Mountain Biking - Question on rear derailleurs (cages)

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troie
07-19-03, 12:01 PM
I need to by a new rear derailleur. Ill be buying the DeoreXt at Jenson for $34. Im not sure if I need medium or long cage. Is there a significant difference?

ljbike
07-19-03, 12:12 PM
If your cassettes largest gear is over 27, I'd suggest Long Cage.
moabrider47
07-19-03, 05:33 PM
ljbike pretty much has it. A medium cage rear derailleur is meant for cassettes running "smaller-toothed" cogs at the large end. I know that's not a very technical description of what I'm trying to say, but I can't think of how to word it differently. You might notice a max tooth capacity of something like 34T or 32T when reading the info on the derailleur. That is the max number of teeth on a cog that you can have and still run the derailleur. How many teeth are on your largest cog? I would think that you would want the long cage in any case. It' probably what you've got on there now.

-Moab

troie
07-19-03, 10:08 PM
30 teeth on largest cog.
Chi
07-19-03, 10:15 PM
I guess if you've got a derailleur that has a 32-T max capacity, with a 11-32 cog, you'd get the shorter cage to save weight? :confused:
tFUnK
07-20-03, 01:13 AM
get the long cage... the short cage might give you headaches.
troie
07-20-03, 09:10 AM
Long cage it is.
moabrider47
07-20-03, 11:24 AM
get the long cage... the short cage might give you headaches.


I agree.

-Moab
Chi
07-20-03, 07:53 PM
I think the long cages look better anyway.
a2psyklnut
07-22-03, 08:56 AM
Actually, if you've got a smaller cassette cluster, a medium cage is recommended for better shifting. The chain will be shorter and spring tension is better suited for the size.

Although 30T is border line, I'd still go with the Long Cage for future potential use.

A medium cage is good for XC racer types who know they'll only ever run a 28T max.

L8R