Sasquatch16

Do you mind telling me what components you are you are using on your last 2 bikes listed. I am building up a frame that I need to have 25 gear inches or lower. Looking at getting a 6700s Ultegra group. Can I put a 26 chain ring on front? Current bike has a 52-42-30 Sora triple up front with a 11-32 in back with Alivio derailler in back. I definitely need the low gears as I am 260 lbs. and ride in hilly area. Looking for a nicer groupset on new bike. Thanks

Barrettscv 

I'm using a 105 series FC-5603 model crankset (originally a 50/39/30).
See: https://compare.ebay.com/like/3707639...Types&var=sbar
The older Shimano Ultegra FC-6603 and 105 FC-5603 cranksets have a 74BCD chainring bolt circle and finding a 28 or 26 or even a 24 teeth chainring is not too hard. I'm using a Salsa chairing, but any 74BCD chainring will fit. The Ultegra FC-6703 uses a larger BCD size for the inner chainring, and I've never seen a 28 or 26 teeth chainring for these models.

I've combined a Shimano 105 triple (50t, 39t & 26t) crankset with the 10 speed 12-27 cassette. This provides the range of a compact crankset with a 12-25 cassette while using just the large and middle chainring. The 39t middle chainring is good to 25 mph at a 100 rpm cadence. With the 26t small chainring and 27t rear cog combination can crawl up a 15% slope at 4.5 mph with a 60 rpm cadence.



I'm using a 105 series FD-5703 front Derailleur and older 5603 brifters. I also installed a chain-catcher from K-Edge;

I've assembled the K-Edge Chain deflector for triple, Shimano FD-5703 front derailleur and the Shimano SM-AD15 clamp band for front derailleur (34.9mm size). The three part assembly is pictured below;





I was concerned that the K-Edge Chain deflector needed a braze-on plate to install, but it fits properly on the Shimano SM-AD15 clamp band. I'm using the new 6703 Ultegra "GS" RD;

Sasquatch16

That is a 24 tooth difference. Does that work ok? Seems like most front derailleurs are listed as 20T max. difference.

cccorlew

No, I understood what you meant. What I am thinking is that with a 11-32 range (with the gears in between) there are going to be gaps that an 11-26 (or 28) won't have. Will those gaps bother me? Maybe with 11 steps no, but they might.

Clearly you are right about the low gear, that's pretty darn low, but perhaps not low enough. On climbing rides with more that 10,000 feet and steap sections I use a 12-30 with my 52-39-30 triple just to get that really low gear. I'd much rather Shimano follow your suggestion and offer a a 46-30 double crank in Ultegra. I would LOVE that. I could then dump the triple. Heck, make it a D2i and 11-speed as long as you're at it.

Barrettscv 

If using a smaller-than-30t inner chainring, the system needs the chain guide or there is some risk of a dropped chain if the shift is under load or just a little careless. I like matching a 105 series front derailleur with the 50/39/26 chainring set, it works better than the Ultegra and is shaped for a 50t large chainring.

Sasquatch16

Thanks for some info

jlstrat

Thanks for all the info. I'll have to give some consideration to all the data folks have provided here.

BluesDawg

Not from Shimano, but Sugino makes the OX801 and OX601 compact plus double cranks which can be set up as 46-30. Ask your LBS to look it up in the Merry Sales catalog. https://www.suginoltd.co.jp/english/o...in_english.htm

Wogster

a 30 Tooth ring to a 32 tooth cog is low, but if you want really low, mountain bikes often have a 22-24 tooth ring and a 32 tooth cog, you can almost pull stumps with that. That would be nice on drop bar touring bike, with 50lbs of gear on it, flatten out a lot of nasty hills that way....

DiabloScott

See what these guys don't get, is that if one does his/her cycling predominantly riding up grades of 5-10%, then one would appreciate smaller gaps between the low gears and one can accept larger gaps between gears in the high end. This is sort of the opposite of what the component folks design for which is small gaps in the high and mid range, with bailout gears for climbing.

Compact cranks were a good start, but it seems their primary objective was to take advantage of 11t cogs.

Barrettscv 

Like this 3x9 with 48, 36 & a 22 that I installed;

Wogster

From what I understand, the geniuses at Shimano changed the pull between gears, I don't remember if it was 10 speed or 11 speed, so that road levers will not pull the right amount of cable for mountain FD's. I think because people were using cheap mountain bike shifters, with road FD's to make a flat bar road bike, rather then using the expensive flat bar road components. Could also be lobbing a curve ball SRAM's way. Like I said, they could save a lot of aggravation by offering the Ultegra crank in a 46-30. I'm wondering if there is a 30 tooth ring that will fit it.

Sasquatch16

Does anyone know the BCD of the inner chain ring on Athena 11 speed triple? Is there a 28T or 26 T that would work with this. Looking for at least a low of 25 gear inches and the 12-29 is not going to make it.

