Please Help, Best way to get an easier Gear on 11 speed Campy

[UKBROOKLYN]

I currently have 11 speed Super/Record last of the 5 arm crankset version.

I am running a 50/34 up front, and an 11/32 in the rear. (I'ts at the limit but works fine.)

I am growing older and alright fatter. But my desire to go up hill remains the same.

I would like to get to a 34 tooth front and rear combo.

My options are. (Since Campy does not have an 11speed 11/34

1. Shimano free hub.. ($100) and Shimano 11/34 ($60) add a wolf tooth ($20)

2. Shimano free hub.. ($100) and Shimano 11/34 ($60) change to 12 speed deraileur ($180- Ebay)

or

3. Switch to a 48/32 Chorus Crankset. ($300)


With the Shimano I maintain my top speed and gain slightly more spacing at the small end of the block. But with the crank swap I maintain respect from Tulio Campagnolo.. Wll I miss the high end ?? I checked the Q factor and in the docs they are both listed at 145.5

Anybody done this ??''' Thanks

[jtakeda]

Do you have a mid cage RD? No wolf tooth needed if so.

I just moved from your desired set up to somethin bigger so I know the feeling

[Tommasini53]

Originally Posted by UKBROOKLYN

I currently have 11 speed Super/Record last of the 5 arm crankset version.

I am running a 50/34 up front, and an 11/32 in the rear. (I'ts at the limit but works fine.)

I am growing older and alright fatter. But my desire to go up hill remains the same.

I would like to get to a 34 tooth front and rear combo.

My options are. (Since Campy does not have an 11speed 11/34

1. Shimano free hub.. ($100) and Shimano 11/34 ($60) add a wolf tooth ($20)

2. Shimano free hub.. ($100) and Shimano 11/34 ($60) change to 12 speed deraileur ($180- Ebay)

or

3. Switch to a 48/32 Chorus Crankset. ($300)


With the Shimano I maintain my top speed and gain slightly more spacing at the small end of the block. But with the crank swap I maintain respect from Tulio Campagnolo.. Wll I miss the high end ?? I checked the Q factor and in the docs they are both listed at 145.5

Anybody done this ??''' Thanks

I'm using the Chorus 48/32 on my gravel/all-road bike with a Chorus 11-32 (11-speed). The 48/32 Chorus crankset lists as a 12-speed design, but it works great. Double-check to see if you would have to change rear derailleurs if you went to a 34t cogset.

[CMiller]

Crankset change for me, I never miss the top end but I am not fast. Go on a ride and take a reference of the highest gear you end up using.

[fa63]

You can also swap in a Praxis 48/32 crankset (would need a new BB as well).

I would vote for a new crankset. Another benefit I notice with the smaller chainrings is that I find myself able to stay in the big ring for longer on rollers. 48x11 is plenty tall unless you are racing or descending mountains at warp speeds all day long.

[tv_vt]

Originally Posted by fa63

You can also swap in a Praxis 48/32 crankset (would need a new BB as well).

I would vote for a new crankset. Another benefit I notice with the smaller chainrings is that I find myself able to stay in the big ring for longer on rollers. 48x11 is plenty tall unless you are racing or descending mountains at warp speeds all day long.

Have that Praxis crank on a bike and on one of my wife's bikes. Great for the mountains. Note that Praxis doesn't offer an Italian threaded BB, in case that's what you need. And you have to use their BB with their cranks.

[vespasianus]

Originally Posted by Tommasini53

I'm using the Chorus 48/32 on my gravel/all-road bike with a Chorus 11-32 (11-speed). The 48/32 Chorus crankset lists as a 12-speed design, but it works great. Double-check to see if you would have to change rear derailleurs if you went to a 34t cogset.

I use a 11-34 Shimano cassette with my Campagnolo 11 speed (50/34) but would do as suggested here - get the Chorus 48/32 set up.

[UKBROOKLYN]

Originally Posted by vespasianus

I use a 11-34 Shimano cassette with my Campagnolo 11 speed (50/34) but would do as suggested here - get the Chorus 48/32 set up.

What rear Derailleur do you use ??

