the U16 Restricted Gears Cluster

[clivem]

I have two u16 sons & their bikes have Tiagra and the other has Sora, both normal ?adult? gearing.  As these group sets are not 10 speed I understand that the U16 Restricted Gears Cluster is not compatible and can?t be used together with what we have got.  Does anyone have constructive advise on the most economical way of getting them using the U16 legal gearing, and where to purchase it.  I don?t want to spend too much here but would like the bikes to be able to be used competitively.  We?re in JHB.  Thanks.

[sniff03]

one  way to do it is to remove all the cogs with less than 16teeth and replace the with spacers and then set the derailer so i only works on the remaining gears. also make sure the big chain ring on the front is a 52

[Chrispy]

Affordable, practical options for junior gears

by Owen Hannie 

 

 

 

Cycling has become very expensive due to import taxes and the weakening rand, so why don't we look for cost effective ways to make it easier on our pockets?

 

I have found a cost effective way to help up coming school boy/girl cyclists and their parents to save a lot hard earned cash when selecting clusters for restricted gear ratios.

 

Junior cyclists are required by the national federation to cycle with restricted gear ratios according to their age groups. The reasons for these restrictions are:

• To create a fair playing field for all cyclists of similar ages to compete in, and

   

• To protect these young cyclists from knee or muscular injuries and

   

• To promote spinning of the gears or high cadence riding.

   

These restricted gears are enforced at all SACF sanctioned races by official who visually check and measure out the correct gear rations.

 

How the gear restrictions measured?

 

There is a formulated chart with all the measurements of the different gear ratios possibly used in cycling. This measurement is calculated by rolling a bicycling backward in the selected gear and the distance of a full revolution of the crank is the measurement used in the chart. For example, if you measured out the distance of a full revolution of the crank on a bicycle in a 52-14 gear, the distance would be 7.930m.

 

Age Group

 

Maximum Roll-out Distance

 

Maximum gear ratio (23CC tire)

 

Under 10/12

 

6.227m

 

41 x 14

 

Under 14

 

6.626m

 

41 x 13

 

Under 16

 

6.897m

 

42 x 13

 

Junior Ladies

 

7.400m

 

42 x 12

 

Junior Men

 

7.930m

 

52 x 14

 

So where is the cost effective part in this article?

 

The cost of clusters has become very expensive, some clusters may cost in the region of R1000 plus. It is also very rare to find a cluster that can accommodate a ratio of 16-23, 17-24 or 18-25, as required by most schoolboy age groups if they ride with a maximum 52 tooth chain blade upfront. Where as, a 13-21 or 14-23 cluster can be bought with a new bike as a standard feature and it will see you through most your schoolboy racing career. The cost of replacing a 52 tooth chain blade for a 41 or 42 tooth chain blades is only R300-R400. So do the math, would you like to spend R1500 or R350?

 

On a personal note I would suggest that if parents would like their children have a long prosperous cycling future that they encourage that their kids ride restricted gears during races as well as in training. Restricted gears are only there for the benefit of our up and coming future of South African cyclists and that they have a healthy injury free cycle to the top.

 

If you have any queries or suggestion, please do not hesitate to drop me an e-mail at owen@cyclelab.com

 

[clivem]

Thanks for the input thus far!!!

[carrera4s]

Can one fit the 46T chain ring on the Ultegra R 8000 52/36 crank? 

 

46 - 14 will give the correct ratio for U17 with 23 mm tyres.

 

Edit:  Fixed U16 to U17

Edited March 13, 2018 by carrera4s

[JacBrand]

Yes, you can replace the 52 with a 46, as long as the bolt patterns are the same.

[Zeffer]

You can buy those clusters new and they are regularly for sale on the Hub.

 

I have 2 sons which I have taken from u10 up to u16 now. I have found it best to start building your own clusters if you are going to continuously be chaning age groups.

 

So use the attached spreadsheet to determine which works best. General consensus for u16 is 52-16. Nowaday 52T chainrings are quite rare but you do find them (ecept SRAM). So to build 10 speed cassette you might need some spare cassette or 2 which you will disasseble and built rations from top (28/25) al the way in meaningful steps to end with a 16T. Easy peazy. Built 5 in Jan for SA champs myself. and it does not cost a fortune to achieve.

