Compagnolo Avanti compatability with Record

[MRCB5000]

My favorite road bike (bought in 1996) has a Compagnolo Avanti derailleur set up with a 52/42 chain wheel on the front a a 13/23 cassette on the back ( 8 sprocket cassette). I am 60 years old with failing knees and having moved to France I know find many hills 15-20% in the area and I struggle to get up them and so currently use my Mountain Bike - about 200km per week.

Finding an Avanti cassette has so far been impossible. I see Chain Reaction do a 13/26 Compagnolo Record 8 speed cassette. My questions :-
1. Will the 13/26 make a noticeable difference
2. Are the Avanti and Record range compatible.

Thanks

 

[accountantpete]

The 8 speeds used the ExaDrive freehub arrangement - just confirm the freehub is ExaDrive like the pic.

TBH the 26 or even a 28 tooth sprocket won't do much good.

You need a triple or compact chainset. The existing shifters will do both but you may need a long cage rear mech..