Minor questions for 11-32T to 11-28T move

DJHGBRo

Hi,

I have just bought my first carbon bike which comes with Shimano 105 5800 11-32T cassette and subsequently a medium cage derailleur. I've bought new wheels to replace the basic stock ones and will use the opportunity to change the cassette. Oh and it's a standard compact 50-34T.

My reasons for changing are that I live in Norfolk, cycle solo and pretty much never see hills. I don't seek hills either so unless I suddenly travel to the Alps with my bike, I doubt I'll ever need 32 (though at 91kg and the fact I never climb, I'm pretty rubbish at it)

My old bike is a triple with 50-39-30 and currently has a 11-28 9 speed cassette (it originally had 12-26). I've only used the inner ring on Gas Hill in Norwich, a very short but steep climb: https://www.strava.com/segments/758582

I had a few questions which from googling I think I know the answers to but wanted a second opinion as most posts seem to be about people moving up to a 11-32, not down from one.

1) I assume I don't need to shorten the chain? Afterall it would be the same as keeping the 11-32 and never going on the 32? Plus if I ever went to the Alps I could put the 32 back on

[list=2]2) I assume I can use an 11 speed SRAM cassette? I've read a lot about people liking the 16 gear SRAM offers which I've never had before[/list]
[list=3]3) This is about the fact I have the medium cage 105 derailleur due to the 32T. Other than the shifting being not quite as smooth, and the tiny weight penalty, are their any other disadvantages when not using a 32? I've read that it's more forgiving for cross-chaining so sounds like an advantage to me plus I can just put the 32 back on if needed[/list]
[list=4]4) Related to the above, if I decided in the future to go down to a 12-26, would this be an issue with the medium cage?[/list]

If by the time the derailleur breaks/gets worn out I've never switched back to 32T I'd change to a short cage.

Thanks in advance for any advice on any of the above

ugo.santalucia

It's all fine, there are no issues at all

mercia_man

I agree that there will be no issues switching to an 11-28 cassette. It would fit easily with no modification and your medium cage mech will cope fine with pretty well any cassette.

However, I don't think you will notice much difference from the 11-32. It will effectively be just one tooth difference on a couple of cogs. Your new Shimano 11-speed 11-32 cassette already has closer ratios than your old nine-speed one. And in fact your 11-32 cassette does have the 16-tooth cog that you wish to use - just like SRAM. The beauty of 11-speed compared with nine-speed is that you can have closer rateios and a wider range. Why not save your money and keep your 11-32 so you have the same bail out gear for the occasional big hill as your old bike?

DJHGBRo

Thanks both

Mercia Man wrote:

I agree that there will be no issues switching to an 11-28 cassette. It would fit easily with no modification and your medium cage mech will cope fine with pretty well any cassette.

However, I don't think you will notice much difference from the 11-32. It will effectively be just one tooth difference on a couple of cogs. Your new Shimano 11-speed 11-32 cassette already has closer ratios than your old nine-speed one. And in fact your 11-32 cassette does have the 16-tooth cog that you wish to use - just like SRAM. The beauty of 11-speed compared with nine-speed is that you can have closer rateios and a wider range. Why not save your money and keep your 11-32 so you have the same bail out gear for the occasional big hill as your old bike?

Thank you, you make a really good point, and seem to be my voice of reason. This is why posting in a forum always beats just looking for previous threads, it's too easy to base decisions on those of much more experienced and fitter cyclists talking against triples etc. I did like the security of the triple's inner ring, although it was barely used. I think wanting to change came from the fact I have never used the inner ring on my old 9 speed since having the 11-28 cassette, though I did use 30-26 on the older 9 speed cassette, so 34-32 gives me an easier gear than I have ever used. In fact I haven't used the inner ring since 2013. In all honesty I'd prefer to have an 11 speed triple with a 11-26 cassette but that doesn't seem to be an option on many new UK carbon bikes.

I think you've really helped me towards a decision so thank you. I may change to a 36 inner ring in the future, which with the 32 will still be a slightly easier gear than I've ever used.

But I suppose in the end, I should just try more varied cycling before just changing my cassette.

mercia_man

I'm sure it's best to see how you get on before making any changes. I also feel it's a good idea to make up your own mind on what suits you rather than being persuaded by macho men who claim that triples and granny gears are for weaklings. A novice road riding friend of mine even went to the expense of swapping a Campag medium cage mech on his Pinarello for a short cage because someone told him medium cages were for wimps. He didn't even know he had a medium cage until then - and never noticed any difference in changing performance after he changed to short cage.

With the gearing on your new bike you have a really high top gear and a bottom gear suitable for riding the toughest alpine passes - and the gaps between ratios on your 11-speed will be close enough for pretty well everything for the typical leisure rider.

The one thing you will notice is the big gap between 50 and 34 rings compared with your triple. You'll get used to it.

JesseD

I had an 11-32 cassette and a 50/34t compact chainset on my bike when I bought it and to be honest it was fine for general riding. I was (probably still am) terrible at climbing and would struggle over a railway bridge but with the spread of gears I had with this gearing I found I could get over anything and this gave me confidence to start climbing more which in turn has made me better at it. It was also fine for riding on the flats as well, if I am honest I would have liked closer ratios for some faster stuff (I raced crits on this set up last year) but for the best part it was fine.

As has been said above, ride it until it wears out and then make a decision on whether to change or not, this is what I did and as I am now got fitter and lost weight (I was 95kg originally) I have moved to an 11-28 on the back and kept the compact on the front, I have also moved to a short cage rear mech because I got one cheap, otherwise I would have stayed with the medium cage one if it wasn’t knackered.

Save your money and ride what you have until its knackered then change.

ForumNewbie

You'll probably miss the 39 ring from your triple. I have triples and found it difficult at first when I bought a carbon bike with a compact. I changed up at the back from 11-28 to a 12-30 as I need it for the hills here in Yorkshire.

In your case, I would stick with the 11-32 at the back as it will mean that you may be able to stay in the big ring longer, in that you could ride in say, 50/28 without fully crossing the chain.

DJHGBRo

I actually checked my 9-speed triple, I had to count the teeth manually, but it's actually a 12-27, not a 11-28. Makes me realise I obviously don't need the 11, pity I hadn't bought campag hub wheels as their 11 speed cassette choices sound perfect to me!

Anyway I gave Gas Hill a go the other day on the triple for the first time since 2013 and when it went close to 20% I had no choice but to go to smallest 30-27 which is similar to 34-32 (also made me realise I should try and find inclines more often for fitness reasons, as it was very tough for me). That incline is extreme compared to most of my Norfolk riding (pretty flat and could even get away with 12-25 for 99% of riding) but makes me realise keeping the 32 is the best bet for now.

Yes I think I will miss the 39 ring, I do use it often rather than cross chain on the 50, at some point in the future I may consider changing the inner ring to a 36 if I find I never use the 32, or alternatively buy a 12-25 and keep the 11-32 ready tp change for a highly unlikely Alpine trip.

Thanks for your views