Short Cage - Maximum Cassette size?

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Devon
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Location: Sydney, Australia

by Devon

So I'm running a double with a 12-25 Cassette on a short Cage Centaur Derailleur.

I hate to have to even contemplate this concept, but, if I were to upsize my cassette ratio, what is the largest that would work with my setup? I'm just thinking about the possibility of some alpine ascents in the summer...

by Weenie


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audiojan
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by audiojan

You can do a 50/36 with a 13-26 cassette. I've done that with a short cage Record.
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Devon
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by Devon

53/39 Double; not compact, sorry. Should have clarified.

jockalldrick
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by jockalldrick

Pretty sure 28 is the maximum

Devon
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by Devon

That sounds perfect. Can anyone confirm?

KB
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Location: HULL UK

by KB

I've run a 13/29 campag cassette on a campag short cage rear mech without a problem. This was despite campag recommending a long cage.

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bikerjulio
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Location: Welland, Ontario

by bikerjulio

There are 2 different issues when looking at this:

1. Will the upper jockey wheel clear the largest cog?

I just fitted a 12-29 (made up) cassette onto a friend's bike. It's close, but with correct chain length and adjustment of the "H" screw, it is running OK. The cage length is nothing to do with this clearance, all cage lengths have the same upper jockey wheel clearance. And Campy sells a 13-29 cassette.

2. Will the cage take up the chain between the Big-Big and small-small combo's?

The maximum takeup for a short cage RD is around 31T. So if running a 53/39 that's a 14T difference, leaving 17T. So, a 12-29 cassette is doable. Correct chain length is important.

The max of 31T can be exceeded as long as the chain is sized to be safe in the big-big. Some of the extreme crosses in the small ring will not be useable, but will not break anything.

My friend had a 50/34 compact up front. I sized the chain so that the big-big was safe. In running down the cassette in the small ring, that last useable cog was the 14T. RD ran out of takeup after that with saggy chain.
So 50/34 = 16T difference. 14 ->29 = 15T difference. Total 31T.
Last edited by bikerjulio on Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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theremery
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by theremery

A racing buddy ran a 29 in an alpine social tour stage over Otira pass with no problem (5-6 years ago's record 10, I think.....may have been 11). He spun along nicely.....I grovelled.
Updated: Racing again! Thought this was unlikely! Eventually, I may even have a decent race!
Edit: 2015: darn near won the best South Island series (got second in age
-group)..woo hoo Racy Theremery is back!!

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