Extreme change in cassette on same setup?



K

Ken

Guest
I currently have a Campy Centaur 10 speed set up - 53/39 front and an
11-23 on the back with a standard length rear der. I am looking for
the easiest (and cheapest!) way to be able to run a 13/29 cassette for
the times when I hit the hills.

My apologies if this has been gone over before but I can't find the
exact answer in the groups...

Can I run an 11/23 and a 13-29 cassette on the same chain length so
that all I need to do is swap the cassette depending on the event? My
other option is to go for the middle ground and run a 12-25 or 13-26
all the time. I almost never use the 11 anyway as the 11-23 cassette
was fitted as a mistake by the bike shop when the bike was built up.

Any recommendations - run 2 different cassettes, or go with the 13-26
or the 12-25as an all round setup (I do triathlons/TT as well as solo
riding). I live in the UK and occasionally hit the hills in the Lake
District, Peak District etc. Note sure if the 29 would be overkill
here?

Help - this is getting too confusing!

Many thanks.
 
Ken-<< speed set up - 53/39 front and an
11-23 on the back with a standard length rear der. I am looking for
the easiest (and cheapest!) way to be able to run a 13/29 cassette for
the times when I hit the hills. >><BR><BR>

Just put it on. It will work with a 'standard' rear der..may need a longer
chain, may not, depends on the length with the 11-23..

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"
 
You don't have to change anything other than the cassette to make the
switch work. Keep in mind I did not say work safely. Chains are
pretty cheap, $30 for a 10 speed Campagnolo chain if you get one on
sale. Maybe another $5 for one of those Wippermann 10 speed quick
change connector links. Or IRD and Wippermann make 10 speed chains
with the connector link included already. Look around to get one at a
good price. Then just switch the cassette and chain at the same time.
It will take an extra 30 seconds.

The problem with running the 11-23 chain length on a 13-29 cassette is
you will not be able to use the 53-26 or 53-29 combinations. And
maybe not even the 53-23 combination either. I would bet on the first
ride you would try to shift up to the 53-23 and your chain would not
be long enough and you would literally rip the rear derailleur off the
derailleur hanger. Expensive.

The problem with running a 13-29 chain length on a 11-23 cassette is
lots of chain droop when using the 39-11 and 39-12 combinations. But
you don't use these vey often so its nothing to worry about.

Either way you need a longer chain to do this switch safely. So as
long as you are buying a new chain, and keeping your old chain, you
might as well just switch chains when switching cassettes and not make
the 13-29 length chain do double duty.


[email protected] (Ken) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I currently have a Campy Centaur 10 speed set up - 53/39 front and an
> 11-23 on the back with a standard length rear der. I am looking for
> the easiest (and cheapest!) way to be able to run a 13/29 cassette for
> the times when I hit the hills.
>
> My apologies if this has been gone over before but I can't find the
> exact answer in the groups...
>
> Can I run an 11/23 and a 13-29 cassette on the same chain length so
> that all I need to do is swap the cassette depending on the event? My
> other option is to go for the middle ground and run a 12-25 or 13-26
> all the time. I almost never use the 11 anyway as the 11-23 cassette
> was fitted as a mistake by the bike shop when the bike was built up.
>
> Any recommendations - run 2 different cassettes, or go with the 13-26
> or the 12-25as an all round setup (I do triathlons/TT as well as solo
> riding). I live in the UK and occasionally hit the hills in the Lake
> District, Peak District etc. Note sure if the 29 would be overkill
> here?
>
> Help - this is getting too confusing!
>
> Many thanks.
 
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> You don't have to change anything other than the cassette to make the
> switch work. Keep in mind I did not say work safely. Chains are
> pretty cheap, $30 for a 10 speed Campagnolo chain if you get one on
> sale. Maybe another $5 for one of those Wippermann 10 speed quick
> change connector links. Or IRD and Wippermann make 10 speed chains
> with the connector link included already. Look around to get one at a
> good price. Then just switch the cassette and chain at the same time.
> It will take an extra 30 seconds.
>
> The problem with running the 11-23 chain length on a 13-29 cassette is
> you will not be able to use the 53-26 or 53-29 combinations. And
> maybe not even the 53-23 combination either. I would bet on the first
> ride you would try to shift up to the 53-23 and your chain would not
> be long enough and you would literally rip the rear derailleur off the
> derailleur hanger. Expensive.


I understand the problem with the 26 and 29 cogs, but if you already
have a 23 on the old cassette, why wouldn't the 23 on the new cassette
work exactly the same?

.....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).
 
On 29 Apr 2004 03:55:47 -0700, [email protected] (Ken) wrote:

>Can I run an 11/23 and a 13-29 cassette on the same chain length so
>that all I need to do is swap the cassette depending on the event? My
>other option is to go for the middle ground and run a 12-25 or 13-26
>all the time. I almost never use the 11 anyway as the 11-23 cassette
>was fitted as a mistake by the bike shop when the bike was built up.


Size the chain so that when in the small/small combination the chain
does not rub on the underside of the rear derailleur. Put any
cassette on from the 11/23 to 13/29. You might size the chain for the
39/12 and not 11. No damage will be done if the derailleur ticks the
chain and this is a combination that you won't be using on purpose.
 
Ken wrote:
>
> Can I run an 11/23 and a 13-29 cassette on the same chain length so
> that all I need to do is swap the cassette depending on the event?