Mobile 155

From the original post the topic is moot. The new Ultegra doesn't support a triple. The poster wants at least Ultegra quality so a decision has to be made as to what is more important. Ultegra or triple? But what I find interesting is the assumptions so many make about why bike manufacturers do what they do. As if the managers sit in a room and plan on how to P.O. the more traditional riders that buy them. Truthfully it is more likely the meetings are simply designed to respond to product improvement and customer desires.

There once was a small market that opened not far from me who's owner moved here from the south. For the first year he sold Moon Pies. I had one friend that thought he had died and gone to heaven, he grew up with Moon Pies, and talked me into trying one. To me they tasted like cardboard with chocolate on them. After about a year he no longer carried Moon Pies. My friend was heart broken and asked the owner why. The answer was simple, in our area customers simply would rather have a different snack cake and only a very few people bought Moon Pies. The friend said he promised to buy his Moon pies from the owner if he reordered but they never did. The reason was simple not enough people wanted Moon pies to make them worth keeping on the shelves. People had moved on to Ding Dongs and such.

It is the same with bicycles. The manufacturers didn't move onto Aluminum and Carbon fiber because everyone wanted steel or because steel was perfect as some have suggested. They did it because the customers indicated a want for something that steel didn't offer. It is the same with the number of cassettes, chain rings, shifters, wheels and the list goes on. But all is not lost because that only opens up a market for someone else to fill. If the old systems were as successful as some seem to think then there would have been no need for cogs on the cassette or Brifters. But if SRAM offers a Compact double and they start selling compact doubles to then point it cuts into Shimano sales then Shimano has to offer them as well. If then Sram can cover 11-28 and then 11-32 then sooner or later the standard Shimano will come with 11-30 or 11-32. Even Campy will have to upgrade to the point of not using a thumb shifter on some of their top of the line shifters.

Long story short it has never been a conspiracy to anger the KISS cyclists but a response to what people were willing to fork out money on. The more Luddite among us will just have to work harder to get what we want. Much like people with a large Record Collection.

fietsbob

What do you mean no longer supports ? sure they are not promoting it as the latest panacea ,

but there is still all sorts of access, thru distributors Bike Shops use, to repair customer's bikes when the require spare parts.


Bike shops repair existing bikes. and there were plenty sold, so parts are available ..

Now Saying Shimano no longer promotes the 9 speed stuff as the Latest and greatest, may be true,

but to maintain your 9 speed cassette bike, it is not a dead end.



if you want to be on the consumer cutting edge with the latest gear, That is another story..

the engine

I just had my Ultegra compact crank replaced with an Ultegra triple. I have a 9 speed cassette from the original build. I built a Lynsky R230 from fram up ... like you (jlstrat), a Ti frame deserves Ultegra.

Had to replace front derailleur and chain. No issues. I thought mixing 9 speed shifters might be an issue with a 10 speed triple, but no problem.

I know they won't be making any more triples, but the last Ultegra triple I had on a bike lasted over 10 years ... still actually works fine, just don't ride the THAT bike anymore.

Just my $.02 ...

jlstrat

UM...I have a large record collection!

Mobile 155

I should have guessed. My nephew has some as well. But it is harder than when every store seemed to have a player. And I wonder if you still have a film projector? By the way where do you find player needles?

dicktill

But aren't these Sugino cranks only 9-10 speed compatible? (So some vendors tell me.) I have the same problem as O.P.; need a gear lower than 1:1 for steep hills. Currently have 30:34 with Ultegra 6503 brifters, front derailleur, and crank (52-42-30) plus 12-34 XTR cassette (9-speed) and rear derailleur.

Thanks, Dick

krobinson103

Exactly what I did with my mtb tourer. 48.38.28 at the front and 11-32 at the back. Climbs anything. I really like the extra low chain ring after 12 hours in the saddle at the end of a brevet (always the biggest hill at the end!). I also modded my 2300 8 speed setup with an mtb 11-34 pie plate because I simply cannot climb with 39-25 as my lowest option. I do agree that large gaps between cogs are annoying but, I'd rather have bail out gears than a really tight cluster that never gets used to its potential (no interest in pacelines etc)

dicktill

But aren't these Sugino cranks only 9-10 speed compatible? (So some vendors tell me.) I have the same problem as O.P.; need a gear lower than 1:1 for steep hills. Currently have 30:34 with Ultegra 6503 brifters, front derailleur, and crank (52-42-30) plus 12-34 XTR cassette (9-speed) and rear derailleur. Revised: But this old stuff is wearing out, and I want to go to the new 11-speed Ultegra 6800 stuff, BUT with a low stump-puller gear!

Thanks, Dick (& thanks for your reply krobinson103)

trailangel

I'm still trying to figure out WTF everyone is doing with 50 & 52 chainring and 11 and 12 tooth cog on the rear?
Wasted useless gearing IMO.

crazyb

53-39 on the front, 12-27 on the back. Works very well for me. I like going fast downhill. I use the 53-12 on just about every ride. It's only useless to those that don't use it.

DiabloScott

This is my regular ride - I need big gears and little gears... the wasted gears are the ones in the middle.