Switching Cassettes

giantcannon
giantcannon Posts: 23
edited October 2018 in Road buying advice
Hi guys,

I took on my first sportive this weekend when I did the medium White Horse in North Yorkshire. I did this on my Giant Propel Advanced 1 which has an 11-28 cassette. The climb up Carlton Bank and Hawnby Bank has me wishing I had a larger rear cassette like on my Synapse 105.

My question is, can I put an 11-32 on without changing the chain and will this be ok on my rear Ultegra derailleur?

Thanks Alex

Comments

  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,222
    Strictly speaking if your RD is an SS (short cage) model then no it is not recommended, however it has been done and there are plenty of youtube videos that confirm this. You would need to adjust the B-tension screw and lengthen your chain, 2 links IIRC and no cross chaining big/big 52/50T - 32T.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIem0hD86IU
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXAy1VazVIo
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    what size is your big chainring ?
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    yes in isolation it will work but as above whats your front set up?
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    DJ58 wrote:
    Strictly speaking if your RD is an SS (short cage) model then no it is not recommended, however it has been done and there are plenty of youtube videos that confirm this. You would need to adjust the B-tension screw and lengthen your chain, 2 links IIRC and no cross chaining big/big 52/50T - 32T.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIem0hD86IU
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXAy1VazVIo

    Yes it can be done, can add a Alpe D'Huez Road Fairy which extends the hanger making engagement with the 32T easier. Chain take up may be compromised as will smooth changing in all gears to some extent as the upper jockey wheel will be further from the cassette in some gears. You will need to set the chain length optimally and if you're lucky, you may be able to use all gears safely (small-small and big-big).
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  • craigus89
    craigus89 Posts: 887
    As above, it will be fine just adjust the B-screw and don't cross chain on big-big which is not good practice anyway.
  • giantcannon
    giantcannon Posts: 23
    kingrollo wrote:
    what size is your big chainring ?

    Crankset is 36/52. I think it has a GS derailleur cage so should be ok?
  • timmyotool
    timmyotool Posts: 172
    GiantCannon wrote:
    kingrollo wrote:
    what size is your big chainring ?

    Crankset is 36/52. I think it has a GS derailleur cage so should be ok?

    It should be fine with GS derailleur, as above you may need to play with the b-screw a bit.
    You may be able to get away with the same chain, sometimes factory installed ones are on the long side. I wouldn't bother though, get a new one and keep the old chain for when you may want to put the old cassette back on.

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