Help with better gearing.

Rio_10

Hi all,

I am new to cycling and need some much need advice. I currently have use 10 speed Ultegra 6700, I have checked the rear derailleur and it just has RD-6700 stamped on it. I currently have a 12-25 cassette and I am struggling on some climbs. What would be the best way to put a 11-32 or 11-34 cassette on my bike. I am reading so much conflicting information and some state to use MTB RD…its all too confusing for me.

Any help would be appreciated

wongataa

What size chainrings do you have up front?

Rio_10

50x34

Rio_10

I think the RD-6700 can only support up to 28T

trek_dan

Change to an 11-28 cassette, 34-28 is a more than adequate low gear.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

trek_dan wrote:

Change to an 11-28 cassette, 34-28 is a more than adequate low gear for me

FTFY

Because the gearing we require depends upon our fitness/power and the gradients we will face, at different points through a ride or tour. It is entirely personal!

I love my cat 3/4 hill climbing, I've discovered this year I produce more power and climb them quicker using bigger gears (including using the 50T chainring for gradients up to ~10% if it is only a short section) at ~75-80rpm cadence, but if I've just "smashed" a combo of cat hills and the bits inbetween then at some point my legs will die and they will be begging me to use my 34-32 gear to get up anything with a slight incline... At least for a short recovery time.

dj58

If your RD is a 6700-A SS or GS it will accept a 12-30T CS-4600 or CS-6700 10sp cassette. The RD-6700-A can be identified by a 30T stamped into the pulley wheel cage, upper guide wheel outside face.

google RD-6700-A and select images to view artscyclery.com photo

Don't forget to adjust the B-tension screw to prevent the larger sprocket on the cassette from fouling the upper guide pulley wheel.

Rio_10

Thanks for the info, I have had a look and it does not have 30T stamped on the RD, so its a 6700 max 28T. What options to I have to put a 30T or 32T cassette on the bike? do they even do a 32T 10 Speed cassette?

milemuncher1

Get an 11-34 cassette, keep the derailleur you have, and get one of these fitted in between the hanger and the mech.

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Wolf-T ... lsrc=aw.ds

It moves the cage away from the cassette. You may want to get a 118 link chain too.



Here’s what it looks like fitted.

Rio_10

cool device, however the Q&A states

"Unfortunately, this product is only designed to work with medium cage derailleurs, as the spaces a short cage derailleur too low to be used with a 32 cassette.

Rio_10

also I cant seem to find a 11-32 10 speed road cassette, will it be ok to put a MTB one on?

milemuncher1

Rio_10 wrote:

cool device, however the Q&A states

"Unfortunately, this product is only designed to work with medium cage derailleurs, as the spaces a short cage derailleur too low to be used with a 32 cassette.

If you have a short cage derailleur that’s right, I thought we were dealing with a medium cage.

milemuncher1

Rio_10 wrote:

also I cant seem to find a 11-32 10 speed road cassette, will it be ok to put a MTB one on?

If you’re happy with the ratio selection, yes.

imposter2.0

Rio_10 wrote:

also I cant seem to find a 11-32 10 speed road cassette, will it be ok to put a MTB one on?

It's the same thing.

milemuncher1

If you need more range from the B screw, you can put it in back to front.

milemuncher1

Imposter wrote:

Rio_10 wrote:

also I cant seem to find a 11-32 10 speed road cassette, will it be ok to put a MTB one on?

It's the same thing.

Not quite “the same thing”. Both a road and a MTB cassette will go on the free hub the same, but the MTB cassette will often have a larger difference in the number of teeth on adjacent sprockets, compared to the sprockets on the road cassette.

haydenm

Milemuncher1 wrote:

Imposter wrote:

Rio_10 wrote:

also I cant seem to find a 11-32 10 speed road cassette, will it be ok to put a MTB one on?

It's the same thing.

Not quite “the same thing”. Both a road and a MTB cassette will go on the free hub the same, but the MTB cassette will often have a larger difference in the number of teeth on adjacent sprockets, compared to the sprockets on the road cassette.

Is that true for mtb/road cassettes which are both 11-32? Presumably that make mtb 11-32 cassettes more/less linear than road as the overall range is obviously still the same. I had assumed that the often mentioned difference in gaps was to do with the fact that mtb cassettes have a larger low gear, whilst keeping a similar curve and therefore having larger gaps to get the overall range.

imposter2.0

Milemuncher1 wrote:

Imposter wrote:

Rio_10 wrote:

also I cant seem to find a 11-32 10 speed road cassette, will it be ok to put a MTB one on?

It's the same thing.

Not quite “the same thing”. Both a road and a MTB cassette will go on the free hub the same, but the MTB cassette will often have a larger difference in the number of teeth on adjacent sprockets, compared to the sprockets on the road cassette.

Shimano 10sp 11-32 cassettes all have the same ratios. There is no 'road' or 'mtb' 11-32 cassette, it's just an 11-32 cassette. Look it up.

Rio_10

Thanks all, I am taking the bike to a shop to get a bike fit and check my options. Although I now feel comfortable in what I have to do to get the range I want.