Yes. I do exactly that with a short cage Centaur derailleur (though my
chainrings are 48-34, but that's the same 14 tooth difference as 53-39).
I set the chain length up so that nothing would break if I shifted into
the 48-29, and it works fine in all gears with either cassette.

Nick
 
David Kerber <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> [email protected] says...
> > You don't have to change anything other than the cassette to make the
> > switch work. Keep in mind I did not say work safely. Chains are
> > pretty cheap, $30 for a 10 speed Campagnolo chain if you get one on
> > sale. Maybe another $5 for one of those Wippermann 10 speed quick
> > change connector links. Or IRD and Wippermann make 10 speed chains
> > with the connector link included already. Look around to get one at a
> > good price. Then just switch the cassette and chain at the same time.
> > It will take an extra 30 seconds.
> >
> > The problem with running the 11-23 chain length on a 13-29 cassette is
> > you will not be able to use the 53-26 or 53-29 combinations. And
> > maybe not even the 53-23 combination either. I would bet on the first
> > ride you would try to shift up to the 53-23 and your chain would not
> > be long enough and you would literally rip the rear derailleur off the
> > derailleur hanger. Expensive.

>
> I understand the problem with the 26 and 29 cogs, but if you already
> have a 23 on the old cassette, why wouldn't the 23 on the new cassette
> work exactly the same?
>
> ....


I read it as if he was using a 11-21 cassette currently. With a
current 11-23 cassette, then no problem using the 53x23 combination.
 
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> David Kerber <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > In article <[email protected]>,
> > [email protected] says...
> > > You don't have to change anything other than the cassette to make the
> > > switch work. Keep in mind I did not say work safely. Chains are
> > > pretty cheap, $30 for a 10 speed Campagnolo chain if you get one on
> > > sale. Maybe another $5 for one of those Wippermann 10 speed quick
> > > change connector links. Or IRD and Wippermann make 10 speed chains
> > > with the connector link included already. Look around to get one at a
> > > good price. Then just switch the cassette and chain at the same time.
> > > It will take an extra 30 seconds.
> > >
> > > The problem with running the 11-23 chain length on a 13-29 cassette is
> > > you will not be able to use the 53-26 or 53-29 combinations. And
> > > maybe not even the 53-23 combination either. I would bet on the first
> > > ride you would try to shift up to the 53-23 and your chain would not
> > > be long enough and you would literally rip the rear derailleur off the
> > > derailleur hanger. Expensive.

> >
> > I understand the problem with the 26 and 29 cogs, but if you already
> > have a 23 on the old cassette, why wouldn't the 23 on the new cassette
> > work exactly the same?
> >
> > ....

>
> I read it as if he was using a 11-21 cassette currently. With a
> current 11-23 cassette, then no problem using the 53x23 combination.


That makes sense then; thanks for clarifying.


--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).
 
russell-<< The problem with running the 11-23 chain length on a 13-29 cassette
is
you will not be able to use the 53-26 or 53-29 combinations. And
maybe not even the 53-23 combination either. I would bet on the first
ride you would try to shift up to the 53-23 and your chain would not
be long enough and you would literally rip the rear derailleur off the
derailleur hanger. Expensive.

Waddaminute-if the system works with a 53/23 on the 11-23, why would it not
work for a 53/23 for a 13-29??

Is the 23t cog on the 13-29 bigger than on the 11-23?(is a ounce of feathers
lighter than an ounce of steel?)










Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"
 
On Fri, 30 Apr 2004 00:46:13 GMT, Nick Payne <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Ken wrote:
>>
>> Can I run an 11/23 and a 13-29 cassette on the same chain length so
>> that all I need to do is swap the cassette depending on the event?

>
>Yes. I do exactly that with a short cage Centaur derailleur (though my
>chainrings are 48-34, but that's the same 14 tooth difference as 53-39).
>I set the chain length up so that nothing would break if I shifted into
>the 48-29, and it works fine in all gears with either cassette.


You only need to wrap a 48/29 and not a 53/29. You need least one
link but likely 2 to wrap the 53/29.
 
Paul Kopit wrote:

> On 29 Apr 2004 03:55:47 -0700, [email protected] (Ken) wrote:
>
>
>>Can I run an 11/23 and a 13-29 cassette on the same chain length so
>>that all I need to do is swap the cassette depending on the event? My
>>other option is to go for the middle ground and run a 12-25 or 13-26
>>all the time. I almost never use the 11 anyway as the 11-23 cassette
>>was fitted as a mistake by the bike shop when the bike was built up.

>
>
> Size the chain so that when in the small/small combination the chain
> does not rub on the underside of the rear derailleur. Put any
> cassette on from the 11/23 to 13/29.


This strikes me as a risky way to size the chain. If the rear
derailleur doesn't have enough take-up capacity (i.e. too short
a cage) the chain may not be long enough to handle the large/large
combination. Then if you accidentally shift into it someday you
may well damage the bike and/or crash.

> You might size the chain for the
> 39/12 and not 11. No damage will be done if the derailleur ticks the
> chain and this is a combination that you won't be using on purpose.


Which is why I'd do the sizing from the other direction. Make sure the
chain is long enough to handle the large/large combination. If that
results in the chain hanging a bit slack when on the small/small no harm
will be done.

If the original poster's bike is set up to work properly when using the
13-29 cassette then it'll still work ok with the 11-23. The worst case
is that the chain may be a little loose when using the 39/11 and 39/12
combinations but it won't hurt anything and those aren't really
recommended gears to use anyway.