Cycling UK Forum

At the moment i have Ultegra Compact 12x27 cassette 50x34 chainring is it possible to get lower gearing other than a 28t

http://techdocs.shimano.com/techdocs/blevel.jsp;jsessionid=BfpGP8QCWh2BGf2gnqJrR7GWvS3rQJPxJLLs064Q7ypTvWMxCCkR!-138326267?ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181679&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302051928&bmUID=jxkB0pw

links to all Ultegra techdocs.

AFAIK the 6600 series went to 27T and the 6700 series goes to 28T capacity. In reality you can often go 1 or 2 teeth more than this on many frames, but if the gear hanger is short you may not be able to.

Much lower gears mean a new rear mech (probably an MTB one but not the latest 10speed ones) or going to a triple chainset maybe.

I bought an ultegra double equipped bike a few years ago and I was careful that the STIs I got would support a triple if necessary since I thought I might fit one at some point.

cheers

I am a "high cadence, slow speed" type of cyclist and have always had bikes with lower gearing. I recently purchased an Audax type bike and the lbj said they would be happy to change any companents free of charge. Off the shelf it came with a 12-25 cassette and 34/50 chainrings. The cassette was changed (along with the derailleur) for a 10 speed mountain bike cassette going down (up?) to 34t. At the front I was told I could have any combination down to 26t and chose 28/40. I had thought 34t was the normal minimum so was not too surprised when I picked the bike up to find I had ended up with 34/40. I only tend to use the lower 6 or so gears. Anything higher and I am happy to freewheel. I do wish I could have slightly lower gearing though - I suspect people see the professional cyclists and think "I'd like a bike like that". It makes me laugh when I see the Tour riders doing 65km on the flat when I don't even reach that going downhill. I do think it a shame lower gearing is harder to come by and even modest changes are considered out of the ordinary.

Its really not that difficult.....you need a 110/74 BCD crankset



28 tooth "inner" (available down to 24T)..74 BCD

40 tooth "middle"....110 BCD

one of these chainguards instead of the outer chainring

Sprockets don't come much bigger than 27t. Think in terms of 'triple chainset' or a double chainset that takes smaller chainrings, as per the last post. If your largest chainring ends up as something like a 42 or 40 you may not be able to get the front mech low enough on the seat tube, unless it is the band on variety.