Anyone using Campy 13-29 cassette?

[jmg1949]

I am building up a new bike and switching over Campy Record (2001) from my Look 281 to the new bike. I've been riding the 13-26 rear cassette but was thinking of switching to the 13-29 to give my legs a break on the hills. Wonder if anyone's been using the 13-29 and how they like it? Do you miss the 18 tooth sprocket? I know that a compact or triple would be an alternative but I'm not interested in those approaches at this time. Thanks for any input.

Jim

[djg]

I've used one -- it's a nice cassette if you want an easy gear for climbs; for most riding you don't need it but that 29 bail out gear really can come in handy under certain conditions and you've still got a pretty good gear selection left over.

[Ken Robb]

I like mine--I hate sore knees.

[ejh]

I've used it in the past, then converted to compact on road bike and like this better. Its now on the cross bike. Eric

[TomP]

My wife and a few friends used it with a compact crank when we rode the Dolomites. We were climbing some hills that were over 20% and they really liked it rather than have a triple.

[jmg1949]

Thanks to all for your input.

Jim

[72gmc]

a little late, but I'm another happy user. The 17 matters more than the 18 cog to me, and the range is very good with a 53/39 setup.

[bironi]

I used the 13-29 for several years. It is great for long mountain climbs and steep terrain. :beer:

[roman meal]

Cross bike. Mud.

Not on the road anymore.

[chrisroph]

works great, can be shifted with short cage drlrs.

[DarrenCT]

works great, can be shifted with short cage drlrs.

i thought you needed a medium cage for a 29er?

[rahill]

works great, can be shifted with short cage drlrs.

Yeah, this is true - I have a 53/39 with the 13/29 and a Record short cage derailleur. Works fine, and the occasional accidental shift into the 53/29 hasn't blown anything up.

I went from a 12/25 to the 13/29 for some steep hills. The 29 is great as a bailout but I do miss the 12 every now and then.

Rich

[handsomerob]

The only thing I miss is the 12 (really only on decents).. and you are already missing that on the 13/26, I say go for it.

[chrisroph]

i thought you needed a medium cage for a 29er?


nope, you just need a proper chain length and to avoid using big-big, which you should never use in any event

[ridemoreoften]

I have a 13-29 and use it for very hilly rides. The 29 is a great bail out gear. I also ride a 13-26 most of the time with a 35/53. A good choice vs a compact crank which I'm not fond of.

[DarrenCT]

nope, you just need a proper chain length and to avoid using big-big, which you should never use in any event

what is "more ideal"

im thinking of putting a 29'er on my kirk climber bike and have both a short and medium. im not using a compact btw ;)

i feel like panzee but i need 1 bike for the serious hills in the gunks and the mountains

[chrisroph]

what is "more ideal"

im thinking of putting a 29'er on my kirk climber bike and have both a short and medium. im not using a compact btw ;)

i feel like panzee but i need 1 bike for the serious hills in the gunks and the mountains

nothing wrong with the right gears for the application

one of my best riding buds, former calif state tt champ, my stoker to a couple state champ silvers in the open rr, has gone rando and sports a triple frequently

my own bias is don't use a longer cage than needed so I'd use the short

but you could also use medium and not feel any difference

both will work fine

with the short,you could have problems if you go big-big

its really up to you

[DarrenCT]

cool deal

good info

thnx bro

[Sailorma]

I have been riding a 13/29, 53/39 for the last 5 years. It works great for me no shifting issues with the record long cage R der.. I use the 29/39 combo a lot especially when starting out from my home as I am immediately on a series of short steep rollers prior to any warm-up. Henry

[DarrenCT]

I have been riding a 13/29, 53/39 for the last 5 years. It works great for me no shifting issues with the record long cage R der.. I use the 29/39 combo a lot especially when starting out from my home as I am immediately on a series of short steep rollers prior to any warm-up. Henry

ahh south salem. one of my favorite places to ride!

u ever ride kitchawan??

[Erik.Lazdins]

98% of the time I am between 15 and 19 so as the middle cogs wear out I replaced those, adding in the 18 and morphed into a 13,14,15,16,17,18,19,21,26,29 - I put that cluster on for the hills(Talimena Scenic Drive) otherwise use the 12-25, or 13-26.

I keep individual cogs in stock and replace as needed.

[Ginger]

I've been using the 13/29 for a few years now with standard/compact/and triple cranks. And I really like it. I'm not a power rider so it works well for me.

With a compact crank, the 13/29 actually has a better set of gears for me than the 12/26. None of them are quite right with the triple...

I will say that I do notice a slight shifting difference between the long cage rear der and the medium and the short...not bad, but it's there...I'm no pro...but I *am* a bike-a-chondriac. YMMV

[Ahneida Ride]

I do ....

