New Cassette??

[Bugner]

I urrently have a Compact with a 12-27, which just about does for me gettig up the hills. But I am a big bloke 16stone. So If I have loaded panniers on the back, i'm thinking I might struggle up steeper hills. Can I fit a MTB 11-32 rear cassete to give me the extra low gear??

TIA

 

[MacB]

depending on your rear derailler as to how many teeth it can cope with. But a new MTB rear derailler isn't expensive, varies on what speed you're running.

 

[Bugner]

9 speed at the mo. So I should be able to just change the rear cassette and rear deralieur and not have to change anything else?

 

[Ivan Ardon]

For loaded touring, dump the compact and get a triple.

 

[Bugner]

I have SRAM levers which I believe are not compatible with triple groupsets, so I don't want to have to change everything. Looking at sheldon Brown's gear ratio's, there would only be a few inches difference at the bottom end anyway. Also, I won't be Touring permanantly (not yet anyway) and by changing the rear cassette, I can then just change back when I am back on Audaxes without the load.

 

[Amanda P]

No problem with changing the cassette, but it's not a given that your derailleur can handle a 32-tooth sprocket. It probably could, but maybe you should check. If not, you might need to change the rear derailleur too to a long-cage one.

If you do this, you needn't change it back when you switch back to your 12 - 27 - a long-cage derailleur will handle that just fine.

 

[yashicamat]

I have a triple with a 11-34T on the back of my LHT - in my opinion, this range is very useful when fully loaded in any location where there is a slight incline. I used the granny ring a few times on some of the Shropshire hills with camping kit on the back; I wouldn't have liked to have attempted that with a compact!

 

[canamrider]

You'll need to length the chain or, better, get a new one for dedicated use with the larger cassette.