Changing inner chainring and cassette for touring

[tarquin1234]

Hi there,

I have a roadbike with 42 & 52 chainrings and a 12-23 rear cassette but I am going to do some touring in a month carrying a heavy load so I need much lower gearing. My plan based on my research into costs and ease of installation is to change my inner ring to the smallest it will take (38tooth) and change the cassette for a 12-30.

I think I will change the rear derailleur to a "Shimano Deore Rear Derailleur M591", do you guys think this will be OK for this set-up? Also for someone carrying a tent, sleeping bag, and water etc through mountains do you think this will suffice?

I am also considering changing the outer ring to something slightly smaller, like a 50 or 48 as I'm not keen on cycling mega-fast.

Many thanks for any time taken in giving me feedback and advise!

William


Chainring: http://www.bicyclemagic.com/products.php?plid=m4b67s113p2797&rs=gb
Cassette: http://www.cyclerepairman.co.uk/details.asp?ID=194
RD: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=40543&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=Google-Products-UK

[cyclerUK]

Basically your plan is fine.
The derailleur will easily match the cassette and assuming your gear changers will also match the Deore.
The only thing I would say is to get as low a gear system as you can.
My tourer has a triple crankset of 24/36/46 with a 12/28 rear cassette but I only carry light loads.
A lot will depend on the terrain and your abilities, but at worst you may have to walk.

[nfmisso]

Hi William;

You can get awhole crankset and a new front derailleur for less than the cost of the chainrings - assuming square taper BB axle.

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-M131-Crankset-170mm-48/dp/B003ZMDJW6/
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Alivio--pull-Multiclamp-Derailleurs/dp/B001GSSMWS/

I'd also go with an 11-32 cassette (assuming 8 or 9 speed)
http://www.amazon.com/SRAM-PG850-11-32T-Speed-Cassette/dp/B000NNX2P4/
http://www.amazon.com/SRAM-PG980-11-34T-Speed-Cassette/dp/B000PHK3B4/

28/32 combination will let you climb some pretty steep hills with a load, and 48/11 is slightly taller than your current 52/12 so you can still fly....

[tarquin1234]

Hi man,

Thanks for this advise and I wish I could get a triple crank but that would mean changing to a triple shifter too, and they are mega expensive.

I'm now thinking of getting a compact double crank 34-50 with a 13-32 cassette.

(06-02-2011, 07:43 PM)nfmisso Wrote:  Hi William;

You can get awhole crankset and a new front derailleur for less than the cost of the chainrings - assuming square taper BB axle.

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-M131-Crankset-170mm-48/dp/B003ZMDJW6/
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Alivio--pull-Multiclamp-Derailleurs/dp/B001GSSMWS/

I'd also go with an 11-32 cassette (assuming 8 or 9 speed)
http://www.amazon.com/SRAM-PG850-11-32T-Speed-Cassette/dp/B000NNX2P4/
http://www.amazon.com/SRAM-PG980-11-34T-Speed-Cassette/dp/B000PHK3B4/

28/32 combination will let you climb some pretty steep hills with a load, and 48/11 is slightly taller than your current 52/12 so you can still fly....

[nfmisso]

on another forum there is a guy who took the big chain ring off 28-38-48; leaving a 28-38. He lined up the 38 with the center cog at the back so that it would work every sprocket at the back, and only uses the 28 ring with the bigger sprockets at the back.

38/11 is still pretty decent top gear, and 28/34 is a real hill climber.