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Chain length

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  • 19-01-2017 9:11am
    #1
    irishrover99
    Registered Users Posts: 2,033 ✭✭✭


    If going from a 32t to a 30t cassette should i lose a link from the previous chain length or keep it the same.

    Cheers


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    #2
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users Posts: 24,995 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Try it on small ring/small ring first - you might get away with it depending on the current length.


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    #3
    cython
    Registered Users Posts: 4,769 ✭✭✭cython


    You can likely take out a link, but as WA alludes to, the main concern here is small/small - if you go from 12-32 to 11-30 (though not sure those combos exist, to be honest!), for example, then you may need to remove a link as this will add in another link of slack to take up in that combination that your derailleur may not have capacity for. However if your small sprocket on the back remains the same, and you're simply dropping a couple of teeth on the large one, then removal of said link is entirely optional, as you're staying within the range your drivetrain had previously.

    Hope that makes sense!


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    #4
    Lumen
    Registered Users Posts: 31,084 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    If the chain works with 32 it'll work with 30, so why bother taking a link out?


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    #5
    irishrover99
    Registered Users Posts: 2,033 ✭✭✭irishrover99


    The small on the back will remain 11t. So it will be going from 32/11 to 30/11


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    #6
    Lumen
    Registered Users Posts: 31,084 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    irishrover99 wrote: »
    The small on the back will remain 11t. So it will be going from 32/11 to 30/11
    Right, but that's like the old gearing but without using the biggest sprocket. Makes no difference to the chain or derailleur.


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    #7
    irishrover99
    Registered Users Posts: 2,033 ✭✭✭irishrover99


    Lumen wrote: »
    Right, but that's like the old gearing but without using the biggest sprocket. Makes no difference to the chain or derailleur.

    Thanks. Ill leave it the same so.


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    #8
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users Posts: 24,995 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Lumen wrote: »
    Right, but that's like the old gearing but without using the biggest sprocket. Makes no difference to the chain or derailleur.
    Doh! Of course - the two smallest rings are the same! :o


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    #9
    Lumen
    Registered Users Posts: 31,084 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    Wishbone Ash wrote: »
    Doh! Of course - the two smallest rings are the same! :o
    No, that's not it. :-)

    If you have a chain and derailleur that works with a given cassette, you can use a different cassette inside the range of that cassette.

    So if 11-32 works you could use 12-23 without issue.

    If you start with 12-23, and make the chain as short as possible for that cassette, you can't then put on a wider range cassette because the chain won't be long enough for big-big.

    Similarly with derailleur. A medium cage derailleur will work fine with tight gearing but if you start with a short cage you'll have problems with chain slack on a wider cassette.


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