Cycling UK Forum

This thread was prompted by simonineaston's appeal for a Capreo 9-speed cassette. That's also what I have on my rather nice Tern Verge X18. I don't immediately need a replacement, but I haven't thought hard what I can do, and Simon's post has pointed out that the Capreo ones are now like hen's teeth.

Can you just fit an alternative Shimano one if you don't mind losing the 9 sprocket? I suppose I should try it really.

Simon has at least made me realise that I needed to buy the special Capreo cassette tool while I could still get that!

I've read that there is a company that alledgedly makes a Capreo-like casette, but I haven't been able to find the product...

simonineaston wrote: ↑27 Apr 2021, 6:54pm I've read that there is a company that alledgedly makes a Capreo-like casette, but I haven't been able to find the product...Screenshot 2021-04-27 at 18.53.14.png

I think Chosen hubs may be imported/ supplied by Raleigh parts & accessories

Do they make cassettes as well as hubs?

Actually looks like I've found a potential supplier, a bike shop in Germany. I have emailed the prop, one Rudi Mayer, to ask about supply & shipping, he being thoughtful enough to post a) the shop email address and b) the fact that he is away 'till early May. My thinking is that my current cassette will last 'till then...
I have also WhatsApp'ed the PM to tell him to sort the tax position and am looking forward to his reply reassuring me he'll have it sorted by 'tomo'
Depending on his reply, and how good his English (better than my German, obs) it might make sense to order more-than-one. I will post when have more info..

I'll add, for the benefit of any other folk using the rather excellent Capreo cassette, that similar ratios look to be fairly readily achievable with standard cassettes, especially as wider range options have become a la mode, since the Capreo 'groupset' was developed. The drawback is that the rear hub/driver * has to be swapped for a regular Shimano version and the chainring/s have to go up a few teeth to compensate for the loss of 9 & 10 tooth sprockets. See here to play around endlessly with sundry options.
* I don't know if it's possible to simply swap the Capreo driver for their regular larger version, allowing one to keep the perfectly OK hub/rim combo...

When you say the driver, do you mean the freehub? Do you happen to know which (9-speed, presumably) freehubs will fit? Presumably then you can't put a standard cassette on a Capreo freehub? I haven't tried yet.

I had contemplated going that way. The Verge has gears of 109" to 28, so I could afford to lose a bit. I raced 40 years ago on 102" top, and so did a lot of my contemporaries. That said, a 12T top would take me down to 82" top, which might be a bit far. As you say, larger rings might compensate a bit.

Definitely interested if your German supplier has a cassette that you don't need.

ICE used to sell 20" wheel recumbent trikes with the Chosen capreo hubs and cassettes. Give them a call.

Sadly they have sold out. I think they thought I was an ICE customer as they have given me advice on replacement wheels

simonineaston wrote: ↑27 Apr 2021, 6:54pm I've read that there is a company that alledgedly makes a Capreo-like casette, but I haven't been able to find the product...Screenshot 2021-04-27 at 18.53.14.png

Sunrace makes a Capreo type cassette.
Out of stock at Soma aka Merry Sales (bike parts wholesaler in USA)

https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/produc ... tegory=969

Thanks. Available here but 10-speed and a ridiculous price compared to your US link. I for one need 9-speed. Will keep looking.

Edit - and not in stock at present either, unfortunately.

When you say the driver, do you mean the freehub? Do you happen to know which (9-speed, presumably) freehubs will fit? Presumably then you can't put a standard cassette on a Capreo freehub? I haven't tried yet.

Yes, I do indeed mean the freehub (I use 'driver' giving away my age, as the driver is what you mount sprockets on if you have a Sturmey Archer hub ) The Capreo freehub is apparently a normal Shimano freehub but with a smaller diameter, the standard being too fat to accomodate the smaller cogs, thus the Capreo and 'normal' Shimano cassettes are not interchangable The Capreo cassette has to go with a Capreo freehub. What I don't know is if you can remove a Capreo freehub from one's perfectly sound Shimano hubed wheel and replace it with a standard freehub...

Just to remark that Sheldon has a really useful description of the Capreo cassette and sprocket construction. If, for example, your large sprockets were the main ones worn, you could replace them with other Shimano ones. But, most likely, enough smaller sprockets are worn to make this impossible.

I have seen the smaller cogs (9, 10 & 11) available separately.

I've seen the 9 on eBay (£20 for one cog!) but not the others.