MTB rear mechs with 11-speed road shifters (Shimano)

secretsam

Thinking of doing a big ride this summer, but will need lower gears. Current bike has 50/34 + 11/30, would like at least a 36 at the back. Currently I have a previous generation 11 speed 105 short cage mech; should I get a (say) 105 long cage plus Wolf Tooth or similar, or is there an MTB shifter that can do it? I seem to recall that Thorn bikes often came with an MTB rear shifter.

TIA.

whyamihere

Assuming you're using STIs, I would use something like this: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cables/0-jtek-shiftmate-8a/

It converts the cable pull to what's needed to shift the MTB mech from a road shifter. The hanger extenders will make the shifting worse, which wouldn't be a problem with the MTB mech. Just be sure to get one which is compatible with front shifting too, there are some 1x only ones which have different cage geometry.

secretsam

OK cool, thanks

lesfirth

Hi Sam , I use a 50/34 with a 11/36 cassette (Sram) and a Ultegra R8000 GS rear mech. It works fine. No wolf tooth or , other bodges needed. 105 rear mech would also do the job. I do not know what the GS stands for but Shimano use it to indicate the longer cage option of the rear mech.
I have been a grandad for quite a while .I live in a hilly area and I find that gearing low enough.

akh

Lots of reports online of people running larger cassettes with a given derailleur than Shimano say will work. I agree with lesfirth that a medium cage road rear derailleur would probably work fine with a 36. I've managed to fit a 34 tooth cassette to a short cage, so you can probably get a 36 to work with a medium cage.

All Shimano 11 speed road shifters are compatible with all 11 speed road/gravel rear derailleurs, so 105, Ultegra, or even GRX would work, with no need to the ShiftMate device linked above.

secretsam

Okay, so I could use a road mech? That would be easier