Reduced Gearing

I'm looking to reduce the gearing somewhat on my road bike, which
currently has a 53/39 and 23-12 cassette. It's 9-speed Super Record,
about 15 years old. Am wondering if I can even find replacement
cassettes. Would a Veloce or Chorus casette work? From the pictures
I've seen their cassette splines are symmetric, whereas mine has some
asymmetry (one of the splines is wider, one is smaller), so that seems
doubtful. I could also look at going to a compact front-end.
Any thoughts? Am mainly trying to figure out what is feasible.

--
Joe Riel

Joe Riel wrote:
I'm looking to reduce the gearing somewhat on my road bike, which
currently has a 53/39 and 23-12 cassette. It's 9-speed Super Record,
about 15 years old. Am wondering if I can even find replacement
cassettes. Would a Veloce or Chorus casette work? From the pictures
I've seen their cassette splines are symmetric, whereas mine has some
asymmetry (one of the splines is wider, one is smaller), so that seems
doubtful. I could also look at going to a compact front-end.
Any thoughts? Am mainly trying to figure out what is feasible.


Mid compact (52/36) is a good compromise IMO.

--
duane

On 8/7/2015 10:48 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
I'm looking to reduce the gearing somewhat on my road bike, which
currently has a 53/39 and 23-12 cassette. It's 9-speed Super Record,
about 15 years old. Am wondering if I can even find replacement
cassettes. Would a Veloce or Chorus casette work? From the pictures
I've seen their cassette splines are symmetric, whereas mine has some
asymmetry (one of the splines is wider, one is smaller), so that seems
doubtful. I could also look at going to a compact front-end.
Any thoughts? Am mainly trying to figure out what is feasible.


Campagnolo CS-9 are of the current spline style, same for
9-10-11:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/CACS890.JPG

(Eights were overly clever with a symmetric spline to allow
various gear combinations which required a chart to align
the index ramps on the sprockets. The change to the better
big-bearing hub also incorporated the asymmetric cassette
spline format)

Since nine cassettes are less available and about the same
price as Tens, you might use a Ten cassette and rearrange
sprockets.

Some notes about that:
Lockrings are different OD to match high gear size. Too
large a lockring will hit the chain plates.
Only the basic model crmo sprocket models can be swapped
around. Aluminum carriers can't. Re use your nine spacers.
Lowest gear on a Ten is shaped and so unsuitable to a nine.
Look to the second-largest sprocket in the set.
Nine cassettes seem to be only available in 23 and in 28 low
gear now. If you have the short cage rear changer, 26 max is
the spec.

Oh, one more thing; compact crank is another path to lower
gearing.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 6:05:27 AM UTC-7, AMuzi wrote:
On 8/7/2015 10:48 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
I'm looking to reduce the gearing somewhat on my road bike, which
currently has a 53/39 and 23-12 cassette. It's 9-speed Super Record,
about 15 years old. Am wondering if I can even find replacement
cassettes. Would a Veloce or Chorus casette work? From the pictures
I've seen their cassette splines are symmetric, whereas mine has some
asymmetry (one of the splines is wider, one is smaller), so that seems
doubtful. I could also look at going to a compact front-end.
Any thoughts? Am mainly trying to figure out what is feasible.


Campagnolo CS-9 are of the current spline style, same for
9-10-11:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/CACS890.JPG

(Eights were overly clever with a symmetric spline to allow
various gear combinations which required a chart to align
the index ramps on the sprockets. The change to the better
big-bearing hub also incorporated the asymmetric cassette
spline format)

Since nine cassettes are less available and about the same
price as Tens, you might use a Ten cassette and rearrange
sprockets.

Some notes about that:
Lockrings are different OD to match high gear size. Too
large a lockring will hit the chain plates.
Only the basic model crmo sprocket models can be swapped
around. Aluminum carriers can't. Re use your nine spacers.
Lowest gear on a Ten is shaped and so unsuitable to a nine.
Look to the second-largest sprocket in the set.
Nine cassettes seem to be only available in 23 and in 28 low
gear now. If you have the short cage rear changer, 26 max is
the spec.

Oh, one more thing; compact crank is another path to lower
gearing.

So, to be clear, he can buy Veloce 9 speed? Those seem to be available from a number of sources. Speaking as one on the downward spiral towards utter decrepitude, a compact is nice.

-- Jay Beattie.

