blujosh

hello all, i'm interested in upgrading my slightly unconventional 3x9 Shimano setup on my "all-rounder/sport-touring" bike to a 3x10 setup for slightly better shifting and slightly lower gearing and am seeking some advice.

i'm currently using the following 3x9 setup:

Crankset: Shimano Deore FC-M590 (48/36/26, 9-spd)
Cassette (9-spd): Shimano CS-HG400-9 (11-32t)
FD: Shimano Deore FD-M591-3
RD: Shimano Deore RD-M591-SGS
Right/Rear Brifter: Shimano Sora ST-R3000 (9-spd)
Left/Front Brake Lever: Shimano Alfine S705-L
Left/Front Shifter: Shimano bar-end (friction)

the parts i'm looking at to upgrade to a 3x10 setup are:

Cassette (10-spd): Shimano XT CS-M771 (11-36t)
RD: Shimano XT RD-M772-SGS (9-spd, but compatible w/ 10-spd cassettes up to 36t, from what i've read)
Right/Rear Brifter: Shimano Ultegra 6700 (10-spd)

i would keep the Left/Front Brake Lever (Shimano Alfine S705-L) and Left/Front Shifter (Shimano bar-end, friction) as-is.

my questions are:

• if i want to keep the front/crankset gearing as-is, could I continue to use the 9-spd crankset and 9-spd FD that i currently have with all of the new/10-spd components i mentioned?
• or would there be any benefit to swapping in a 10-spd 48/36/26 crankset, and compatible 10-speed FD?
• anything else that I should be aware of in terms of compatibility?

Russ Roth

Sounds workable.
Since your front shifting is friction, you should do fine. If it was indexed having 9 speed crank and der would make for sloppy shifting that shouldn't be an issue though you may find that you have to shift a touch more and then recenter a little. With friction shifting you might find that there's no real benefit to switching to 10sp crank and der. If you want to go indexed, swap both.
The der should work fine, and should be compatible with that version of the ultegra shifters.

Camilo

I'm assuming you know that you could simply use that MTB rear derailleur with a 9 speed cassette with the same range as the 10 speed one you're thinking about. I see you're getting a seriously upgraded right shifter for the 10 speed plan, but other than that function would be about the same 9 or 10 speed, at least I'm my experience. I personally don't realize a functional difference between 9 and 10. Ymmv if course

dedhed

I'd try it with the existing RD and there is a good chance it will work with the 36

cyccommute 

Why may life more difficult (and expensive). To change to a 10 speed you’ll have to get a 10 speed shifter (if you want to keep index shifting) plus the cassette…probably around $120 total. You can get an 11-36 cassette from either Microshift or Sun Race for $20 or $30. As dredged said, try your existing derailer first. If that doesn’t work, I’d suggest a Wolf Tooth Road Link which is the route I went.

Here’s a comparison of your current gearing to a 9speed 11-36 set up and here’s a comparison of your set up to a 10 speed 11-36 set up. You don’t gain much with that one gear for the investment.

A far less expensive alternative is to ditch the 28 tooth inner ring for a 22 tooth inner. Here’s the gear ratios for that change. You get the same lower gear with minimal effort. An 11-34 cassette would result in a lower gear and stay within the abilities of your current system.

If you want to get into really silly territory, you can fit a 20 tooth inner ring (with some filing) on the 64mm BCD of your crank. With a 34 tooth low cog on the cassette, you can get a 16” gear with an 11-34 cassette. You might have to change the middle ring to a 36 or 34. I have used this range without issues on my touring bike although I currently use a 44 tooth outer ring now.

squirtdad

if you do go 10 speed, a 10 speed chains should also be on the parts list

Bill Kapaun

I just went from a 28-38-48T to 22-32-44T cranks on my 3X9's. (I needed shorter arms anyway for my bad knees)
I use 12/13 -23/27T 9 speed cassettes.

Iride01 

The only thing you are getting with the 10 speed 11-36 is a bail out gear. If you truly are using the low gear ratios quite a bit, going to smaller rings might be a better solution with less fuss and even lower ratio in the lowest combo 24F-32R of .75 instead of the current 26F-32R of .81. And it's almost as low as the .72 you'd get with the 26F-36R you are planning on. Find a 9 speed 11-36 cassette and you'll be lower still with the change in ring sizes.

2old

My wife had a 2008 SC Superlight with Shimano 9-speed 34 low in back and when that wore out I changed to 36 without difficulty. Agree with above who say just keep 9s.

Chuckles1

AMEN. 10 vs 9 just means more shifting, more wondering what gear you're in. With a 9-speed 11-36 cassette, it's hard to imagine you could need a lower gear and remain upright even if spinning hard.

70sSanO

It all comes down to… how often do you push a 48/11 ratio?

Your current 11-32 9 speed cassette is 11-12-14-16-18….28-32.

If you don’t use the 11t very much, or at all, you can go with a 9 speed 12-36; 12-14-16-18…28-32-36. All you are doing is swapping the 11t for the 36t.

John