Cassette advice

[rattlesnake]

Need some advice on what cassette's are compatible on road bikes;

Our tandem is currently set up with two chainring's in front, a 44t and a 54t.

 

Running an 11-28 cassette at the back, but as some of you might know, climbing on a tandem is much more difficult than climbing on a single bike. So for a race like the race for victory, my concern is that it might be extremely difficult (nearly impossible) to climb the last big climb in Suikerbosrand with a 15%+ gradient with the current gearing setup.

 

My question is, can one get an 11 (or 12) 30 or 32 cassette that fits a road bike and if not, are mtb casettes compatible with the road bike? What if anything do I need to take into consideration here?

 

Currently running Ultegra 6700 groupset.

 

Thanks

[Tankman]

Why dont you just change the 44 to a 39 ... that will make quite a difference.

 

As far as I know the biggest road cassette ratio is 11/28, the one you already have.

 

A 10 speed mtb cassette might be compatible but just remember the bigger the ratio, the more gears you start loosing in between and these are normally the exact gears that would have been the comfortable one.

Edited September 8, 2011 by Tankman

[Tankman]

If you compare a mtb XT cassette 11/36

 

11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 32, 36 T

 

with your current Ultegra 11/ 28

 

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28

 

 

 

I am no tandem expert but with the high speed you guys reach I would imagine that the closer ratio in the bottom half of the cassette will be important.

[rattlesnake]

If you compare a mtb XT cassette 11/36

 

11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 32, 36 T

 

with your current Ultegra 11/ 28

 

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28

 

 

 

I am no tandem expert but with the high speed you guys reach I would imagine that the closer ratio in the bottom half of the cassette will be important.

 

Thanks Tankman, maybe the 39 chainring is a good idea..... will definitely make the climbing easier and then for the flat roads I still have the big chainring in front.