Road bike cassette choice

[ScottD439]

Hi all new here and have bought a raod bike for the first time normally had mountain bikes before.
I have a 2015 Cannonade supersix 5 105 with all standard gear alert from seat change and carbon aero wheels (fulcrum racing Quattro) Front cog is 50/34T 110 BCD.
I want to make it easier to climb big hills I have seen there is now a 9-32 cassette wanting to know if I can fit this on the bike without changing anything else. I think 3T are the developers if that help.
Not sure what other details to put ask if more information is required.
Thanks in advance.

[AndrewCowley]

If you want lower gearing, you'll need to install a triple front chainring and for that you may need to change your front derailleur too.

34-32 is pretty low though. What hills are you climbing!?

[eeksll]

just about any other options are going to be cheaper!

You'll need a SRAM XD compatible freehub body on your wheels.

do you really need the 9 and 10 tooth cassette cogs? if not getting a standard 11-28/11-30/11-32 would be much much cheaper.

you'll need to check what the max cassette cog tooth your derailleur supports though.

[Derny Driver]

Front cog is 50/34T 110 BCD.
I want to make it easier to climb big hills I have seen there is now a 9-32 cassette wanting to know if I can fit this on the bike without changing anything else. I think 3T are the developers if that help.
.

I think that horrible 9-32 thing is supposed to be for single chainring bikes.
I can sort of understand how a weak rider might think they need a 36-32 to get up a hill.
I cant understand how anyone could push a 50-9 ...even downhill with a tailwind. Even a Pro would struggle. How strong are you?
I think you should think a bit more about what sort of rider you are, what gradient these hills you want to tackle are, and get a cassette with realistic ratios. The 32 you speak of has a 6 tooth gap to the cog below. Thats basically just a bail out gear.

For a normal person I would recommend 12-29 or 13-30. Good range of cogs in the middle of the cassette where you want them. You can ride around on the big ring on the flat and have good gearing on the small ring in the hills.

[ScottD439]

Thanks for all the information as I said not sure what to look at and what size would be good. I can see what you mean by not needing 9 or 10 teeth. So looking at the other options. I have 10 speed I believe it has 12-27 so being a novice would there be a straight swap for my cassette. So if the questions a stupid just like to know what to look at so I don't get the wrong set. Thanks again.

[Derny Driver]

Thanks for all the information as I said not sure what to look at and what size would be good. I can see what you mean by not needing 9 or 10 teeth. So looking at the other options. I have 10 speed I believe it has 12-27 so being a novice would there be a straight swap for my cassette. So if the questions a stupid just like to know what to look at so I don't get the wrong set. Thanks again.

Yes mate you can safely swap anything up to a 29.
Shimano Tiagra 12-28 is a possibility at about $34 from Wiggle or other online sellers. Tiagra cassettes are great, why pay extra for 105 or Ultegra when they are basically exactly the same. My son raced at top level using Tiagra cassettes for many years without any issues.
You can get a Miche cassette, 12-29 which is Shimano compatible. 29 is a nice easy gear for those hills. I cant see you needing more than a 34-29 for any hill in Australia, no matter what your ability.
If you DO want to go to 30 or 32, you will need Duck or someone else to tell you if that will clear your derailleur body. I know a 29 fits because my son used one to go up the sides of 24% volcanoes in Tour of Tahiti once (He was using 10 speed standard 39 ring).
So you have a 27 on already ...for $34 you can have a 28, or go the Miche and get a 29 which is probably what I would do.
Or you can keep thinking about 30 or 32, whether or not you want that or need it.
Cheers

[g-boaf]

Hi all new here and have bought a raod bike for the first time normally had mountain bikes before.
I have a 2015 Cannonade supersix 5 105 with all standard gear alert from seat change and carbon aero wheels (fulcrum racing Quattro) Front cog is 50/34T 110 BCD.
I want to make it easier to climb big hills I have seen there is now a 9-32 cassette wanting to know if I can fit this on the bike without changing anything else. I think 3T are the developers if that help.
Not sure what other details to put ask if more information is required.
Thanks in advance.

50-34 is pretty decent, you can probably go one of those cassettes with say 12-28. That should work with your standard rear derailleur.

A 34/28 combination will get you up some pretty steep hills. A 30 or 32 (which would need the medium cage rear derailleur) is really only necessary on very long and very steep climbs going up very high. Those aren't very common here in Australia.

[10speedsemiracer]

So just to make sure we have your OE spec right. Being a 2015 Supersix 105, you would have 105 (5800) 11sp, which the OE spec lists as having 52/36 and 11-28 which is as far as the 105-5800(RD) goes officially.
There is an 11sp Shimano 11-32t cassette but you would need the 105 5800-GS RD and possibly a new/slightly longer chain.