[fa63]

I will also say this; I didn't notice a big difference in going from a 34/32 to a 32/32 chainring (I did the same thing several years ago, went from 50/34 to 48/32 crankset with a 11/32 in the back). What has made climbing truly more enjoyable for my fat butt is SRAM's 43/30 crankset combined with a 10/36 cassette (SRAM AXS). This allows me to keep a decent cadence when the gradients get steep. Of course, this requires a full groupset swap but just wanted to mention it

[Flinch]

Same boat here. I'm running a pre 2015 11 speed Chorus, which is the same activation ratio as the ten speeds. Curiously, the Athena group, even tho labelled as 11 speed, has the same ratios/activation as ten speed, regardless of year.

So, thanks to a Paceliner who had an unwanted and unloved Athena triple long cage rear D, I'm now running a Shimano 11 speed 11-36 cassete with the Athena. Works out peachy with respect to the "B" tension screw and clearance.

Don't bother with 34-34, might as well go for the gold, 36t cog. I think I could squeeze my spare 38t loose cog on there with some juggling, but I'm fine now.

If you're running a 2015+ 11 speed.....I don't know post 2015. BUT you might check out Jtek shiftmate wonderjiggers, or medium cage rear D with Wolftooth thingamabob and the Shimano cassette. However, I found that, since Campy has a varied cassette spacing, and Shimano is constant, that there was a teeny bit of noise/boble when shifting, expecially in the middle cogs. I'm babbling now...must go, it's pudding Saturday here at the 'home'.

[RoosterCogset]

Originally Posted by fa63

I will also say this; I didn't notice a big difference in going from a 34/32 to a 32/32 chainring (I did the same thing several years ago, went from 50/34 to 48/32 crankset with a 11/32 in the back). What has made climbing truly more enjoyable for my fat butt is SRAM's 43/30 crankset combined with a 10/36 cassette (SRAM AXS). This allows me to keep a decent cadence when the gradients get steep. Of course, this requires a full groupset swap but just wanted to mention it

Yeah, seems like a lot of hassle to make this minimal (6%) of a change to gearing.

[eljayski]

My Kirk has Chorus 2 x 12. Originally had 50/34 chain rings which gave me 1:1 granny. Changed to 48/32 to get the sub 1:1 granny. A little less top end, barely noticeable, and riding the foothills in my area, the lower granny is better for me. Good luck with your quest!

[Mark McM]

I agree with fa63 and Flinch, changing either the cassette from 32 to 34 or the crankset from 34 to 32 will result in only a minor difference (about 6%). With the new gearing, going up a 10.6% grade would feel like going up a 10.0% grade with the old gearing - this is only a small difference. Instead, you might want to consider going with a bigger change in gearing.

One option would using a Shimano 11-36 cassette. This would result in a 12.5% reduction in gearing, which would be far more noticeable. But depending on your current derailleur and frame (hanger length) you may have trouble shifting in the larger sprocket, and also the derailleur might not have the capacity for the larger cassette differential so the chain might be hanging loose in the small-small combination.

Instead, you might want to consider smaller chainrings, such as the 46-30 combination fa63 recommended. This would still give a reasonably tall high gear (110 in.), and a slightly lower gear than the 34/36 combination. The caveat here is that the only Campagnolo crankset that supports chainrings close to these sizes is the new Super Record WRL crankset with its 45-29 option, but this is quite expensive and would also require new bottom bracket cups. However, there are variety of other brand cranksets that support 46-30 chainrings that would work just fine with a Campagnolo 11spd drivetrain.

[UKBROOKLYN]

The most desired option would be to have a 36 in the back. That requires a different freehub.. which is no big deal (I do all my own work).

But I currently have a SR 11 speed rear der.. late 2014. It is maxed out right now with an 11/32.

I am pretty sure that a road link would just create wrap problems. So I have to track down the right rear Der for this setup.

Some have spoken about using an Athena long cage..
Record 12 states it goes to 34.


I am going crazy trying to figure this out.. Now thinking Record 11 rear Der, Shimano 11-34 and a 48/32 crankset.

That gives me a ton of flexibility to swap cassettes back and forth... yeah more expensive but possibly the most elegant solution..

[RoosterCogset]

Maybe also consider having the cassette as a 12-34 or even a 14-34, depending on how much you feel you need the 11t high gear vs smaller steps in between gears.