drivetrain advice needed

[2oldTi]

as above....the specifics are:
70 years old, lifelong rider still rides 100-150 miles/week
Current setup is Shimano Octalink triple (?6503) with 11-28 9 speed cluster and Ultegra rear mech with long cage. This is tolerable, but it would be great to have one more lower gear.
so....

30 or 32 tooth on the rear or 30 tooth chainring (if that exists and is obtainable) or new mini (48-32) crankset and 30 or 32 tooth on the rear? What is your recommendation for obtaining a slightly lower ratio?

(If it matters, the bike is an early Calfee (Italian bottom bracket, minimal chainstay clearance.)

Thank you for your wisdom.

[deluz]

Don't you already have a 30T chainring on the triple?
Are you looking to change out the whole drive train?

[AngryScientist]

Swap to one of the many available now subcompact doubles in the front for 46/30 in the front and get one of the many available 11-34 9 speed rear cassette. Easy peesey. Doubt you’ll miss the bigger chainring at all.

[Ken Robb]

my 6503 crankset came with 52-42-30 rings. I have been sitting on an American Classic 9 speed cassette that has a 28 cog but I have been satisfied with Ultegra 12-27 so far. I think you could change to a 9 speed rear derailer and use a cassette with 32 or 34 cog and keep the rest of your group as is.

[batman1425]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Swap to one of the many available now subcompact doubles in the front for 46/30 in the front and get one of the many available 11-34 9 speed rear cassette. Easy peesey. Doubt you’ll miss the bigger chainring at all.

^^^ This

Honestly this in any speed (9, 10, 11 or 12) is IMO what pretty much everything other than a no compromises crit bike should be sold stock with.

[cp43]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

my 6503 crankset came with 52-42-30 rings. I have been sitting on an American Classic 9 speed cassette that has a 28 cog but I have been satisfied with Ultegra 12-27 so far. I think you could change to a 9 speed rear derailer and use a cassette with 32 or 34 cog and keep the rest of your group as is.

I have done this on one of my bikes. In the 9-speed era Shimano MTB and road rear derailleurs had the same pull ratio. You can get a nice big cassette, and a MTB RD, and keep the cranks.

You can also get a smaller small ring, I think down to 24 teeth. I have gone from the 30 small ring to a 26 on that same bike, and I really like having the really low gears sometimes.

Chris

[donevwil]

Originally Posted by cp43

I have done this on one of my bikes. In the 9-speed era Shimano MTB and road rear derailleurs had the same pull ratio. You can get a nice big cassette, and a MTB RD, and keep the cranks.

You can also get a smaller small ring, I think down to 24 teeth. I have gone from the 30 small ring to a 26 on that same bike, and I really like having the really low gears sometimes.

Chris

This is the simplest path and has been the go to since 9 spd was new, just make sure you get a long cage not medium cage.

[fried bake]

Originally Posted by batman1425

^^^ This

Honestly this in any speed (9, 10, 11 or 12) is IMO what pretty much everything other than a no compromises crit bike should be sold stock with.

Agreed!


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[palincss]

Originally Posted by cp43

I have done this on one of my bikes. In the 9-speed era Shimano MTB and road rear derailleurs had the same pull ratio. You can get a nice big cassette, and a MTB RD, and keep the cranks.

You can also get a smaller small ring, I think down to 24 teeth. I have gone from the 30 small ring to a 26 on that same bike, and I really like having the really low gears sometimes.

Chris

Put that nice 9 speed MTB rear derailleur on there and you can use a Shimano 9 speed 12-36 cassette. If your big ring x 12 is too high a gear, you can replace the 1st position 12 with a 1st position 13 and make a custom 13-36 cassette.

[buddybikes]

11-32 https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-HG400...a-569992532131

new chain with 2 more links added and be done. Cheap try, then go to something more nuclear

[Peter P.]

Wide spaced double cranks SUCK. The change between the two chainrings is drastic. I'd rather have a triple any day.

I'd try to find an older, 9 speed triple ATB crank such as a 22-32-44 or 24-34-46. Put a 28-34T large tooth cassette on there, whatever you prefer. That should be plenty low enough.

A cheaper alternative would be to just buy the largest 9 speed cassette you can find. The rest of your drivetrain would not need to be touched, but replace the chain to avoid any skipping issues between the old chain and new cassette.

Since your current drivetrain clears the chainstay, changing to even smaller chainrings should not cause any clearance issues.

[rice rocket]

Originally Posted by Peter P.

Wide spaced double cranks SUCK. The change between the two chainrings is drastic.

Meanwhile, nobody buys anything BUT compact/mid-compact cranks nowadays...

[Louis]

Rear 9-spd cassette with 32 or 34 T big cog - works very well for me with my Octalink triple front and long-cage R-der.

[Ralph]

As above said....Put a 26 or 28 tooth small ring on crank. It's a 74 BCD ring, and any BCD ring 74 will fit. Check E Bay. TA makes a nice one.

[charliedid]

I'd go for one of the new Madones.

Problem solved, you are welcome.