassette, ring and chain in this case too.

merlinextraligh

Depends on how the chain is sized in the first place. I routinely change between 11-21, 11-23, and a 12-27 on a bike with D/A 10 with no problems. You could probably make the chain smaller, for just the 11-21. But the derailleur has more than enough capacity to wrap the extra chain if it sized for the 27.

Unless the the chain is already pretty short, the difference in 4 extra teeth is not going to be a big deal, particularly if you avoid the big/big combination, which you don't want to be in anyway.

Ostuni

thanks guys - that's what i was hoping to hear....

and as the bike in question is due for a new chain and is still in an early build-stage, now might be a good time to do the cassette swap...

might be nice to have that 36/27 option if i find myself in crisis somewhere between marion and mitchell... meanwhile, will do as many hills as possible in the biggest gears possible and hopefully make it up there on d-day without losing too much blood....

Ranzak

I was thinking of switching to the Campy 13-29 from the 12-25 on my Cannondale R900. I have a standard 39-53 up front and would rather have a gear I don't use (ha ha) then not enough!