cassette range

markyone

Hi i have 53/39 chainset with short mech which i am setting up on another bike.
Which is the largest cassette i can fit to the bike without problems?do the chainset make a difference or is it just the rear mech?

FSR_XC

Rear mech and chain length.

maddog 2

the latest Shimano road mechs (long or short cage) go to 28t officially and maybe a few more in reality, when you tweak the tension screw.

older mechs are 27t officially and ditto.

if you want more than 28t then you can use 11-32 but you'll need a mtb mech.

[or you are on Sram then you can use an Apex mech]

markyone

maddog 2 wrote:

the latest Shimano road mechs (long or short cage) go to 28t officially and maybe a few more in reality, when you tweak the tension screw.

older mechs are 27t officially and ditto.

if you want more than 28t then you can use 11-32 but you'll need a mtb mech.

[or you are on Sram then you can use an Apex mech]

Thanks, maybe i should add its campag daytona mech and looking for a 27 or 28 tooth
if that will work.
cheers

Berk Bonebonce

Campag say a max of 26 with a short cage. However, you will get away with what you are planning on account of the fact that you are using a standard chainset and not a compact.

rolf_f

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

Campag say a max of 26 with a short cage. However, you will get away with what you are planning on account of the fact that you are using a standard chainset and not a compact.

I run a Campag compact 10 speed and have a 13-29 cassette currently on it with a short cage mech. Campag don't actually sell non short cage mechs for the 11 speed systems but do sell 12-27 cassettes so presumably the official max is 27 rather than 26. However, as I said, 29 is fine on a short cage compact.

Berk Bonebonce

Rolf F wrote:

I run a Campag compact 10 speed and have a 13-29 cassette currently on it with a short cage mech. Campag don't actually sell non short cage mechs for the 11 speed systems but do sell 12-27 cassettes so presumably the official max is 27 rather than 26. However, as I said, 29 is fine on a short cage compact.

I would suggest that with a 29 and a compact chainset you have exceeded the capacity of your rear mech, but you have maybe not noticed.

However, and as you no doubt know, a set up will work fine if the capacity of the rear mech is exceed a small amount, as long as you avoid certain ratios.

rolf_f

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

I would suggest that with a 29 and a compact chainset you have exceeded the capacity of your rear mech, but you have maybe not noticed.

However, and as you no doubt know, a set up will work fine if the capacity of the rear mech is exceed a small amount, as long as you avoid certain ratios.

If you mean that I have exceeded the chainset capacity in that the system works perfectly well, even with the gears crossed from big chainring to big cassette ring then, yes, I have exceeded its capacity. As it happens, it even managed fine without me lengthening the chain initially from the initial 11-25 length though that was a little tight. There is still plenty of clearance and movement remaining - it even looks like it could conceivably take a larger cassette ring if Campag made one.