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Chain Advice Needed

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  • September 17, 2014 at 7:55 pm #22401
    baracas77

    Hi,

    I want to replace my cassette (11spd Ultegra) with an 11-32 as up to now, I’ve just been doing flattish Du/triathlons. I’m planning on hitting some hills and I’m not the lightest rider out there and like to have a high cadence. The crank is a 52/36.

    Clearly, I wouldn’t purposely run it at 52 – 32 but sometimes it happens and as it is at the moment, the chain is too short. Looks currently to be a 106 link chain.

    So, question is:

    Is it simply a matter of getting a longer chain or do I also need the GS version of the RD with the longer cage to take up the slack?

    Thanks in advance..

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Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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  • September 18, 2014 at 11:45 am #814787
    0
    baracas77

    Cheers Edster, that’s exactly
    Cheers Edster, that’s exactly what I needed.

    September 18, 2014 at 11:23 am #814785
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    edster99

    Yes, get a longer one and
    Yes, get a longer one and take some off. Calculators are available to know how many links you need : start here

    http://www.machinehead-software.co.uk/bike/chain_length/chainlengthcalc.html

    September 18, 2014 at 11:22 am #814783
    0
    Simon E

    IME a chain will have 114 or
    IME a chain will have 114 or 116 links, you remove links as needed when installing it.

    September 18, 2014 at 10:40 am #814781
    0
    baracas77

    Thanks for the replies guys.
    Thanks for the replies guys. As for the chain length is it case of buying a longer chain and possibly reducing it down as buying extra links doesn’t look like the done thing.

    September 18, 2014 at 7:48 am #814779
    0
    CanAmSteve

    Along with a longer-cage RD
    Along with a longer-cage RD (which you may already have) you need to keep an eye on just how much chain slack the RD can pull without going slack on small-small.

    IIRC, all Ultegra RDs can handle a 30 rear cog “officially” which means 32 in real life (usually). But I doubt it can handle the difference in chain slack from 52/32 to 36/11. Typically you size a chain big/big (without the RD in play) then add two links. Give it a go using a chain with a removable link if available and then run it on a stand threaded through the mechs. Check how slack it is in the smaller range, as it will slap your chainstay (or worse).

    I’d say you almost need a MTB RD for that great a range. You could pick up a compact 50/34chainset and run that with the 32 rear (just barely, I think).

    September 17, 2014 at 9:22 pm #814777
    0
    matthewn5

    Yes for 32 you’ll need a GS
    Yes for 32 you’ll need a GS rear mech. The SS only goes up to 28t.

    You could swap out the chainrings for smaller ones, they are interchangeable now.

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