Cassette change

listrybabe

hello all
new to cycling and enjoying it BUT i struggle on hills and i know to improve is to keep doing them which i will but in the meantime i would like to change the rear cassette which may help me to get up them until i improve. at the moment i have 50/34 front and 27/12 9 speed ultegra and i struggle on some hills,:o my buddy has 50/34 with 12/32 which i have used and succeeded to get up same hills, would i be able to put same on my bike or even a 12/30, any help appreciated, thanks.


ps, by struggling i mean i have to walk

Wishbone Ash

Ultegra 9 speed seem to go to 12/27 only but here's a link for a 9 speed Tiagra 11/30 (a lot less expensive too!).

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-tiagra-hg50-9-speed-road-cassette/rp-prod387

Muckers

Just be careful because increasing to a 30 or 32 may require a long cage rear derailleur. Using a compact chainset (50/34) and a 12/27 cassette should get you up any hill in Ireland. My advice would be to stick with what you have, and just ride them there hills until your ability to get over them increases over time. Before ye know it you'll be going over the top of them no problem.

listrybabe

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Ultegra 9 speed seem to go to 12/27 only but here's a link for a 9 speed Tiagra 11/30 (a lot less expensive too!).

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-tiagra-hg50-9-speed-road-cassette/rp-prod387

thank you,
would you think their would be any problem putting this cassette on my bike or would i have to make other changes ?

Wishbone Ash

listrybabe wrote: »

thank you,
would you think their would be any problem putting this cassette on my bike or would i have to make other changes ?

As Muckers said you may require a longer RD cage and possibly a longer chain. (It's a good idea to change the chain anyway).

listrybabe

Muckers wrote: »

Just be careful because increasing to a 30 or 32 may require a long cage rear derailleur. Using a compact chainset (50/34) and a 12/27 cassette should get you up any hill in Ireland. My advice would be to stick with what you have, and just ride them there hills until your ability to get over them increases over time. Before ye know it you'll be going over the top of them no problem.

yes maybe i should BUT i cant, and it gets demoralising having to get off bike:mad: i just want to get up and over them and hopefully that will improve me
and i could revert back to 12/27 as i improve, i am starting out from a very low level of fitness and feel i am improving but when i out with buddies getting off 2 or 3 times is i know annoying to them and embarrassing to me, thanks for your input though:)

listrybabe

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

As Muckers said you may require a longer RD cage and possibly a longer chain. (It's a good idea to change the chain anyway).

sorry to be a pain with all the questions but how much would a longer RD cost approx, thank you

Wishbone Ash

listrybabe wrote: »

... and it gets demoralising having to get off...

+1

I'm a very mediocre climber and have a 30 and a 28 on two of my bikes. I can manage almost anything in Ireland with these (still suffering on the Gap of Mamore) and can grind my way over Alpine climbs on a 28 but I don't think I could do Kilmashogue Lane without a 30.

Wishbone Ash

listrybabe wrote: »

sorry to be a pain with all the questions but how much would a longer RD cost approx, thank you

I don't know if the full RD would have to be replaced or just the cage. I'll leave that question to the more knowledgeable.

(PS - an Ultegra is fairly high spec for a beginner)

Cee-Jay-Cee

For the sake of €18 for a 12/30 Tiagra cassette on CRC, why not buy it and try it out. I fitted a 12/30 to my 9spd Tiagra Ridley (it originally had a 12/27) and it works 100% and only needed minor tweeking to get running sweet...despite only being 3 teeth more than the 27 it replaced, it makes a huge difference on mountain climbs.

listrybabe

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I don't know if the full RD would have to be replaced or just the cage. I'll leave that question to the more knowledgeable.

(PS - an Ultegra is fairly high spec for a beginner)

yea ultegra maybe high spec but i aint its 10 years old and a mate has given me the use of it and he has no problem with me making a few changes and if i get to like this cycling (which for the most part i have )i will buy it off him

Brian?

listrybabe wrote: »

hello all
new to cycling and enjoying it BUT i struggle on hills and i know to improve is to keep doing them which i will but in the meantime i would like to change the rear cassette which may help me to get up them until i improve. at the moment i have 50/34 front and 27/12 9 speed ultegra and i struggle on some hills,:o my buddy has 50/34 with 12/32 which i have used and succeeded to get up same hills, would i be able to put same on my bike or even a 12/30, any help appreciated, thanks.


ps, by struggling i mean i have to walk

Stick with the kit you have. As others have said, you'd probably need a new rear derailleur.

If you find you have to stop, don't walk the rest of the hill. Stop, get your breath back and give it another go. You'll be amazed at what a 30s stop will do.

Brian?

CJC999 wrote: »

For the sake of €18 for a 12/30 Tiagra cassette on CRC, why not buy it and try it out. I fitted a 12/30 to my 9spd Tiagra Ridley (it originally had a 12/27) and it works 100% and only needed minor tweeking to get running sweet...despite only being 3 teeth more than the 27 it replaced, it makes a huge difference on mountain climbs.

It works fine because you have a Tiagra long cage derailleur. Ultegra long cage derailleurs are like hens teeth.

Ryath

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-sora-3500-9-speed-rear-mech/rp-prod84819

Would be the cheapest option a new sora derailler is not going to be far of in performance to a 10 year old 9 speed ultegra. 10 speed tiagra and 105 derailleurs will work fine with 9 speed if you're happy to spend a bit more.

Have a look on the cycling adverts subforum plenty of 105 stuff comes up or out up a wanted post there.

listrybabe

Brian? wrote: »

It works fine because you have a Tiagra long cage derailleur. Ultegra long cage derailleurs are like hens teeth.

was in to my local lbs and he ordered a 12/30 for me and apparently my deraillur will accomodate it no prob, thanks guys