So $90 for RD, $85 cassette, and $40 for a chain. Just over $200 to turn your bike into a mountain goat...
.
The reason I'm clarifying the OE spec is that at one point you mentioned 10sp but the cassette you're wanting is 11sp. The 2015 Supersix is 11sp 5800 series with 52/36 and 11-28, the 2014 is 10sp 5700 with 50/34 and 12-27.

Just trying to get the bike as it is straight before we all provide suggestions.

[macca33]

You'd get a 30t cassette on a standard 5800-105 RD...

[10speedsemiracer]

You'd get a 30t cassette on a standard 5800-105 RD...

easy. Is why I said officially,

I've got a funny feeling though that OP has a 2014, which is 5700 10sp.

[ScottD439]

Sorry it's a 2014 12-27 with 50/34 110BCD 5700 10 speed

[find_bruce]

As I understand it 105 5700 rear derailleurs went through the same subtle change as 6700 as duck said in this thread

It should also be pointed out that there are two subtly different versions of the 6700 Ultegra 10-sp. derailleur, excluding standard or longer cage forms. The pre-2012 original version is officially limited to a 28T large sprocket by its upper body geometry, but can in some cases be pushed to larger. The post-2012 version, known variously as 6700-A or 6701, has a revised lower link which kicks the top jockey wheel a bit lower to increase sprocket clearance, will fit up to a 32T sprocket.

Following on from that thread NhiTrac has a near new 12-30 6700 cassette if you're interested

[10speedsemiracer]

OK that makes more sense, but means the stuff I suggested earlier is irrelevant.

Try the Ultegra 12-30t cassette which on a 34t ring will give you lots of climbing ability. Beware though that not all 5700 series RD will work with 30t. You may need RD-5701 :



which Shimano state will handle 30t. Though I think it's worth a try on your existing derailleur first. Saves you $90. Not a big difference from 12-27 but you should notice it.

[10speedsemiracer]

As I understand it 105 5700 rear derailleurs went through the same subtle change as 6700 as duck said in this thread

It should also be pointed out that there are two subtly different versions of the 6700 Ultegra 10-sp. derailleur, excluding standard or longer cage forms. The pre-2012 original version is officially limited to a 28T large sprocket by its upper body geometry, but can in some cases be pushed to larger. The post-2012 version, known variously as 6700-A or 6701, has a revised lower link which kicks the top jockey wheel a bit lower to increase sprocket clearance, will fit up to a 32T sprocket.

Following on from that thread NhiTrac has a near new 12-30 6700 cassette if you're interested

Ha. Great minds etc...Had just written exactly this, suggesting a 12-30 and indicating may need RD-5701. Freaky.

[ScottD439]

Thanks all for your help. Little bit to work through now thanks

[baabaa]

These are a very simple quick fix to get you up to the mid 30s in the rear end
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/roadlink
and the techy stuff
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/pag ... -tech-page

[ScottD439]

Thanks baabaa so it looks like I just have to change my cage for 11-32: Not Required (GS medium cage rear derailleur. Running 12-27t now and going to 11-32t should make all the difference. Does my chain length have to change then? Must need to be longer.

[Duck!]

Depends what method was used to measure it in the first place. If it was sized to small ring and small sprocket, with just enough tension to remove any unwanted opposing chain contact, it will be fine. If it was sized to big ring and big sprocket with just enough length to stop the derailleur binding, it will be too short.

2014 5700 is the post-update model, and it WILL fit a 32T in short form.

[ScottD439]

Thanks Duck so I'll bite the bullet and buy the cassette and see how I go. Might have to get the proper tool to remove it and replace with the new one.

[Derny Driver]

11-32T - 11 / 12 / 14 / 16 / 18 / 20 / 22 / 25 / 28 / 32
vs
12-30T - 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 17 / 19 / 21 / 24 / 27 / 30

I know which one Id prefer to ride

[madmacca]

I run a SRAM 10 sp 12-32 cassette on the post-update 5700. Had to go slightly longer on the chain, but no cage change required.

If you are fitting a new cassette, you should be putting a new chain on anyway, so you can size the new chain length appropriate to your new ratios.

[Arbuckle23]

So just to hijack a little further. Can a 6800 short cage RD be used with 32 cassette?

[Duck!]

Yes.

[RobertL]

You'd get a 30t cassette on a standard 5800-105 RD...

easy. Is why I said officially,

I've got a funny feeling though that OP has a 2014, which is 5700 10sp.

I've got a 12-30t 10 speed on a 5700 RD with no problems.

From the information that Duck has provided in the past I believe that there is never a problem with the upper jockey wheel clearing the 30t cassette, because the upper body part of the short cage and medium cage RDs are the same. You just need to adjust the B screw to suit.

The problem is whether the short cage RD can carry enough chain in total to allow you to access the big-big combination. That is down to the specifics of the bike (chainstay length) and the length of the RD hanger.

Even if it doesn't quite work, the worst outcome is not being able to crosschain to the big-big combination. Everything else will be fine.

[Arbuckle23]

Yes.

Thanks Duck