13-29 rear and a 22-46-48 TA Zephyr up front.
First generation Record long cage RD. Thsi combo generates 20-100 gear inches.

The north east is resplendent with short very steel hills and my knees
do not appreciate any pressure on them. I can feel the pain immediately
and I know the distinct difference between wimp out pain and my body
trying to tell me something.

BTW ... My LBS guru rides a Campy Ottrott 13-26(29) with a triple up front. He used to hold
the Mt. Washington record in his class. so there ..... best climber I know.

Once I was riding up the Okemo (Vt.) mountain road. I'ts 4 miles pretty
much straight up. A dude comes flying by me on a old Mtn bike.
He stopped and we chatted a bit.
I do believe he was in 26/34. He had a smile on his face !!!!!
I kept up with him for 1/4 mile and then he dropped me.

I just do not see any reason to suffer up hills. The 36/29 combination
allows me to avoid the 22 granny most of the time.
The 36 ring allows me to spend a fair amount of time in the 48 ring.

I claim that for many, spinning is far more efficient the mashing.
It is certainly a lot more fun ! ;)

Finally, one simply cannot predict the next hill in NY, VT, NH.
A 15-18 degree monster could be waitng just up ahead.

It's a hot July day. Temp is 96 deg. You just did 30 miles and you encounter
a 18 degree hill (what gearing would you enjoy?)

[Ahneida Ride]

i feel like panzee but i need 1 bike for the serious hills in the gunks and the mountains

Nonsense .... Be proud of your gearing ... :banana:

I've Never had anyone call me a panzy ... well except Uncle William that is! :D

[thwart]

98% of the time I am between 15 and 19 so as the middle cogs wear out I replaced those, adding in the 18 and morphed into a 13,14,15,16,17,18,19,21,26,29 This year I got into playing around with cogs, Campy anyway. If you really miss that 12 on a 13-29 cassette you can just take off your 13 cog and replace it with your 12 (from that 12-25 or 12-23 lying forlornly around...). Bit of a drop from the 14, true, but I'd argue that most times you're in that range of your cassette you're looking for the smallest cog anyway. Not many of us are making that single shift from smallest to next up cog and the reverse frequently.

Now that I have an 11 cog with the appropriate lockring... this spring I gotta try an 11-29... :D

A purist may say more chain and cog wear, but I'm not using this particular bike day in and day out.

And having tried both short and medium RD's, I like the way the medium cage works with these wide range cassettes a little better. But the short works OK, too...

[jmg1949]

Thanks again for all of the replies. Very informative.

Jim

[abqhudson]

I always use my 13-29 (on Neutrons) for long rides that involve hills - works great on my double. I do, however, ride my 13-26 (on Open Pros) most of the time for the flats I normally ride.

[72gmc]

I use a medium cage Centaur RD. I used to ride a corncob 7-speed cluster when I was a kid (21 was the granny, I believe, or no more than 23) and I've always had the tendency to mash a bit more than my knees would like. So the 13-29 is good for my bad habits.

[SadieKate]

i feel like panzee but i need 1 bike for the serious hills in the gunks and the mountainsHmm, what does it say that I have three road bikes with different gears to serve a type of terrain, and even extra cassettes for those (in case I'm traveling with only one). Guess I just don't care what others see but only what my knees feel. :)

Love that 13-29 in the mountains. I'd hate it if I still lived on the big wide and unending valley floor. Look, Ma! A freeway overpass! :crap:

[Sailorma]

ahh south salem. one of my favorite places to ride!

u ever ride kitchawan??
How did you know those are the short steep rollers I was refering too? I begin and end almost every ride on Kitchawan as I live just off of it. Henry

[DarrenCT]

How did you know those are the short steep rollers I was refering too? I begin and end almost every ride on Kitchawan as I live just off of it. Henry

you are one lucky rider.

maybe i'll see you in the area one day. either on a blue sachs, red sachs, or brown kirk.

cheers
-d

[Tailwinds]

I've been riding a 13-29 and a 53/39 here in Colorado, and I like it better than a triple or compact setup.

[stevep]

I've been riding a 13-29 and a 53/39 here in Colorado, and I like it better than a triple or compact setup.

why do you like it better than a compact?


just curious

[MilanoTom]

I've been using the 13/29 for a few years now with standard/compact/and triple cranks. And I really like it. I'm not a power rider so it works well for me.

With a compact crank, the 13/29 actually has a better set of gears for me than the 12/26. None of them are quite right with the triple...

I will say that I do notice a slight shifting difference between the long cage rear der and the medium and the short...not bad, but it's there...I'm no pro...but I *am* a bike-a-chondriac. YMMV

....what she says....

I like a 13/29 with a compact 50/36. 11/25 works better IMHO for compacts with a 34 small ring (and preferably with a 48 big ring, to reduce the gap between chainring sizes).

Regards.
Tom