 

46-14 will not roll in for u16 - it will be junior.

 

All the best and enjoy building gears and getting youngsters on bikes

Gearrestrictions.pdf

[PeterF]

one  way to do it is to remove all the cogs with less than 16teeth and replace the with spacers and then set the derailer so i only works on the remaining gears. also make sure the big chain ring on the front is a 52

I've seen many youngsters doing this.  Certainly the most cost effective.

[Zeffer]

I've seen many youngsters doing this.  Certainly the most cost effective.

Yes it works - you might end up having just 7 gears (removing 11-12-14).

 

At some races (not at the bigger ones) the commissaires will allow you to simple block the bottom gears by using the limiting screws. This should be encouraged for newbies en development riders specially on borrowed bikes. IMO

[wvr]

Clive - the Cycling South Africa website has the regulations etc and some of the info you have been given by other responses is correct.

 

One thing, the age groups have changed and it is now u15 and u17 and there is no longer u14 or u16 even though most bike race entry sites still refer to those age groups.

 

So the year your children turn 15 or 16 means they race under 17 (currently kids born in 2002 or 2003.)

 

I bought my son his racing cassettes on Bike 24 which is a German site - although pricey they are great quality and you can source 10 or 11 speed.

 

Good luck.

 

 

[carrera4s]

46-14 will not roll in for u16 - it will be junior.

 

 

Thanks for the table - very useful !

 

The table shows 46-14 roll-in as 6.896 which is 1 mm smaller than the limit of 6.897 (which seems to be the latest approved distance)?

 

Am I missing something?

 

https://www.cyclingsa.com/s/20180108_Restrictions-for-youth-riders.pdf

[FC&P2C]

my kids started of with 8sp bikes with custom build 18-27 clusters. I put the clusters together from old clusters that `ive taken apart and then just use the 8sp spacers in between. You loose the last cog because you need a 12 or 11 that is grinded down to end the cluster with. this can be overcome using a wider 9 or 10 sp freehub body in order to maintain a full 8sp cluster.

As my kids were very young and really battling with the front shifter I converted both to 1 x using bmx cranks and blades with a full 12-25 cluster at the back.

Many ways to kill a cat!

[Zeffer]

https://www.cyclingsa.com/s/20180108_Restrictions-for-youth-riders.pdf

 

 

Thanks for the table - very useful !

 

The table shows 46-14 roll-in as 6.896 which is 1 mm smaller than the limit of 6.897 (which seems to be the latest approved distance)?

 

Am I missing something?

 

https://www.cyclingsa.com/s/20180108_Restrictions-for-youth-riders.pdf

 

Excellent observation!

 

A typical JUNIOR casette you buy from Shimano is a 14T 10 or 11 spd. So you dont have to buy the 16T cassette (hens tooth) or built one.

 

So you will be rolling 1mm too long - this would not be observeable by the officials - the line they draw in the sand is thicker than that. Now where to get a 46T chainring....

Edited March 14, 2018 by Zeffer

[Zeffer]

my kids started of with 8sp bikes with custom build 18-27 clusters. I put the clusters together from old clusters that `ive taken apart and then just use the 8sp spacers in between. You loose the last cog because you need a 12 or 11 that is grinded down to end the cluster with. this can be overcome using a wider 9 or 10 sp freehub body in order to maintain a full 8sp cluster.

As my kids were very young and really battling with the front shifter I converted both to 1 x using bmx cranks and blades with a full 12-25 cluster at the back.

Many ways to kill a cat!

I am of the opinion 1X for road bikes will be the next big thing!

 

And a clever solution for restricted gears

[carrera4s]

I see there is an Italian manufacturer that manufactures your cassette according to your needs. 

 

 

http://www.miche.it/en/products/strada/cassette-pignoni/light-primato-11sh.html

 

 

Bike Components sells their 16-27 as standard item: (Around R 800 before shipping and VAT). 

 

https://www.bike-components.de/en/Miche/Light-Primato-Shimano-11-speed-Cassette-p56168/