Road Cycling - Contemplating moving to a 13-29 cassette from a 12-25 and need help

I have Campagnolo Chorus 10 speed groupset purchased in 2001. I currently have a 12-25 casette but I am contemplating shifting to a 13-29 cassette for some additional help in the mountains. On Campy's website it says that the 2004 "short cage" rear derailleur cannot accomodate a 13-29 cassette, however a "medium cage" one can. Does anyone know how I can determine if my rear derailleur is a "medium cage" or does anyone know if this question is even relevant for the 2001 Chorus groupset?

Comments about shifting from a 12-25 to a 13-29 are also welcome. I live in San Francisco and typically cycle in the Marin Headlands. I find that I spend a lot of time in my 25. Looking to become active in local racing.

Many thanks.

One other queston: my front chain rings are 53/39. Would it be a) possible and/or b) desirable to replce the 39 with something smaller to try to accomplish the same above goal?

I believe a 38 chainring is the smallest your Campy double crank will accept. Besides swapping cassettes, going to a triple crankset or a compact double are other options to explore.

If you go to the Campy website they should have a pic of a medium cage rear mech. If you currently have a 12-25, chances are pretty good that you have a short cage and I would not recommend using it with a 13-29.

Pretty smart move moving to a 13-29. That combo will get you up most hills you will come across. It sure beats going to a t-r-i-p-l-e. (sorry couldn't resist ;) )

One other queston: my front chain rings are 53/39. Would it be a) possible and/or b) desirable to replce the 39 with something smaller to try to accomplish the same above goal?

I put a 13-26 on my 'dale years ago to go with my 53-39. It gave me plenty at the low end...and it isn't that expensive to try a cassette for a while. That 29 is going to force you to make some big changes and you'd be better off with a racing triple, IMHO, if that's what you mean. Don't let the triple haters scare you off...except for sprint gears (which you only need when you "sprint"), the 52-42-30 combined with a 13-26 gives you a ton of stuff and lets you ride just as fast as everybody else. With less wear on the chain.

I believe a 38 chainring is the smallest your Campy double crank will accept. Besides swapping cassettes, going to a triple crankset or a compact double are other options to explore.39 is the smallest I know of.

If you go to the Campy website they should have a pic of a medium cage rear mech. If you currently have a 12-25, chances are pretty good that you have a short cage and I would not recommend using it with a 13-29.


Contraty to Campy lore, a short cage works with a 29.

That 29 is going to force you to make some big changes.......Such as??

If you go to the Campy website they should have a pic of a medium cage rear mech.

I took a look already but couldn't tell based on their pic whether mine is a short or medium. Can anyone else confirm that Campy is wrong about their own produc and the 29 does work with a short cage derailleur? I'm having a hard time believing this for some reason.

Can you use a compact crank with Campy? I think this would be more desireable than the gaps with a 13-29.

-murray

I have Campagnolo Chorus 10 speed groupset purchased in 2001. I currently have a 12-25 casette but I am contemplating shifting to a 13-29 cassette for some additional help in the mountains. On Campy's website it says that the 2004 "short cage" rear derailleur cannot accomodate a 13-29 cassette, however a "medium cage" one can. Does anyone know how I can determine if my rear derailleur is a "medium cage" or does anyone know if this question is even relevant for the 2001 Chorus groupset?

Comments about shifting from a 12-25 to a 13-29 are also welcome. I live in San Francisco and typically cycle in the Marin Headlands. I find that I spend a lot of time in my 25. Looking to become active in local racing.

Many thanks.

I use the 13-29 casstte, an dit is nice to have the 29 when you need it.
A medium cage size will be fine for your combination.
here is a pict. of all 3, and you can figure out which one you have on your bike.

I took a look already but couldn't tell based on their pic whether mine is a short or medium. Can anyone else confirm that Campy is wrong about their own produc and the 29 does work with a short cage derailleur? I'm having a hard time believing this for some reason.It works with a short cage unless you have an especially short derailer hanger,which is uncommon on current frames. A short cage measures 50 something mm centr to center of pulley bolts. The medium measuers 70 something mm.I'm too much of a slacker to get off my butt and find a measuring device,and then dig crap out of junk boxes.That should be colse enough for govt. work.

