Cassette mix&match

Author
Discussion

E38

Original Poster:

723 posts

212 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
So I have a 52/36 12-25 at the moment, but want a back up gear or two for the alps.

I have a new 11-28 sitting around, also 5700 like the slightly less new 12-25.

Im not sure if I need 52-11, I top out 60kph anyway so is it ok to make a combo of 12-28 and keep the 16T middle sprockets.... It should work, but shifting wont be affected?


So

12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25
+
11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-28
=
12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-24-28

?

upsidedownmark

2,120 posts

134 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
In theory, yes - you may find you're limited by some of the sprockets being riveted together.

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

197 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Campagnolo blocks are all loose sprockets so happy days if the OP has one, can do what he likes. I have a mix and match as I wanted a lower gear, wasn't low enough though so now gone compact up front.

upsidedownmark

2,120 posts

134 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Given the OP mentions 5700, that's shimano 105; at least some of the sprockets are grouped smile

gazza285

9,780 posts

207 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
I did something similar for last years Three Peaks cyclocross, I ground the rivet heads off to split the pack, swaped a big first sprocket on, and stuck it all back together. I didn't bother re-riveting the cassette back together, just relied on the lock ring. I should mention that I used a steel freehub body though, I wouldn't have trusted an alloy body with the sprockets being individual.

richardxjr

7,561 posts

209 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Just run the 11-28T.


E38

Original Poster:

723 posts

212 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
No faffing with rivets, I'm just proposing to use the the 12-25, just with the final 3 (joined) sprockets from the 11-28 (21,24,28 rather than the original 21,23,25). Its obvious it should work, I just didn't know if there was some kind of trademarked hyperglideshiftdoodlyperfectoshiftTM way the sprockets were machined for different cassette sizes that would cause a fit when shifting.....

richardxjr

7,561 posts

209 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Yes. And for the other back up gear swap the 36 out for a 34 wink

Rocksteadyeddie

7,971 posts

226 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
richardxjr said:
Yes. And for the other back up gear swap the 36 out for a 34 wink
yes

RGambo

847 posts

168 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
I'm going to brave the alps with a 36-28 lowest gear. wobble I might live to regret it !

Rocksteadyeddie

7,971 posts

226 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
RGambo said:
I'm going to brave the alps with a 36-28 lowest gear. wobble I might live to regret it !
Where are you off to? Which climbs do you have on the agenda?

upsidedownmark

2,120 posts

134 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
You will almost certainly regret it wink

Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
You know 50/11 is a bigger gear than even 53/12, let alone 52/12, right...?

I can't see why you'd have anything other than a compact for this kind of ride, personally.

upsidedownmark

2,120 posts

134 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
I 'sort of' agree - unless you *know* you don't want a compact, you want a compact.

However - 50/34 always feels like an uncomfortable jump (to me), and a -11 cassette usually has bigger jumps, that might bother some. Despite all the arguments about top and bottom range I'm generally happier on a 53/39. Didn't stop me putting in a 50/34 for alpe d'huez, nor did it stop me wishing I'd got something bigger than a 27 in the back with it.

52/36 (generally known as a 'mid compact') is a compact spider in any case, so will take a 34.

RGambo

847 posts

168 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
I'm off to do the alpine challenge around lake anecey . I've been training on 36/52 with 12/27 cassette all year. There's plenty hills around wales that are between 6and 20%. Thus far I have not struggled. That said, it might be the fatigue that gets me!
I spent a few days in Mallorca up and down the mountains there. I'm pretty confident I'll be ok smile
Too late now anyway, bike packed, off first thing Wednesday . I'll let you know when I return.

Rocksteadyeddie

7,971 posts

226 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
It's not the steepness of stuff in the Alps that gets you. Its that they go on and on and on and on. And once you get tired you'll be looking for the smallest gear you've got, and then at least one more besides.

RGambo

847 posts

168 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
wobble

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
Not so much a cassette question, but more overall gearing.

I'm considering the build spec for my next road bike, and want to go 53/39 at the front, but retain some dignity up hills by going 11-32 at the back. This will require a medium cage rear mech, this much I do know. But... If I find that I want to then switch to compact rings at the front (new chainsets are universal in terms of BCD, I believe) and drop to an 11-28 at the back for flatter terrain, will the medium cage mech still be compatible with the 'smaller' cassette? I think that getting the rear mech right might be the key to a more flexible gearset, with swap-able options for chainrings and cassette.

In the meantime I will be recommissioning my old steel roadie from the 90s, to check whether a 53/39 up front is even a realistic option for me at all, or it might just push me toward a 52/36 or 50/34 anyway, meaning I'd possibly not need the 11-32 out back at all.

confused

Rocksteadyeddie

7,971 posts

226 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
yellowjack said:
Not so much a cassette question, but more overall gearing.

I'm considering the build spec for my next road bike, and want to go 53/39 at the front, but retain some dignity up hills by going 11-32 at the back. This will require a medium cage rear mech, this much I do know. But... If I find that I want to then switch to compact rings at the front (new chainsets are universal in terms of BCD, I believe) and drop to an 11-28 at the back for flatter terrain, will the medium cage mech still be compatible with the 'smaller' cassette? I think that getting the rear mech right might be the key to a more flexible gearset, with swap-able options for chainrings and cassette.

In the meantime I will be recommissioning my old steel roadie from the 90s, to check whether a 53/39 up front is even a realistic option for me at all, or it might just push me toward a 52/36 or 50/34 anyway, meaning I'd possibly not need the 11-32 out back at all.

confused
If you need a 32 sprocket then you should be riding a compact.

Mr Will

13,719 posts

205 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
yellowjack said:
Not so much a cassette question, but more overall gearing.

I'm considering the build spec for my next road bike, and want to go 53/39 at the front, but retain some dignity up hills by going 11-32 at the back. This will require a medium cage rear mech, this much I do know. But... If I find that I want to then switch to compact rings at the front (new chainsets are universal in terms of BCD, I believe) and drop to an 11-28 at the back for flatter terrain, will the medium cage mech still be compatible with the 'smaller' cassette? I think that getting the rear mech right might be the key to a more flexible gearset, with swap-able options for chainrings and cassette.

In the meantime I will be recommissioning my old steel roadie from the 90s, to check whether a 53/39 up front is even a realistic option for me at all, or it might just push me toward a 52/36 or 50/34 anyway, meaning I'd possibly not need the 11-32 out back at all.

confused
Why are you so keen on 53/39? It sounds to me like you'd be much better served by a compact up front and some nice close ratios at the back rather than a 32t dinner-plate.

To answer your actual question though, yes - a medium cage mech will be quite happy with smaller cassettes. You may have to shorten or lengthen the chain when making drastic changes but aside from that it will be fine.