The more observant girls at the bus stop may have noticed my new to me bike.  I’ve been thinking about a road bike for training and summer sportives for a while but didn’t want to spend the best part of a grand – which seems to be the going price for anything.  Also, I don’t really like aluminium.  The frames have to be fat (for strength) and so IMO ugly and harsh.

So, I picked this Raliegh Volant up on eBay for a bit shy of £140.  Two things attracted me – Raleigh and legendry Reynolds 531 tubing (which was also used in the E type Jag).

It’s been a long time since I rode a racer (which now seems to be called a road bike) but I found it nice and pretty comfortable.  However, I struggled up my hill – which is very steep.  So I counted the cogs on the gears and found the rear has 13/23 (13 on the smallest and 23 on the biggest) and 42/52 on the front. 

A bit of internet research suggested that this was a professional cyclist setup.  A fellow cyclist advised me to man up.

I don’t do many hill climbs – but the first sportive I have in mind for 2012 is the NDCC Bangor coastal challenge – and the climb out of Newtownards towards Bangor after 90km or so would not be too pleasant.  So I studied Sheldon Brown’s gearing guide and decided to change my gearing.

Granny gear or cassette?

I did consider briefly fitting a triple on the front – especially as I may do a 200kms Audax later in the year – but I decided the girls at the bus stop would laugh at this.

Cassette type

Despite the ancientness of my downtube shifters, the gears are indexed so to make it all easy I looked for a like for like replacement.

The advert said shimano hyperglide – and it looked like HG was written on the cassette so I looked for a replacement.

Nothing from the usually reliable (although poor website) chain reaction cycles – so I tried wiggle where I procured 

1 x Shimano CS-HG50 7-Speed Cassette 12-28T (£26.99)

1 x LifeLine Shimano Cassette Removal Tool (£3.74)

the later item required to remove the cassette.

Tools

The cassette removal tool was purchased with the cassette, it’s turned using a standard

1/2 inch drive from a socket set.

The chain puller is the one I use to remove oil filters I think it was about £7 from Halfords.  There do seem to be some bike specific ones on wiggle – but this one did fine for me.

The Job

Removed the back wheel (engaging highest rear gear/smallest cog first to aid refitting) and took the quick release rod out completely.  Insert tool attached to ratchet and wrap chain puller round (largest) sprocket.

As per normal thread – loosie leftie applied.

Turn tool to left and chin puller to right to undo retainer.  Small cog came off with retainer, rest of cassette just pulled off.

Fitted new cassette – which is shaped to fit somehow.  I just kept turning it until it went on easily.  Small cog also shaped to fit – again I just turned it until it went on.  Tighten up retainer (no need for puller as you can hold the wheel).

Took about 15 minutes total.

Hardest bit was putting the wheel back on!

The result.

Indexing was spot on and needed no adjustment.  Peddling up my hill a bit easier – could probably hit second if I was feeling particularly enthusiastic.