PhoenixBiker 

Well, this old retrogrouch is about to join the 21st century. I've decided to convert my Waterford RST-22 from its current Ultegra triple setup to a double. To retain its ability to haul my 250-pound carcass up the steep climbs near my West Virginia home, I'm planning to use the following components:

Crankset: White Industries VBC, 42-26
Shifters: SRAM Rival 22 zero-loss, 11-speed
Rear mech: SRAM GX 2x11 long-cage
Front mech: SRAM GX 2x11
Cassette: SRAM or Shimano 11-40 or 11-42 (with a Wolf Tooth link)

According to my research so far, such a setup should work because the pull ratios for SRAM road and MTB setups are the same. Before I give the LBS the go-ahead, does anyone see any potential pitfalls/gremlins that might crop up? Thanks!

79pmooney

Is the SRAM Rival FD one you really want to own and ride? I know little about SRAM, having used nothing but their chains but their reputation for less than stellar FDs hasn't gone away. By contrast, no one talks about the other two major players' FDs for the simple reason that they work. If I were determined to go your route, I'd consider looking into a Shimano or Campagnolo setup with 3rd party big cogs if they could be had.

Actually, I'd just go dumb and triple like I have for decades. A regular old 110-74 BCD triple crankset would allow a XX-XX-22 by 11-34 Shimano cassette and a low gear just 4% higher than your proposed 26 by 42 and same as the 26 by 40. You might even find that you like the nice shifts in front for the sudden grade changes instead of clicking through a bunch of gears. (Maybe SRAM allows a big sweep for a bunch of cogs at a time. I wouldn't know.)

I'm running a 50-38-24 and 12-28 on my best bike and love it. (I'm strong enough that the 24 by 28 will keep me going a while but after that, I'll be looking at the gears I am suggesting for you.)

Ben

PhoenixBiker 

Thanks, Ben, but I think you missed something in my original post. I wouldn't be using a SRAM Rival (road) front mech, I'd be using a SRAM GX (MTB) front mech. That said, thank you for your input. I'm currently running a 52-42-26 Ultegra setup on two bikes (the Waterford and a nearly identical Gunnar), and want to convert one of the bikes to a double that could still climb. Again, thanks for your input!

bwilli88 

Why not just change the Ultegra triple FD to a double and just swap the crank to the WI VBC 42-24 and run a 11-36 cassette.

It would help if we knew what you are changing from.
What version of Ultegra?
What Cassette now?
What RD and FD now?

Retro Grouch 

What's your rear dropout spacing?

cpach

Sram road shifters pull significantly less cable than their mtb ones do in the front. They also aren't compatible with 11 sp mtb rds, but you can use an 11sp sram road shifter with a 10sp mtb rear derailleur.

Also first vbc rings will never shift nearly as well as a matched set. Really consider if you can meet your gearing needs with an 46/30 crank, it'll shift well using asram road fd and you can use a 10sp sram mtb rd with an 11-36 for what is a fairly low gear.

If you have the money you could do di2 road shifters with a full di2 mtb drivetrain.

pdlamb

If it were me, I'd be looking at replacing the Ultegra front derailer with a Tiagra, and put a MTB or Sugino 46-36-26 or -24 crank on. Lower gearing, simpler, cheaper...