compatibility

[jackthelad]

Hi guys putting a new frame together ,and with it being a light weight touring bike,I recon 10 speed tiagra groupset is fine.However i would like a 52/39/30 chainset and this only comes in ultegra.I am basically just needing it confirmed that the ultegra chainset with the 10 speed tiagra groupset is ok.The cassette at the back will be 12/30.Now this is the question if using the standard 50/39/30 chainset that comes with the groupset and a 11/28 cassette giving a 50/11 is this the same as 52/12

I have changed my chains on my 9 speed bikes to sram 971 for the quick link,easier for maintenance etc and was wondering which sram chain would do the same with 10 speed.Any help appreciated thanks

jackthelad

 

[PpPete]

Ultegra chainset with the 10 speed tiagra groupset is certainly oK
Nominal capacity of the mech is only up to 27 or 28 teeth. 30T is "pushing it" - something I've done quite successfully (50-38-26 and 12/30 9 speed)

On 700 x23c tyres 50/11 gives you 119.5 "inches" whereas 52/12 gives you 114 "inches" - so no, not (quite) the same.

Chains - any 10 speed will do, personal preference is for KMC, their quick links seem easier to use than SRAM's IME.

But....
Why 10 speed on a tourer BTW ? 9 speed is much more robust IMO

 

[jackthelad]

Hi Pete thanks for getting back to me (quote) Why 10 speed on a tourer BTW ? 9 speed is much more robust

I am finding it difficult to find 9 speed groupsets.I presently have the brakes as the frame needs 57mm,so I have the shimano r650s

as it is a tourer I dont have to buy top notch groupsets,so was looking at ribble 10 speed triple,but wanted a 52/39/30 crankset which only come s in ultegra.

so you recon i will need to go with the 11/28 cassette, again does not come with the groupset on ribble, looks like i will need to buy seperates to get the spec i want.

Pete could you explain the following in layman terms ( 119.5 "inches" whereas 52/12 gives you 114 "inches)

thanks
jackthelad

 

[PpPete]

If you are doing it via Ribble's bike builder (or similar) then 9 speed is hard to do.

If you are doing it yourself, then 10 speed crankset & derailleurs are fine, but get 9 speed shifters (older models - often cheaper) and 9 speed cassette and 9 speed chain. It's the cassette and chain which wear quickest.

52/39/30 is overgeared for a tourer - IMO. Mine is set up as 50-38-26 which is fine for unloaded (credit-card) touring and audax, but if I was adding camping gear, I'd be looking at closer to 48-36-24.

No reason not to go with a 12-30 cassette (if you can find one) it will work as I have proved, but it's outside Shimano's spec, so you won't have a warranty if it goes pear-shaped (even if for some other reason entirely)

Gear inches... this is just a convenient shorthand for how "hard" a gear is. Most explanantions of it refer to it's historical origins - the diameter of the equivalent front wheel of a penny farthing . A more useful way of thinking of it (to me at least) is as the distance the bike travels per pedal revolution, divided by pi. For more on the subject: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_g.html#gearinch

 

[jackthelad]

Hi pete thanks for getting back to me,I was looking at the 52 basically for more speed on the flats, along with having the 30 for the hills.I say a touring bike, but basically an overnight stay with maybe a carradice longflap so not too much load.

what is the maximum size of cassette i can use with the 52/39/30, I noticed on the ribble bike builder it takes a 11/28 I recon this would be ample with a 30 at the front.Any views or opinions appreciated towards getting the setup right before I purchase. thanks

jackthelad

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Hi pete thanks for getting back to me,I was looking at the 52 basically for more speed on the flats, along with having the 30 for the hills.I say a touring bike, but basically an overnight stay with maybe a carradice longflap so not too much load.

what is the maximum size of cassette i can use with the 52/39/30, I noticed on the ribble bike builder it takes a 11/28 I recon this would be ample with a 30 at the front.Any views or opinions appreciated towards getting the setup right before I purchase. thanks

jackthelad

The biggest commonly available cassette cog for a Shimano system is 34T or 36T currently depending on number of speed. You will likely need a mtb rear mech.

Imho, and I have mentioned it before, that if one starts with a blank sheet of paper one should always consider having a 11T at the back. From the 11T one can work out what is the largest front ring one needs, and from that front ring size examine whether with that a 34T or 36T is adequate for handling your hills. If yes Voila one can simply run a Nx1 system without any front mech/double/triple/shifter/cable, probably saving 500g, many pennies, and no less beneficially escaping forever the clunkiness of front shifts.... If not, then one contemplates the usual double/triple/ring size etc.

Having a 11T allows one to have maximum range/flexibility for minimum fuss/weight - there is little point having a large front ring larger than that needs.

Of course the above does not hold for Cav or his wannabes...

 

[PpPete]

If you are happy with the standard 52/39/30 and 11-28 then go with that, but for "more speed on the flat" you need to learn to spin your legs faster.
If you can spin at 90 rpm (which is around what most people recommend as most efficient), then with a 52/11 you will be going at 33 mph. Realistically, on the flat, you are more likely to be at something just over 20 mph, maybe in a 52/15 or 52/16 - but you can acheve the same with a 50 tooth cain ring or even smaller.

Some very experienced audaxers ... who go for huge distances, and are certainly not slow, have even dispensed with big rings altogether and run front rings like 40/24

 

[baznav]

I beleive the new 10spd tiagra is compatable with much bigger cassette sprockets on the back same as sram apex.

 

[PpPete]

I beleive the new 10spd tiagra is compatable with much bigger cassette sprockets on the back

Yes

same as sram apex.

Not quite.
Apex is rated 11-32, This suggests the Shimano is rated 11-30