Bike/cassette Choices For The Dolomites

rfield54 said:

Cervelo: 65 rpm @ 6mph
Alchemy: 68 rpm @ 6mph


I guess ultimately my goal is to still have legs for the last few days

Thanks, Roy

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I look at the 15 percent grades near me and am happy to do 40rpm - 4mph.

I think the leading cause of failure on trips like yours is setting your goals to high. And if you have to ask what gearing or what bike, your goals are set too high.


If I was younger, my racing bike with a 54/39 and 13-24 (6 speed) would be my choice. But being 65 I would use my training bike with a 50/36 and 16-30 (10 speed - 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 30). I don't need to know the route. I just need to know my ability.

FWIW. I have found that a Campagnolo rear derailleur can EASILY handle a 32t Cog when mounted on any frame which does not have the old, Campagnolo horizontal dropouts which were designed for a Nuovo Record, or similar, rear derailleur ...

The MEDIUM CAGE Campagnolo rear derailleur is almost the same as a GS Shimano (Road "long" cage) & can handle the chain for a 32t largest Cog + 53t/39t Chainrings ...

Of course, the LONG CAGE Campagnolo rear derailleur is about the same as an SGS Shimano (MTB "long" cage) & can handle more chain ... and, would be better suited for more Chainring/Cog combinations.

MY observation is that ALL of the post-1998 Campagnolo rear derailleurs can handle/(be retrofitted with) an 11t lower pulley wheel ...

If there is a conflict with the 11t upper pulley wheel on one of the 11-speed rear derailleurs with one of the larger Cogs, then simply swap out the 11t pulley with a 10t pulley wheel.

Possibly worth repeating ...

If you don't want to re-stack a Campagnolo Cassette with a cannibalized 29t/30t/32t/34t Cog, then a Shimano/-compatible 11-speed wheel & Cassette can be used with an 11-speed Campagnolo drivetrain, and vice-versa, as long as the STOPS are adjusted, accordingly.

MICHE has a 29t Cog (9-speed, but it's going to be in the "last" position, so while there may be some tweaking to make it fit, I re-stacked a 10-speed Campagnolo Cassette with a 29t 9-speed MICHE Cog without any issues ... maybe there are 10-speed or 11-speed loose Cogs avaiable!?!) which can be used to restack one of your current Campagnolo Cassettes.

BTW. A lowly, long cage Xenon-or-Mirage-or-whatever 9-or-10-speed rear derailleur will work with your 11-speed Campagnolo shifters ...

Roy,

Will there be a support vehicle following your group as you ride? I was thinking you could buy the parts you think you might need, and have the support vehicle carry them for you, and you could try the parts at your convenience without the weight penalty of carrying them.

With that said -- I am just a beginner and I'll probably never win a race of any kind, I am not bicycle expert, certainly not mountain expert.

My best wishes to you, may you enjoy great success!

Bob

Your gearing for either bike and your conditioning / climbing abilities sound just fine as is. I'm also 61 and would go to the Dolomites on my 39 x 25. I might drop to a 27 or 28 if it was day after day after day of climbing, but I prefer climbing in a slightly larger ratio than some.

BTW, it's the Dolomites. In Italy. Take the Campy bike!

A 34 x 27 would get me over the Mortirolo. Worse case scenario? Stash a 29T gear cluster and cassette remover in your luggage. For a couple days you could ride with a chain a link too short or a link too long.

8,600'? You'll breathe easy going over those passes! Have fun on your trip!

If it were me going to to the Dolomites, I'd not worry about the $65, I would spend that and more on a couple of possible cog groups and mail it ahead of time to my hotel so it will be waiting for me when I arrive. Postage costs to international destinations can be a bit daunting, though. Possibly worth it not to have all that weight at the airport. I do that with business travel -- I postal mail stuff to myself so that instead of having to lug that around at airports, it is already at my destination. I do call the hotel first to confirm they are willing to receive my package(s) and check the charges for this. Some hotels charge to hold postal packages. When I'm done with the trip, I either throw out the things I postal mailed, or I give them away, or I mail them back to myself. I prefer giving the items away if they are not worth the cost of packaging and posting.

Roy, have a great trip! I bet it will be an amazing experience for you!

Bob