Scapin Number 2 (colour may damage retinas)

Aren’t they just how the teeth are shaped to improve shifting. The shape looks too uniform to be damage.

I have a spare 10 speed cassette (I think Tiagra 4600), can I use that or am I better off buying a new one? If so, any suggestions?

You won't be able to set up the shifting properly with a 10 speed cassette and 9 speed shifters. As for a new one, pretty much any shimano cassette with the same cog sizes will be suitable - you might not be able to find a new ultegra-level one, but as sora is 9 speed currently, there should still be some around.

I can't tell if it is worn, or the teeth are designed that way. I have taken a few more photos to help try and identify the cassette, so if necessary I can replace it. I'll leave the 10 speed one in my box of crap.

Maybe I've been looking at these for too long, but doesn't it look a lot like this?

Right. I'm going nuts. The new wheels have arrived, with a 10 speed Shimano cassette attached (slaps head gif). I don't have many tools in Italy so I've arranged to take both rear wheels (old, with the presumably Dura Ace cassette) and new (with the 10 speed Ultegra cassette) to an LBS tomorrow morning to get the 10 speed taken off and put on the old wheel. Phew. But do I want the old 9 speed Dura Ace cassette put onto the new wheel? Or should I just buy a new 9 speed cassette (presumably an HG50) from my LBS, or do I buy a new Ultegra 6500 cassette (available for ~€50 in Italian online stores)? OR do I buy an NOS Dura Ace 7700 9 speed cassette from eBay for ~€70? (which seems a lot).

Or should I just give up and start fucking rollerblading?

Secondly, I went down a gear-ratio rabbit hole last night, having discovered that the crank ratio is 53-39 and the cassette is 14-28 (?!). Presumably this is not perhaps the best setup, so maybe changing to a more regular 12-25 cassette (a new bog standard HG50) may be the logical decision. But nothing seems logical at the moment, especially after the two litres of coffee I've consumed thus far today swapping over the 23c tyres and inner tubes from the new wheels, with the new 25c tyres and inner tubes from the old ones.

Your current cassette is a schoolboy racing cassette with the 14 tooth smallest sprocket. Dunno what make, but it's not Shimano.

I'd replace it with a new Shimano cassette, HG-50 is probably Tiagra? If so, they're heavy. Ultegra would be okay, Dura Ace will have some Ti sprockets os will wear out quicker (probably).

I use a 53/39 with a 12/25 and it's okay, but if it's very hilly where you live then I'd see if you can find a 12/27.

Thanks very much for the help, I have no idea what is going on with this cassette. If it isn't Shimano, it can't be Sram, so maybe it is Miche or a SACHS-Maillard that's been modified somehow? God knows!

I'll get a new Shimano one. HG-50 is Tiagra, actually not as heavy as some (I have read 230g but not sure which gear range that is) but no option for 12-27 (12-25 only). Ultegra (6500) weighs less (but maybe only 30-40g) but is available in 12-27. So I'll see what I can find once I know what the LBS has (or more likely, hasn't) got. I'm quite close to the Dolomites but highly unlikely to tackle them on a frequent basis (read: ever). Cheers!

HG 50 more like 300g+
Ultegra might be 230g, but likely just over.

Right, old cassette removed (totally shot to hell, weighs the same as a bag of pasta and as yet, still unidentified). 10 speed moved to old wheels, new wheel now awaits the new cassette (HG50, as I am cheap). Should be here this week...

3T (-17 deg) stem installed. Old bars removed. New bars somewhere between Ipswich and Venice.

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Progress! Bar (3T Rotundo Pro), stem (3T Arx Team II), cassette (Shimano HG50), wheels (Forza Cirrus Pro), saddle (Astute Rush) and seat post (WR Compositi), installed. Done a quick 10k ride and I think I need to adjust the height of the saddle (up) and replace the bar tape, but otherwise I'm pretty happy. This cassette is much smoother than the previous one, and the wheels far lighter. The shifters are bothering me as they are a) wrecked and b) grey/yellow/silver, so I'm on the lookout for some replacements.

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As soon as I can borrow a half decent camera I'll take some photos. Suggestions on a few things? I'd like to order together as shipping in Italy is both slow and expensive:

1) some QR skewers (black, lightish)
2) brake pads (these are originals!)
3) black bar tape (cheap)
4) black shim for the stem (silver is bugging me)
5) brifter options... (black 9 spd)

That's great, looks awesome.

Thanks very much!

I've been out on the bike twice since putting on the new cassette and it seems a little clunky in the highest and lowest gears - I'm not sure if the derailleurs need adjustment or if the chain is perhaps not 100%. Anyone got any ideas? It jumps if I give it some welly, and is catching a little on the front derailleur. The chain is pretty new.

OK, I've spent half the day adjusting the derailleur and checking the chain, seems a bit better now. However, I think the bottom bracket is shot. Sigh. Photo of existing BB to follow, with suggestions for a replacement gratefully accepted.

It is making disconcerting noises...

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Am I going to be mocked, shunned and possibly beaten if I order a black replacement? Ultegra BBR60 only comes in black...

(I'm taking it to the LBS to get their opinion on a possible re-grease, first).

HT2 BBs aren't really serviceable, you're most likely gonna need a new one.
If bb colour is actually a concern for you, you don't need the exact model replacement, any made for whatever bb shell you've got (and road cranks obv) will work.

Thanks, I assumed they could be rebuilt (despite reading 'do not disassemble' on the side) but a new one is about €20 so it could be a lot worse. It is in with Pinarello now, they are going to check it over to see if I'm being paranoid. They noticed the chain ring is missing a bolt within about 10 seconds of me walking in through the door!

Forgot to update this, turned out it was just loose/missing chain ring bolts and it works like a charm now. The only final thing I'm looking for is a pair of replacement shifters, but that can take a back seat for the time being.