On 8/8/2015 10:20 AM, jbeattie wrote:
On Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 6:05:27 AM UTC-7, AMuzi wrote:
On 8/7/2015 10:48 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
I'm looking to reduce the gearing somewhat on my road bike, which
currently has a 53/39 and 23-12 cassette. It's 9-speed Super Record,
about 15 years old. Am wondering if I can even find replacement
cassettes. Would a Veloce or Chorus casette work? From the pictures
I've seen their cassette splines are symmetric, whereas mine has some
asymmetry (one of the splines is wider, one is smaller), so that seems
doubtful. I could also look at going to a compact front-end.
Any thoughts? Am mainly trying to figure out what is feasible.


Campagnolo CS-9 are of the current spline style, same for
9-10-11:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/CACS890.JPG

(Eights were overly clever with a symmetric spline to allow
various gear combinations which required a chart to align
the index ramps on the sprockets. The change to the better
big-bearing hub also incorporated the asymmetric cassette
spline format)

Since nine cassettes are less available and about the same
price as Tens, you might use a Ten cassette and rearrange
sprockets.

Some notes about that:
Lockrings are different OD to match high gear size. Too
large a lockring will hit the chain plates.
Only the basic model crmo sprocket models can be swapped
around. Aluminum carriers can't. Re use your nine spacers.
Lowest gear on a Ten is shaped and so unsuitable to a nine.
Look to the second-largest sprocket in the set.
Nine cassettes seem to be only available in 23 and in 28 low
gear now. If you have the short cage rear changer, 26 max is
the spec.

Oh, one more thing; compact crank is another path to lower
gearing.

So, to be clear, he can buy Veloce 9 speed? Those seem to be available from a number of sources. Speaking as one on the downward spiral towards utter decrepitude, a compact is nice.

-- Jay Beattie.


Yes, he could. We have them, as do others.
That would be a better choice if there were nine cassettes
besides the 23 he has now and the 28 which Campagnolo says
is too big for a short cage changer.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

AMuzi writes:

On 8/8/2015 10:20 AM, jbeattie wrote:
On Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 6:05:27 AM UTC-7, AMuzi wrote:
On 8/7/2015 10:48 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
I'm looking to reduce the gearing somewhat on my road bike, which
currently has a 53/39 and 23-12 cassette. It's 9-speed Super Record,
about 15 years old. Am wondering if I can even find replacement
cassettes. Would a Veloce or Chorus casette work? From the pictures
I've seen their cassette splines are symmetric, whereas mine has some
asymmetry (one of the splines is wider, one is smaller), so that seems
doubtful. I could also look at going to a compact front-end.
Any thoughts? Am mainly trying to figure out what is feasible.


Campagnolo CS-9 are of the current spline style, same for
9-10-11:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/CACS890.JPG

(Eights were overly clever with a symmetric spline to allow
various gear combinations which required a chart to align
the index ramps on the sprockets. The change to the better
big-bearing hub also incorporated the asymmetric cassette
spline format)

Since nine cassettes are less available and about the same
price as Tens, you might use a Ten cassette and rearrange
sprockets.

Some notes about that:
Lockrings are different OD to match high gear size. Too
large a lockring will hit the chain plates.
Only the basic model crmo sprocket models can be swapped
around. Aluminum carriers can't. Re use your nine spacers.
Lowest gear on a Ten is shaped and so unsuitable to a nine.
Look to the second-largest sprocket in the set.
Nine cassettes seem to be only available in 23 and in 28 low
gear now. If you have the short cage rear changer, 26 max is
the spec.

Oh, one more thing; compact crank is another path to lower
gearing.

So, to be clear, he can buy Veloce 9 speed? Those seem to be available from a number of sources. Speaking as one on the downward spiral towards utter decrepitude, a compact is nice.

-- Jay Beattie.


Yes, he could. We have them, as do others.
That would be a better choice if there were nine cassettes besides the
23 he has now and the 28 which Campagnolo says is too big for a short
cage changer.

Any suggestions for a good compact crank? I'm a lightweight (less than
130 lbs), so durability is rarely an issue, though I value reliability
and longevity.

