Medium cage and long cage rear mech

The Big Cheese

I ordered SRAM X9 rear mech and shifters from Merlin the other night for my Attack Trail as I am becoming increasingly disillusioned with Shimano (only mechs and shifters obv). It was a good deal so ordered them without checking the small print

Trouble is I have just read the email confirmation again and that is for a medium cage only, and they don't do long cage with that deal

I have a triple up front - am I destined to send it back or will it work?

Anonymous

No, It will work, But just doesnt keep as much tension on the chain when its slack. The benefit however of a medium is that the bottom jockey wheel wont get a load of grass and crap in it (in theory).
And Shimano are 10 times better except on chains .

The Big Cheese

I have always used Shimano, and have full 08 XTR on my racebike, but I am always fettling trying to get it running correctly - almost after every ride....

Have just bought X0 shifter and rear mech for the DH/FR bike I am building but that's not complete yet so have not 'tried' them yet

But Merlin are doing a sweet deal so thought 'what the hell'

I like the the thumb up/down shifting idea a lot also with SRAM although using it may prove different

nicklouse

what it will mean is that some gears are no go as you will not have the range to cover all gear combos.

The Big Cheese

hhhmmmmm - may well be a problem - I am aware of 'no mans land' on both large rings but would it affect things significantly worse than this?

nicklouse

why do i bother.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... 0#14611390

streako

I am using a med cage XTR on my Anthem at the moment. Its doing the job well, i've just got to be disciplined with gear selection.

Avoid big chainring to big sprocket, and definitely no small chainring to small sprocket as there is loads of slack.

Basically, dont cross your lines. Shouldnt be a problem though and gives confidence through tricky stuff, whilst saving a couple of grams and looking cool.

cjw

I'm running 3 front with Sram medium at back with no problems. It will even change to big front big back. Although you wouldn't want to ride this way!

I also prefer Sram as it seems to be a set-up once and forget. Also like the nice postive changes even when pedaling hard up hill.

Steve_b77

I'm considering this set up as although the SRAM stuff is fit and forget to some extent the X5 shifters are a bit poo really, must be the placcy shift paddles or summit, and it's a bit of a bargain.

as I now only run 2 front chain rings 36T/22T the medium cage should be bang on.

Just out of curosity does anyone do a front mech shifter that only has 2 moves on it?

lego

Nicklouse, You bother because you care 8) . That is good info though.