Hybrid Campagnolo 9 speed cassette 12-26?

[mmtmatrix]

I have been thinking the 11/12-23 9 speed cassette isn't cutting it for the 'hills' I have been riding on my 'race' bike (whatever that means). I was talking with Peter the other day about this and one idea we talked about was to take a 13-26 9 speed cassette, drop the 16t, and add a 12t. He said it could work, there may be odd shifts from the 15-17 (and maybe 12-13 as well), but thought I would see if anyone has ever tried to make such a frankenstein? Thoughts?

I guess the other option is to go 10 speed and get a 12-25...

Thanks for the input!

[thwart]

I've done a bunch of random combinations of Campy cogs in the past (including an 11-29 9 spd cassette), and found that things usually worked reasonably well, even if I completely ignored the shift ramp arrangement on the individual cog (for example, was this 19 cog designed to follow a 17 or an 18...?). Mixed 9 and 10 sps cogs around as well.

I have found this cog changing around works better in 9 spd than it does with 10 spd set-ups.

YMMV, and your tolerance for 'less than perfect shifting' might be lower than mine.

[Ralph]

I've done a bunch of random combinations of Campy cogs in the past (including an 11-29 9 spd cassette), and found that things usually worked reasonably well, even if I completely ignored the shift ramp arrangement on the individual cog (for example, was this 19 cog designed to follow a 17 or an 18...?). Mixed 9 and 10 sps cogs around as well.

I have found this cog changing around works better in 9 spd than it does with 10 spd set-ups.

YMMV, and your tolerance for 'less than perfect shifting' might be lower than mine.

That's the key.....get the correct following cog. 9's same spacers thru out. 10's have 3 different size spaces between cogs....whether loose cog versions or where some cogs ride on carriers. Get correct cogs following and it will work.

[mmtmatrix]

Ok, correct me if I am wrong on what you are saying about ramp arrangement.

If I wanted to make a 12-26 (this seems? like the most logical set up for what I want, not too crazy, but a few more teeth on the rear with a 39/53 up front), I would take a 13-26 9 speed cassette, drop the 16t, and add a 12t. BUT then, in hopes of smoothing out and aiding in the 12-13 and 15-17 shift, maybe use a 13t and a 17t off a 11-23 cassette? That way, the ramps would be correct (I think). The 13t would be from a cassette that would normally have a 12 following it, and the 17 would be from a cassette normally having a 15 following it. Does that make sense? Best possible solution?

[Ralph]

If you want a 12-26 9 speed (12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-26) from a 13-26 (13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-26) Campy 9 speed....Use a 13 designed to follow a 12 (easy), drop the 16 and use a 17 designed to follow a 15.

I mix around some 10's.....all starting with 13 or 14. Use a loose cog 14-23 (14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23) for doner cogs.

[mmtmatrix]

Thanks for the help! Excited to experiment and see if I can get something working!

[bluemax]

You could switch the big ring to a 56

(http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Campagnolo-chainring-135-bcd-56-teeth-VINTAGE-used-/190783431362?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c6b9422c2)

and keep the 13 cog. Won't be quite as high a gear as a 53/12, but close.

If you have a 39 small ring, the 13-26, 39/56 combo exceeds the rated capacity of a short cage RD by 4, so it may need a medium cage to work.

Probably simpler to build yourself a cassette.