Road Cassette

[Bert]

Does anyone use a road cassette for xc riding? I am currently building a geared bike after being on a singlespeed for about one year. Thought this might be a better option then going 1x9. If it matters, I will probably be picking up a SRAM PG-970 12-26 cassette.

bert

[roadkillross]

i use a dura-ace cassette on my dh bike. im not sure if that helps u at all.

[Bert]

Originally Posted by roadkillross

i use a dura-ace cassette on my dh bike. im not sure if that helps u at all.

Do you have any skipping issues when the cassette gets dirty?

bert

[reflux]

Road cassettes are indeed used on the dirt, but the applications are normally gravity oriented. DHer's, dirt jumpers, and 4x riders are more likely to prefer the close gear ratios found on road cassettes. After all, how many downhillers expect to use a 34 tooth cog? Anyway, that is the exact same reason why you don't typically see road cassettes on a lot of xc rigs: a climber wants to have a big cog in the back if it's going to a long, hilly day in the saddle.

Is your mountain component group 9 speed Shimano?

[sdyeti]

On the dh bike, yes. Not on the XC bike. (I run an 11-32).

[freewheeler]

Sounds to me like you are confused about what you want to ride...

[Skeeter]

Originally Posted by freewheeler

Sounds to me like you are confused about what you want to ride...

Or he could be a hella strong XCer that doesn't need the bigger cassette and can push hard gears.
Road cassettes have been used for awhile in DH so i say go for it.

[Bert]

Originally Posted by Skeeter

Or he could be a hella strong XCer that doesn't need the bigger cassette and can push hard gears

Yeah thats me!

Originally Posted by freewheeler

Sounds to me like you are confused about what you want to ride...

I'm not confused, just curious! If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing. Was that a concept that was skipped in Engineering school??

Bert

[Pickettt]

I race a 2x8 mountain bike with an 11-30 XTR cassette. I wouldn't go with much less than that. Unless you're a SSer and adore pain.

[Bert]

Originally Posted by Pickettt

I race a 2x8 mountain bike with an 11-30 XTR cassette. I wouldn't go with much less than that. Unless you're a SSer and adore pain.

I was thinking of running 22/32/44 with a 12-26 road cassette for general xc riding. I was hoping someone like yourself would have some pro's and con's regarding the experience of such a set up.

bert

[DownhillWebKook]

I run road clusters on all of my bikes which happen to be gravity bikes. I usually ride my mtx bike for xc and it is equipped with a road cassette. I really like it when paired with a 36t chain ring up front. Recently, however, out of necessity I had to switch to another cassette and it turned out to be very small and that added considerable pain. The moral to the story, I suppose, is that you can certainly do well riding xc with that road cassettes provided you find a good balance of ratios. As for concerns of mechanical performance, I believe they do remarkably well in the dirt. I also like the fact that they don't look like a pie tin.

[dutch]

SRAM also makes an 11-26 road cassette in case you don't want to get rid of your 11t.

But i have a feeling that's just for 10 speed.

You could always run paul thumbies, D/A friction bar end shifters and a 10 speed road cassette...