RussellSeaton
Thank you for your detailed responses to my inquiry. You seem quite knowledgeable on the subject. I would like to have contacted you directly but no e-mail is listed.
It would be nice if the bike shops in my area were as willing to work with a customer as apparently they are in your area. Around here, the bike price is as it sits, and nothing is swapped or added for free. Except for adjustment and tuning of the stock bike, no work or screw turning is done without a labor charge.
I would like to recap my understanding of your suggestions and perhaps have you clarify a few points. First, I probably need to give further description of the three bikes available in my area that I am considering.
1. GIANT OCR1 - 10 speed Shimano 105 group and 12-25 Cassette / FSA Gossamer Mega Exo 30/34/50T.
(I am not sure I really want to buy a Giant but the bike really feels good and handles well so I guess the Geometry is right for me. The shop is a small two man shop, easy to get along with, but I am not sure they really want to do a lot of parts swapping.)
2. TREK PILOT 2.1 9 Speed Shimano 105/Sram PG950 12-26 Cassette/ Bontrager Race 52/42/30 Crank ---OR--- PILOT 2.1 s.p.a. which is a 10 speed Shimano STI shifter/ Shimano Ultegra Front & Rear/ Shimano 105 12-25 10 speed Cassette/ Bontrager Race 52/39/30.
(Larger shop with a very nice service plan from which I have previously purchased an MTB. They may be a little more willing to swap things around.)
3. SPECIALIZED SEQUOIA ELITE 9 speed Shimano105 group/ Shimano HG50 12-25t Cassette/ Sugino Direct Drive 2 piece Crank set with 50/39/30t.
(Also a smaller shop with mixed experiences when visiting. I have also had very little experience with Specialized bikes other than their good reputation. I have not yet talked to them about a parts swap.)
As I understand them, your recommendations are (do I have them correct?) &
A. I should buy and install a chainwather which will solve any problems with STI shifting to a 24 tooth front chainring. I like the looks of the N Gear Jump Stop.
B. Rear Cassette For 10 speed Shimano STI Shifter, I will be limited to 12-27 in Shimano and for one or two teeth it is probably not worth changing the rear. For a 9 Speed Shimano STI Shifter I can probably go up to 32 or 34.
C. Front Inside Chainring For any of the above bikes, the inside chain ring can be changed to a 24 tooth ring. You provided several sources for availability.
D. I will need to change the Rear Derailleur to a Deore LX or XT.
Points for clarification &
1. You do not mention the Front Derailleur. With these changes, am I ok with the stock front Derailleur or is there also a change necessary in the front. You did mention in one of your points that with STI shifters the front derailleur will/may not work well. I believe this was in reference to changing to a whole mountain bike crankset. I am a little confused here.
2. You also do not mention the chain. Because they advertise a 12-27 on an OCR1 and the one in the shop had a 12-25, one of the things I did when first considering a Giant was to call their customer service. When I spoke to them about lower gearing they also recommended the mountain derailleur but this was in reference to changing the rear cassette, and they recommended first checking with the crank mfr. So, I then called Full Speed Ahead FSA. They told me their cranks were compatible with a mountain derailleur and gearing, but they recommended staying away from Shimano chains due to their lack of sideways movement. They suggested a Wipperman or Connex Stainless Steel chain (
). Will I also need to consider changing the chain?
3. I would like to end up with the smoothest and most trouble free shifting possible. In the Shimano long cage derailleur I have three levels to choose from. Can I expect better performance and less problems from the higher grade Shimano Devore LX?
4. On your point Number 9 you say, You can go with 9 speed on a road bike. But the STI levers seem to be disappearing in the higher priced ranges. I would not advise this option for a road bike due to the disappearance of 9 speed STI levers. I am confused here because most of the Bikes (including 2 of the 3 models I am considering) seem to be 9 speed. Could you please clarify this for me? Without consideration of other plus factors and based on wanting lower gearing alone, would I not be better off with a 9 speed, considering the better selection of rear cassettes, etc?
5. One other question dealing with the TREK 2.1 and 2.1 s.p.a. Do you (or anyone else) have any experience with the Suspension Performance Advantage (s.p.a.) and the Buzz Kill handlebar offered by Trek in this model? I note the Derailleur are also upgraded to Ultegra, but I would be changing them anyway. So, I am wondering if the $200 increase in price is worth it.
Thanks again for any help offered on this matter.