--
Joe Riel

On 8/8/2015 3:31 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
AMuzi writes:

On 8/8/2015 10:20 AM, jbeattie wrote:
On Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 6:05:27 AM UTC-7, AMuzi wrote:
On 8/7/2015 10:48 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
I'm looking to reduce the gearing somewhat on my road bike, which
currently has a 53/39 and 23-12 cassette. It's 9-speed Super Record,
about 15 years old. Am wondering if I can even find replacement
cassettes. Would a Veloce or Chorus casette work? From the pictures
I've seen their cassette splines are symmetric, whereas mine has some
asymmetry (one of the splines is wider, one is smaller), so that seems
doubtful. I could also look at going to a compact front-end.
Any thoughts? Am mainly trying to figure out what is feasible.


Campagnolo CS-9 are of the current spline style, same for
9-10-11:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/CACS890.JPG

(Eights were overly clever with a symmetric spline to allow
various gear combinations which required a chart to align
the index ramps on the sprockets. The change to the better
big-bearing hub also incorporated the asymmetric cassette
spline format)

Since nine cassettes are less available and about the same
price as Tens, you might use a Ten cassette and rearrange
sprockets.

Some notes about that:
Lockrings are different OD to match high gear size. Too
large a lockring will hit the chain plates.
Only the basic model crmo sprocket models can be swapped
around. Aluminum carriers can't. Re use your nine spacers.
Lowest gear on a Ten is shaped and so unsuitable to a nine.
Look to the second-largest sprocket in the set.
Nine cassettes seem to be only available in 23 and in 28 low
gear now. If you have the short cage rear changer, 26 max is
the spec.

Oh, one more thing; compact crank is another path to lower
gearing.

So, to be clear, he can buy Veloce 9 speed? Those seem to be available from a number of sources. Speaking as one on the downward spiral towards utter decrepitude, a compact is nice.

-- Jay Beattie.


Yes, he could. We have them, as do others.
That would be a better choice if there were nine cassettes besides the
23 he has now and the 28 which Campagnolo says is too big for a short
cage changer.

Any suggestions for a good compact crank? I'm a lightweight (less than
130 lbs), so durability is rarely an issue, though I value reliability
and longevity.


Campagnolo's current offerings are both much lighter than
yours and rings are enhanced to shift better. Compatible in
your nine system despite the 'eleven' graphic. (p.s. your
bike may be super, and it may be Record, but in 1998 there
was no Super Record).

We also like the classic design Sugino XD compact 34-48 or
34-50 all crank lengths. It costs less than carbon
Campagnolo models.

Your 1998 front changer unless worn or damaged will shift a
compact nicely, just lower it. A brazed mount may introduce
a problem there.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On 8/8/2015 11:20 AM, jbeattie wrote:
Speaking as one on the downward spiral towards utter decrepitude, a compact is nice.

And for those of us further along that spiral, a triple is really nice!


--
- Frank Krygowski

AMuzi writes:

On 8/8/2015 3:31 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
AMuzi writes:

On 8/8/2015 10:20 AM, jbeattie wrote:
On Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 6:05:27 AM UTC-7, AMuzi wrote:
On 8/7/2015 10:48 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
I'm looking to reduce the gearing somewhat on my road bike, which
currently has a 53/39 and 23-12 cassette. It's 9-speed Super Record,
about 15 years old. Am wondering if I can even find replacement
cassettes. Would a Veloce or Chorus casette work? From the pictures
I've seen their cassette splines are symmetric, whereas mine has some
asymmetry (one of the splines is wider, one is smaller), so that seems
doubtful. I could also look at going to a compact front-end.
Any thoughts? Am mainly trying to figure out what is feasible.


Campagnolo CS-9 are of the current spline style, same for
9-10-11:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/CACS890.JPG

(Eights were overly clever with a symmetric spline to allow
various gear combinations which required a chart to align
the index ramps on the sprockets. The change to the better
big-bearing hub also incorporated the asymmetric cassette
spline format)

Since nine cassettes are less available and about the same
price as Tens, you might use a Ten cassette and rearrange
sprockets.

Some notes about that:
Lockrings are different OD to match high gear size. Too
large a lockring will hit the chain plates.
Only the basic model crmo sprocket models can be swapped
around. Aluminum carriers can't. Re use your nine spacers.
Lowest gear on a Ten is shaped and so unsuitable to a nine.
Look to the second-largest sprocket in the set.
Nine cassettes seem to be only available in 23 and in 28 low
gear now. If you have the short cage rear changer, 26 max is
the spec.

Oh, one more thing; compact crank is another path to lower
gearing.

