34/30 is the same as 30/27. If you find a 110 bolt crankset and 46/34 rings, you can be a double.
Cassette is a 12/27 minus the 14 and plus the 30. You may be happy with the 12/27 as is. The
derailleur capacity needed is 30 and a regular cage derailleur may work fine. When you aren't in
the Mtns, you put a 12/23 or12/25 cassette on.
This is not as slick as a triple but you won't have to agonize about using the granny like many
triple users and front shifting is better on a double than on a triple.
I just built up such a system and plan on using a 12/23 on most rides,
35/25 on long rides with hills, and 12/27 when there is long, steep or touring. Last year I tried
13/32 with 53/39. My Campy rear derailleur was at its limit. The newer, Centaur would work fine
for sure. My tandem is 52/42/28 with 13/32 and now shifts great.
On Sat, 25 Jan 2003 19:52:10 -0500, "David L. Johnson" <David L. Johnson
<
[email protected]>> wrote:
>On Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:39:53 -0500, Shelley wrote:
>
>> Hello:
>>
>> I have a 2 year old Dean with Dura Ace drivetrain. I have maxed out to the 27 tooth 9 speed
>> cassette. I ride a lot of hilly and mountainous rides. The cost of a Dura Ace triple upgrade is
>> very high, $639 in parts alone from Excel.
>
>What? That is outrageous. Look, the difference between a "Dura-Ace" crankset and a bunch of others
>is minimal. Get something reasonable. All you will need is a new crankset. Maybe a triple is a
>good idea.
>>
>> I was told that you could switch to an XT or XTR rear derailleur, get a 9 speed cassette with a
>> wider range (up to 32 or 34)and get most of the bang of a triple for a lot less bucks. Has anyone
>> tried this? If so, what can you report about your results?
>
>That change will get you some advantage, but instead of a 39 x 32 or 34 low gear, consider what you
>get with a triple: A 30x27. This is lower, plus you do not sacrifice the close ratios you have
>now. Going from 12 to 32 in a cassette means a lot of jumps.
>
>You will only need to replace the cranks, and the rear derailleur. Your Dura-Ace STI should (???)
>shift the triple fine (right, folks?), and you get lots more gears, and no lost ratios.