Using a Road Cassette.......questions???

[Spunger]

Hey guys I have a couple questions. I right now I think have a 11-32 XT cassette on the back with a med cage XT rear derailuer. Everything is 9sp.

I was just wondering what are the benifits of switching to something like a 12-25 or 12-27 or 12-23 road cassette? Will it work with my Med. cage XT derailuer?

I was just trying to see what they do to benifit your gearing. I feel for our trails here I can't use such a high speed (11t) gear or even close to it because of the way the trails are here. I also can't spin the 32t because the chainline is a little odd. I was just wondering if going down to a size that is described above (open to all sizes) if it helps any.

[Bacardi]

I like the road cassette for racing really.

My current cassette is something like 12-27 (shimano 105) with a 38 up front. I find the benefit is when Im pedaling like mad and need to switch my cadence a little, the gears are closer and the smaller change in gear ratio works for me. With 11-32 or 11-34 sometimes the change was too much for my liking. But then again, Im more of a fast pedaler versus a powerful pedaler.

But really, these are such minute preferences, it shouldn't really matter in SB. The 105 cassette is a little cheaper tho...

[sayndesyn]

If you want to use the 32T ring, but can't, don't go to a 27T cassete. Because the gear that was 32T will now be 27T and you still won't be able to use that top ring if you're chainline is as wack as you say it is. So you will have to be down a couple gears from the top just like on the other cassete. So all in all you will have to push steaper gears everywhere you go if you want to keep the chainline good. That's a goodthing for dh, not so sure about trail riding though... Wether it will work with your der. depends on what you are running up front as well. Single/Double/Triple? It should be fine with a double, but you might want to get a short cage 105 der. if you are running a single ring and a road cassete in the rear though.

[Spunger]

I am running a 40t front ring, single, and this is a question for mainly DH as my other bike is my trail bike (running XT/XTR stuff)

My chainline ain't too bad. I use a 118 BB on my Intense M1. I don't think I'd want it any closer or things would hit or the chain would get snagged in the tire.

Our trails are just rocky here. No super steep or anything but loads of rocks. Sometimes I feel like I don't have a easy enough gear to push over things. I'm more of a power pedaler though (than say fast pedaler).

Thanks for some of the input guys :)

[buildyourown]

Just an FYI. Performance has Ultegra 12-27 cassettes on sale for $38.

[Salami]

Just an FYI. Performance has Ultegra 12-27 cassettes on sale for $38.

Yeah, but they are not in stock right now. Last week the site said they were expected 2/24, now it says 3/10.

Hopefully they will get them soon, I would like to order a couple.

[profro]

When DH racing I never found myself in a 32 gear on the back. So I usually ran much farther down in the stack, but because the chain was there for a 32 gear it bounced around too much with too much slack. So running a road cassette allows me to run a much shorter chain to keep the chain slapping to a minimum.

[Superdeft]

I'd like to echo profro in saying that the smaller cogs really make a difference in terms of chain slap and overall feel.

[Zark]

Chris, If you do a road cassette, drop you chain ring size to a 38 or 36.
There is no need for a 40 tooth in SB, too slow/tech for that.

I'll be switching to a 105 SS der. and 12-27 casette as soon as the weather improves.

[Spunger]

Chris, If you do a road cassette, drop you chain ring size to a 38 or 36.
There is no need for a 40 tooth in SB, too slow/tech for that.

I'll be switching to a 105 SS der. and 12-27 casette as soon as the weather improves.

I have a 38t chain-ring. I agree, it is way too slow and tech to warrent such a high chainring/gearing. I dunno about going the whole route to get a new rear der. until I destroy the one I have now, but the cassette might be a option as well........go down in both :)

Plus like state above, you can get a ultegra? for $38 at performance, which isn't too bad.

[Zark]

I have a 38t chain-ring. I agree, it is way too slow and tech to warrent such a high chainring/gearing. I dunno about going the whole route to get a new rear der. until I destroy the one I have now, but the cassette might be a option as well........go down in both :)

Plus like state above, you can get a ultegra? for $38 at performance, which isn't too bad.

I'm doing the der too because my XT is almost dead. That XT's taken as many hits as Cheech & Chong. :p

[Spunger]

So to ask this........I have a 44t max bashguard on there right now, would I want another size bash guard (go to like a 40t max) and run a 36 or 38 ring? What main differences will I notice by dropping the size of the front ring?

I know I could sell off my bashguard pretty easily (the one that's on there now) and pickup a new one. They aren't ubber expensive or anything. Just was wondering...

[Zark]

E13 right? Doesn't matter, keep your bashguard

[Hungry_Hank]

the way i look at it is that roadie cassettes lets you run roadie mechs both of which are lighter than a standard mtb mech/cassete setup. The smaller cogs on the cassette let you run a smaller front ring, giving you more bb clearance and again, lightening your setup.

[Spunger]

Ehh...yeah, Evil guide. I think when I bought it it was a 44T max. Not 100% sure, either a 44 or 42t. I doubt the difference in size is really that great (from a 44 max to a 42 or 40) but I just figured it was worthi asking.

I'll probably get one of their rings as well. Probably a 36t because I can't see that big of a difference from a 40t to a 38t.

[Fury]

I run a SRAM 12-26 and an Ultegra Rear Der. (short cage) with a 38tooth E13 ring. Works great.

[buildyourown]

Spunger, the only thing a new bashguard will give you is more ground clearance. I bet you could gain at least 1/2" going from a 44 to a 38t bashgaurd.

As for derailluers, you can run a road mech on a mountain cassette. The extra cage length is if you are running a triple chainring. That's why they make med cage road derailuers, for road triples.
The reason they don't make a short cage mountain der is because us DHers don't make up enough market share.

I know i'm buying my share of derailluers...