So, to be clear, he can buy Veloce 9 speed? Those seem to be available from a number of sources. Speaking as one on the downward spiral towards utter decrepitude, a compact is nice.

-- Jay Beattie.


Yes, he could. We have them, as do others.
That would be a better choice if there were nine cassettes besides the
23 he has now and the 28 which Campagnolo says is too big for a short
cage changer.

Any suggestions for a good compact crank? I'm a lightweight (less than
130 lbs), so durability is rarely an issue, though I value reliability
and longevity.


Campagnolo's current offerings are both much lighter than yours and
rings are enhanced to shift better. Compatible in your nine system
despite the 'eleven' graphic. (p.s. your bike may be super, and it may
be Record, but in 1998 there was no Super Record).

Whoops. My mistake. Is the 11 speed stuff narrower, hence faster
wearing? How do carbon cranks handle the occasional dropped chain?
Do they get terribly gouged?

We also like the classic design Sugino XD compact 34-48 or 34-50 all
crank lengths. It costs less than carbon Campagnolo models.

I imagine.

Your 1998 front changer unless worn or damaged will shift a compact
nicely, just lower it. A brazed mount may introduce a problem there.

It's a clamp-on, so repositioning it is not a problem.

--
Joe Riel

On Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 3:54:30 PM UTC-7, JoeRiel wrote:
AMuzi writes:

On 8/8/2015 3:31 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
AMuzi writes:

On 8/8/2015 10:20 AM, jbeattie wrote:
On Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 6:05:27 AM UTC-7, AMuzi wrote:
On 8/7/2015 10:48 PM, Joe Riel wrote:
I'm looking to reduce the gearing somewhat on my road bike, which
currently has a 53/39 and 23-12 cassette. It's 9-speed Super Record,
about 15 years old. Am wondering if I can even find replacement
cassettes. Would a Veloce or Chorus casette work? From the pictures
I've seen their cassette splines are symmetric, whereas mine has some
asymmetry (one of the splines is wider, one is smaller), so that seems
doubtful. I could also look at going to a compact front-end.
Any thoughts? Am mainly trying to figure out what is feasible.


Campagnolo CS-9 are of the current spline style, same for
9-10-11:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/CACS890.JPG

(Eights were overly clever with a symmetric spline to allow
various gear combinations which required a chart to align
the index ramps on the sprockets. The change to the better
big-bearing hub also incorporated the asymmetric cassette
spline format)

Since nine cassettes are less available and about the same
price as Tens, you might use a Ten cassette and rearrange
sprockets.

Some notes about that:
Lockrings are different OD to match high gear size. Too
large a lockring will hit the chain plates.
Only the basic model crmo sprocket models can be swapped
around. Aluminum carriers can't. Re use your nine spacers.
Lowest gear on a Ten is shaped and so unsuitable to a nine.
Look to the second-largest sprocket in the set.
Nine cassettes seem to be only available in 23 and in 28 low
gear now. If you have the short cage rear changer, 26 max is
the spec.

Oh, one more thing; compact crank is another path to lower
gearing.

So, to be clear, he can buy Veloce 9 speed? Those seem to be available from a number of sources. Speaking as one on the downward spiral towards utter decrepitude, a compact is nice.

-- Jay Beattie.


Yes, he could. We have them, as do others.
That would be a better choice if there were nine cassettes besides the
23 he has now and the 28 which Campagnolo says is too big for a short
cage changer.

Any suggestions for a good compact crank? I'm a lightweight (less than
130 lbs), so durability is rarely an issue, though I value reliability
and longevity.


Campagnolo's current offerings are both much lighter than yours and
rings are enhanced to shift better. Compatible in your nine system
despite the 'eleven' graphic. (p.s. your bike may be super, and it may
be Record, but in 1998 there was no Super Record).

Whoops. My mistake. Is the 11 speed stuff narrower, hence faster
wearing? How do carbon cranks handle the occasional dropped chain?
Do they get terribly gouged?

We also like the classic design Sugino XD compact 34-48 or 34-50 all
crank lengths. It costs less than carbon Campagnolo models.

I imagine.

Your 1998 front changer unless worn or damaged will shift a compact
nicely, just lower it. A brazed mount may introduce a problem there.

It's a clamp-on, so repositioning it is not a problem.

What type of BB do you have?

-- Jay Beattie.