It works with a short cage unless you have an especially short derailer hanger,which is uncommon on current frames.
Yes.Campy even offers one.

"Contrary to Campy lore, a short cage works with a 29."

I have heard that it will work but I always thought that the chain length gets to be a real issue with the short cage when you are using the large chainring? Especially when in the upper middle of the cassette.

Can you use a compact crank with Campy? I think this would be more desireable than the gaps with a 13-29.

-murray

Does anyone know if Campy makes a compact crank in their Chorus line? I'm not very familiar with the pros/cons of compact to begin with. It would certainly seem less expensive to replace the cassette rather than the entire crank. Would the additional gaps on a 13-29 really be dramatic compared to a 12-25?

I put a 13-29 on a couple of months ago. My shop thought I could get by with the short cage because I use a 46-38 (Specialities TA crankset) combination on the front. However, after doing some research it was decided to go with the long cage.

I have Record components but I went with a Chorus derailleur and cassette.

I'm not a racer so I don't know how a 12-25 works better but I don't feel that I lost any gears except for the 12 which I only used on downhills and gained a lot having the 29.

BTW, I did the Moosa tour in Maine last month and climbed evey hill (there were lots of them and long) with this setup.

Now that I have the long cage I can convert to a triple if I wish.

Kathi

I don't even notice the gap between the 26 and the 29.

Kathi

The gear range for the 12-25 and 13-29 are these respectively:
12 13 14 15 16 17 19 21 23 25
13 14 15 16 17 19 21 23 26 29

with the 13 - 29 you don't lose too much. You lose the 12 and you skip 2 teeth after the 23 tooth sprocket instead of skipping 1 tooth with the 12 - 25.


I run with three casettes. But I use the 13 - 29 most of the time for riding my area in the CO Rockies. I'll race with the 12 - 25 or a 11 - 23 depending on terrain and I still get razed by my racer buddies with the 12 - 25. They're soooo young ...haha. The 13 - 29 has gotten me up Mt. Evans many times without feeling a need for another gear. Mt Evans is at 14,000 feet and the ride covers about 7,000 feet in 28 miles. That's a boat load of vertical!

So, I have never seen a need for a triple. But you decide if you need anything but a 53 - 39 with a 13 - 29 for the steepest and longest grinds.

Oh, and get the medium cage in case you accidently get into a big/big combo cross.

After looking more closely at my rear derailleur, I think I do in fact have the madium cage. I'm also feeling like the 13-29 Campy Chorus cassette is the right call at this point. Anyone have any suggestions on where to pick one up for a great price? I've seen it for $120 at Colorado Cyclist.

"Contrary to Campy lore, a short cage works with a 29."

I have heard that it will work but I always thought that the chain length gets to be a real issue with the short cage when you are using the large chainring? Especially when in the upper middle of the cassette.How can that be if you size the chain big/big?

I put a 13-29 on a couple of months ago. My shop thought I could get by with the short cage because I use a 46-38 (Specialities TA crankset) combination on the front. However, after doing some research it was decided to go with the long cage.

That's just insane.That's only 28 teeth of required wrap. Wrap spec for the short is 27 teeth, and that's conservative.

Is a Record 13-29 cassette compatible with an otherwise all Chorus setup?

After looking more closely at my rear derailleur, I think I do in fact have the madium cage. I'm also feeling like the 13-29 Campy Chorus cassette is the right call at this point. Anyone have any suggestions on where to pick one up for a great price? I've seen it for $120 at Colorado Cyclist.


Supergo is having a sale right now.

$105.98 at Supergo for the Chorus all steel
$159.98 at Supergo for the Record Steel/Titanium

Anyone have any suggestions on where to pick one up for a great price?

Hint: a Veloce cassette will also work. From what I have been told, it is as durable as the Chorus/Record stuff and only slightly heavier.