cassette options please...

[bc_hills]

Current:

Apex 48/36
10 spd d/a downtube shifters
10 spd 105 cassette 11-28
105 f/r derailleurs (short cage?)

I don't really need the 11, but I sure could use bigger than 28!!

It's a surly crosscheck so there's room in the back for just about anything, I think.

Any suggestions? Can you put a mtb hub on this without changing the derailleurs?

I'll take the same question to my LBS, but nobody knows everything so I like to get a lot of input. Thanks!

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Current:

Apex 48/36
10 spd d/a downtube shifters
10 spd 105 cassette 11-28
105 f/r derailleurs (short cage?)

I don't really need the 11, but I sure could use bigger than 28!!

It's a surly crosscheck so there's room in the back for just about anything, I think.

Any suggestions? Can you put a mtb hub on this without changing the derailleurs?

I'll take the same question to my LBS, but nobody knows everything so I like to get a lot of input. Thanks!

What you're wanting to accomplish with the mtb hubs would require a derailleur swap to a long cage rear for a larger cluster. Your bike has Gnot-rite spacing (132.5) so it will allow for road or mtb rear hubs. If your rear derailleur is short cage you're pretty much maxed out on the largest cog at 28t

The most inexpensive swap you could do to get a bit more low range is change that 36t inner chainring to a 34t. You'd be surprised how much a 2t difference can make.

 

[bc_hills]

Thanks RDV, that's what I'll do for now. The gearing feels close (if that makes sense) with 48/36 anyway. Maybe it'd feel better if I had the Sram 11-32 in back, but with short cage I can't do that right? It's fine for now, but I just know I'm gonna hate life if I've got the bike loaded up and I hit the mountains.

 

[bc_hills]

Incidentally, if I ever did want to go with mtb hub and gearing, what would I be looking at replacing? Would it be enough to have a long cage derailleur on hand or would I put a mtb derailleur on as well? And I do mean this question to come from the best long term performance/reliability point of view.

Also, Would I need mtb hubs for a mtb cassette, or would mtb cassettes work on road hubs?

 

[brianf7]

What you can try is get a 32 or 34 single sprocket put it on behind what you already have then loose one of the small sprockets so you get a ratio of say 14 - 32 .
I use campy 10 speed and if doing alpine classic I slip a 29 on the back and take the 12 off. that gets me home and very litle cost. scrounge around for old worn out cassets the big sprockets dont wear out . all you want is the rear sprocket or the rear two sprockets if they are mounted on a carrier .

By taking the 11 or 12 off you will be able to use short mech.

You may need a different spacer so just file an old one down a bit.
there are some after market sprockets around.

 

[cyclopeon]

In my experienceas a weakling, once you go above about 30t on the cassette you need a mtb derailleur (you might be able to get away with a 32t without changing?): the body above the parallelogram is a bit longer which gives the needed clearance for the larger cogs.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Current:

Apex 48/36
10 spd d/a downtube shifters
10 spd 105 cassette 11-28
105 f/r derailleurs (short cage?)

I don't really need the 11, but I sure could use bigger than 28!!

It's a surly crosscheck so there's room in the back for just about anything, I think.

Any suggestions? Can you put a mtb hub on this without changing the derailleurs?

I'll take the same question to my LBS, but nobody knows everything so I like to get a lot of input. Thanks!

Put a shimano 9s MTB rear der on there, then a STX shimano MTB 10s cogset and bob's yer uncle.

Dopn't need a MTB hub for a MTB cogset, it works fine on a shimano compatible road hub.

A '9s' rear der works fine with those shifters and with a 10s chain w/o modification.

It's a shame your LBS doesn't know this stuff.

 

[bc_hills]

Put a shimano 9s MTB rear der on there, then a STX shimano MTB 10s cogset and bob's yer uncle.

Dopn't need a MTB hub for a MTB cogset, it works fine on a shimano compatible road hub.

A '9s' rear der works fine with those shifters and with a 10s chain w/o modification.

It's a shame your LBS doesn't know this stuff.

Thanks! I'm sure my LBS knows his stuff; I just like to do some research first so I don't walk in like a boob without a clue. I'll put the smaller chainring on this ride for now, and see if I've got the fitness and knees for that. Maybe I'll end up moving all the 105 stuff to another bike that's coming down the pipes in the fall, and then upgrade this bike to a mtb drivetrain!

 

[bc_hills]

just an addendum... I've got a SRAM apex 38/46, not 36/48 as stated earlier. It's 130 mm BCD, so I guess there's no getting a smaller chainring!

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

just an addendum... I've got a SRAM apex 38/46, not 36/48 as stated earlier. It's 130 mm BCD, so I guess there's no getting a smaller chainring!

Why not? There's a gazillion 130bcd rings to choose from out there. Earlier I suggested swapping your small ring to a 34t, this would give you more low range without having to replace more expensive parts. A chainring costs way less than any other part anyone else has suggested. So instead of reducing by 2t it's 4t now. That's your ticket, inexpensive and accomplishing what you wanted, more low range.

Go 46/34 up front.

 

[bc_hills]

Why not? There's a gazillion 130bcd rings to choose from out there. Earlier I suggested swapping your small ring to a 34t, this would give you more low range without having to replace more expensive parts. A chainring costs way less than any other part anyone else has suggested. So instead of reducing by 2t it's 4t now. That's your ticket, inexpensive and accomplishing what you wanted, more low range.

I thought 38 was as small as you could go with 130bcd? I read that somewhere. Thanks again, I'll check it out!

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I thought 38 was as small as you could go with 130bcd? I read that somewhere. Thanks again, I'll check it out!

Have you seen what the standard small ring is for compact road drivetrain? It's 34t cousin, go get one. You could probably stand to bring your big ring down to a 46t as well. You'll need to reduce your chain also.

 

[nightfend]

I thought 38 was as small as you could go with 130bcd? I read that somewhere. Thanks again, I'll check it out!

You are correct, 38teeth is the smallest 130mm chainring you can get. At 38-teeth you are basically hitting the chainring bolts with the teeth.

If you want smaller, you'll have to go with a compact 110mm crankset.

Also, as someone else mentioned...if you look for a 9-speed Shimano XT or XTR derailleur, you can throw that on the back of a Shimano road group and gain the ability to use larger rear cogs. You'll almost certainly need to lengthen your chain, though.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Yes, of course 110bcd for compact rings. Head slapping forehead, doh!