Help me re-build my 'cross bike for D2R2

[merlinmurph]

Man, for whatever reason, I had a hard time posting this - kept getting server errors. Let's see if it works......

I bought a used IF Planet-X a few months ago so I could ride D2R2 this year. Really love the bike, but I need to change the gearing if I'm going to survive this ride. Currently, it has an FSA 46/36 crank with a Shimano 10-spd 12/27 cassette, DA shifters, 105 RD (short).

I'm considering putting a triple crank on to get the gearing I want/need. I'd like get at least 1:1, preferably lower. These 57-year-old legs still like to climb, they just don't do it like they used to.

I have two basic options: Stick with the Shimano or change to Campy (which I'd prefer).

I originally thought sticking with Shimano would have been simple, then I realized I'd have to change everything except the wheels. Oops.

So, looking at the two options:

Shimano
Are the mt bike compoonents compatible with the road shifters? If so, that gives me a lot more options. I could use mt bike cassettes that go up to 36T and an XT long-cage RD. Would that work?
What about a crank? How small a ring can one put on a Shimano road triple crank?


Campy
I'm leaning towards using Campy if I can, as I'm a longtime Campy user. It would mean getting new wheels, adding to the expense - oh well.
I'm not real familiar with my Campy options. I've seen one triple crank (Comp?) and don't know what the smallest ring is(30?). The largest cassette cog I've seen is a 29T, and I it looks like I can get a long-cage RD.
Are there other options available that work with Campy to get the gearing low enough?

Any help getting some low gearing?

Thanks,
Murph

[merlinmurph]

So, wassup?
My other post has no pictures, no links, nothing fancy - just text.
I'll keep trying.
Murph

[AngryScientist]

this one was obviously successful. just edit this first post/title with what you want to ask...

[merlinmurph]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

this one was obviously successful. just edit this first post/title with what you want to ask...

Hey AS,
Thanks, got that to work. No idea what was going on.

So, back to the subject at hand......

Murph

[AngryScientist]

swap the inner ring for a 34, get a long cage 9-sp mtb shimano RD and wider range cassette. done! sram has 12-32, that should get you pretty close to 1:1...

[AngryScientist]

by the way, i think i'm going to throw my hat in the ring and do it too, which course are you going for?

[AngryScientist]

edit: they have a 10-sp 12-36 too! better than 1:1 !

http://www.rei.com/product/751037/sr...:referralID=NA

[4Rings6Stars]

I did it the last two years (last year on a Planet X) with a 30 small ring in the front and a 12-27. That was fine. I was very happy to have the bailout 30 though.

Shimano mountain bike components are compatible with road and I would suggest that route but if you're a Campy guy go Campy. I've converted all but one of mine to Campy and there is no turning back.

Also, last year somebody riding Campy had some problems (I think crank or cassette) and none of the mechanics had any Campy experience and he was cursing so if you don't do any of you're own wrenching it can be a pain.

[xjahx]

SRAM road shifters, road crank (with whatever rings you want), and an XX, X.0, or X.9 rear 10 speed rear dérailleur and matching 10 speed cassette with a range up to 11-36t. Done.

[TimD]

I rode D2R2 for the first time this year, the 115K course.

My bike had a 50/34 (compact road) crank and a 34/12? cassette. There were spots where I wanted lower gearing.

One of my crew had a mountain triple with 22T small ring and a 32T cassette; he was pretty happy with that.

[ergott]

The gearing answers will vary according to the fitness of the rider give them. I did the 115k with a 38/28 low gear. A lower gear would have just made me slower. My thought is sometimes the hills are steep enough that you just have to grind it out. I'd rather grind out a higher gear and be done with it.

[Ti Designs]

I don't work on bikes, I work on riders. That said, you're local, we should do some training out on the trails...

[Climb01742]

one thing to keep in mind: a triple will change the Q factor. will your knees/hips like that?

[merlinmurph]

Originally Posted by Climb01742

one thing to keep in mind: a triple will change the Q factor. will your knees/hips like that?

I've been mt biking for 20+ years and have never had an issue. As long as I get the bike set up right (that's you, Ed), I should be fine.

Murph

[merlinmurph]

Originally Posted by ergott

The gearing answers will vary according to the fitness of the rider.

Yeah, it's a tough question to answer if you don't know the rider, where they ride, how they ride, etc. I'll try to help on that.

I'll be 58 for the '12 D2R2 and I definitely don't ride like I did 20 years ago. Never did road races, did some mt bike races years ago and had fun, results weren't important, which is just as well because there were no results. I've always liked to climb, and like to head to NH or VT to do some rides with tougher climbs - VT gaps, Kanc, etc. I end up with > 4000 miles/year.

Probably the biggest difference between now and 10 years ago is that I don't beat the crap out of myself as much, which means the avg speed has <ahem> gone down quite a bit. My daily 25-30 mile rides average at ~16.5, higher if I ride with a bud who is much stronger. Longer, hilly rides (like a 80-mile Mt Wachusett loop) are ending up < 16 now.

D2R2 (115k) is going to be a tough ride for me, but I'll get in good shape for it and enjoy the ride. I like to have an event to train for, and this will be good motivation.

Hope this helps.
Murph