Lowergears for my Ottrott...

[Plum Hill]

...and maintaining style.
I have an ‘07 Ottrott with red tinted tubes. Running same year silver Campy Record with 39-53/13-26. I’ve always liked 13-26 going back to the days of six speed.
Getting older and slower, and putting up with TKRs, thought it’s time for some easier gears. Opinions solicited on which way to go:

1) Campy compact crank from same era.
Pro: same generation; uses square taper bottom bracket.
Con: black carbon vs tinted on tubes; rumors of pedal inserts coming loose.
2) Campy Record 11 speed compact crank, carbon, five arm spider.
Pro: current technology.
Con: color; funky green bearing cups.
3) Athena 11 silver compact UT crank.
Pro: silver; current technology.
Con: funky green bearing cups.
4) 13-29 cassette.
Pro: cheap, since I already have one.
Con: never came to terms with gear spacing.
5) 12-30 cassette.
Pro: 30 tooth low.
Con: don’t need the 12.

Humor me.

[54ny77]

What green cups bottom bracket cups are you referring to?

I have Athena silver and a silver Campy bottom bracket.

Gear inches are gear inches. Just do the comparison on your old preference vs new configuration.

New Athena 11 is pretty nice stuff, it is probably the best thing for what you are after. I too wish the older silver Campy stuff came in a compact!

[rwsaunders]

Good luck finding a Campag st compact 10-speed crank. They’re out there but they seem to be either beaten up or expensive NOS. Lots of UT compact cranks floating out there albeit carbon and perhaps you might try a 50/36 instead of a 50/34. I’m running a 50/36 13/29 combination on a bike which had a 52/39 crank and I love the mid-compact.

[oliver1850]

Triple perhaps? I sold Louis a black Race Triple a few years ago, doubt he's used it. Silver triples exist, as do ST and UT compacts.

[ergott]

Sugino? Maintains the look and gives you options. You get to keep the tighter spacing cassette you like.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by 54ny77

What green cups bottom bracket cups are you referring to?

I have Athena silver and a silver Campy bottom bracket.

Gear inches are gear inches. Just do the comparison on your old preference vs new configuration.

New Athena 11 is pretty nice stuff, it is probably the best thing for what you are after. I too wish the older silver Campy stuff came in a compact!

These..First gen were silver, next gold-ish, these 'kinda' greenish. BUT tightest tolerances..OP could find some seals, slap into the black SR ones..

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Plum Hill

...and maintaining style.
I have an ‘07 Ottrott with red tinted tubes. Running same year silver Campy Record with 39-53/13-26. I’ve always liked 13-26 going back to the days of six speed.
Getting older and slower, and putting up with TKRs, thought it’s time for some easier gears. Opinions solicited on which way to go:

1) Campy compact crank from same era.
Pro: same generation; uses square taper bottom bracket.
Con: black carbon vs tinted on tubes; rumors of pedal inserts coming loose.
2) Campy Record 11 speed compact crank, carbon, five arm spider.
Pro: current technology.
Con: color; funky green bearing cups.
3) Athena 11 silver compact UT crank.
Pro: silver; current technology.
Con: funky green bearing cups.
4) 13-29 cassette.
Pro: cheap, since I already have one.
Con: never came to terms with gear spacing.
5) 12-30 cassette.
Pro: 30 tooth low.
Con: don’t need the 12.

Humor me.

2007 was first year of UltraTorque(2009 was first year of 11s)..2006 and older square Taper. I have a square taper CT Record on my Moots..no insert problems if you grease pedal threads and don't make them gorilla tight.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-takeoff...as8C:rk:7:pf:0

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by Plum Hill

4) 13-29 cassette.
Pro: cheap, since I already have one.
Con: never came to terms with gear spacing.
5) 12-30 cassette.
Pro: 30 tooth low.
Con: don’t need the 12.

In my case, I went with the 13-29 cassette. The only difference between the 13-26 and the 13-29 is that one has an 18 tooth sprocket in the middle, and one has a 29 tooth sprocket at the end - all other sprockets are the same (13-14-15-16-17 19-21-23-26). This choice was made easier for me, because I had come from a 13-26 9spd cassette, and the 13-29 10spd was exactly the same with a 29 tooth added to the end. And if you don't like the gear spacing on the 13-29, the 12-30 will only be worse (and a 30 tooth sprocket isn't much bigger than a 29).

[rwsaunders]

Here are a few from Eastern Europe...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-...VODj:rk:7:pf:0


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-...ZuhL:rk:1:pf:0

[OtayBW]

Originally Posted by rwsaunders

Good luck finding a Campag st compact 10-speed crank. They’re out there but they seem to be either beaten up or expensive NOS. Lots of UT compact cranks floating out there albeit carbon and perhaps you might try a 50/36 instead of a 50/34. I’m running a 50/36 13/29 combination on a bike which had a 52/39 crank and I love the mid-compact.

They're rare, but I picked up an alloy Centaur 10-spd compact crank here not long ago. Thought I better snag it pronto....

[Ralph]

I keep a Campy 10's triple on one of my bikes. 30-42-52. Med cage rear. It's my favorite bike to ride....even if a flat ride. I just cruise in the 42. Hurt my wrist recently....and it hurts like heck to shift in front. So rode 40 miles Sunday in the 42, speeds between 12 and 25. And yes....I'm probably carrying around 80-100 grams of extra crank (but cassette not so big). I also ride a double a lot still. I have a NOS Campy Silver Comp Triple in 30-40-50 in parts bin. May just go all triple as I get even older. Thinking 28-40-50.

Triples solve most gearing problems as we age, or ride where very steep. And where you want it all. Close gearing, with a granny low. I think of this triple as being a 42-52 (my fav all time combo) with a 30 bail out. Normally run a 13-26 around here, and a 12-30 or 13-29 when traveling. It amuses me to watch the manufacturers go to all this trouble with huge cassettes, no FD, and all just to get around what already exists. At 77, I need a lot more gear to climb than I did 25 years ago....you will all get there someday (hopefully). On flat....have not lost as much.

[weisan]

Originally Posted by Ralph

At 77, I need a lot more gear to climb than I did 25 years ago....you will all get there someday (hopefully).

Heck, I am already there and I am only 49!

Converted all my bikes to using 11-34 cassette in the back maybe 10 years ago and never looked back ever since.

[pdmtong]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

In my case, I went with the 13-29 cassette. The only difference between the 13-26 and the 13-29 is that one has an 18 tooth sprocket in the middle, and one has a 29 tooth sprocket at the end - all other sprockets are the same (13-14-15-16-17 19-21-23-26). This choice was made easier for me, because I had come from a 13-26 9spd cassette, and the 13-29 10spd was exactly the same with a 29 tooth added to the end. And if you don't like the gear spacing on the 13-29, the 12-30 will only be worse (and a 30 tooth sprocket isn't much bigger than a 29).

This is the path of least resistance ... lose the 18 gain the 29.

If you need lower get a compact and let go the aesthetic constraint.

[sailorboy]

Originally Posted by Ralph

...May just go all triple as I get even older. Thinking 28-40-50... At 77, I need a lot more gear to climb than I did 25 years ago....you will all get there someday (hopefully). On flat....have not lost as much.

I love this. Reading through, expected you to say you're like 50-something, which is in my neighborhood. 77 and still rocking it. You sir are my inspiration for today!

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by weisan

Heck, I am already there and I am only 49!

Converted all my bikes to using 11-34 cassette in the back maybe 10 years ago and never looked back ever since.

4) 13-29 cassette.
Pro: cheap, since I already have one.
Con: never came to terms with gear spacing