Road Cycling - Can you replace Campy short cage w/ med. cage w/o replacing the entire derailleur?

Hey gang,

I posted previously about switching from a 12-25 cassette to a 13-29. While some on these forums have chimed in and said that my Campy short cage can accomodate the 13-29, others have claimed that is not true (including Bryan M. Boyce of Campagnolo USA - see below). I would love to not switch to a medium cage but I am concerned about screwing up my detailleur and new cassette. I have limited bike mechanical expertise and will be attempting to install the new cassette and new, longer chain myself.

I asked this same question to Bryan but have not heard back from him yet after several days and I'm getting anxious to make the switch: a) can you replace the short cage with a medium cage on a Campy Chorus derailleur without replacing the entire derailleur, and if yes b) where can I obtain just the medium cage?

Thanks.



"Also to use a 13-29 cassette you will need a medium cage at least to work properly.

Brian M. Boyce

Campagnolo USA"

I asked this same question to Bryan but have not heard back from him yet after several days and I'm getting anxious to make the switch: a) can you replace the short cage with a medium cage on a Campy Chorus derailleur without replacing the entire derailleur, and if yes b) where can I obtain just the medium cage?

Check out: http://www.campagnolo.com/pdf/spares04_A.pdf

Luckily you don't need a long cage since the long cage derailleurs use a different body than the short and medium cage derailleurs which share the same body design.

It looks like you need part RD-CH302M which seems to include the cageplates, bolts and bushings. You get to reuse your jockey wheels and derailleur body.

You might have to order it directly from one of their service center listed at : http://www.campagnolo.com/service.php

CAMPAGNOLO USA INC.
2105-L Camino Vida Roble - CARLSBAD -CA 92009
Tel. +1-760-9310106
Fax +1-760-9310991

OCHSNER INT. INC
246 E. Marquardt Drive - WHEELING
Il. 60090-6430
Tel. +1-847-4658200
Fax +1-847-4658282

QUALITY BIC. PRODUCTS
6400 W. 105th Street - BLOOMINGTON,
MN 55438-2554
Tel. +1-952-9419391
Fax +1-952-9419799

THE HAWLEY COMPANY, INC.
1181 South Lake Drive
Lexington, SC 29073-7744
Tel. +1-803.359.3492 x 192
Fax +1-803.359.1343

and Khuon hits it out of the park!

"Also to use a 13-29 cassette you will need a medium cage at least to work properly."
-- :eek: if you can use a medium on a 29, then how big can you go with a large?!

and Khuon hits it out of the park!

"Also to use a 13-29 cassette you will need a medium cage at least to work properly."
-- :eek: if you can use a medium on a 29, then how big can you go with a large?!

probably a triple + 13-29. just my guess.

Hey gang,

I posted previously about switching from a 12-25 cassette to a 13-29. While some on these forums have chimed in and said that my Campy short cage can accomodate the 13-29, others have claimed that is not true (including Bryan M. Boyce of Campagnolo USA - see below). I would love to not switch to a medium cage but I am concerned about screwing up my detailleur and new cassette. I have limited bike mechanical expertise and will be attempting to install the new cassette and new, longer chain myself.

I asked this same question to Bryan but have not heard back from him yet after several days and I'm getting anxious to make the switch: a) can you replace the short cage with a medium cage on a Campy Chorus derailleur without replacing the entire derailleur, and if yes b) where can I obtain just the medium cage?

Thanks.



"Also to use a 13-29 cassette you will need a medium cage at least to work properly.

Brian M. Boyce

Campagnolo USA"
With all due respect to Campys BS, you can use a short cage with a 29 cog. The cases where it may not work is if you have a particularly short hanger,which is not the norm on current frames. Lots of folks have done it with perfect resrult. You cannot damage your dreailer by trying it.

With all due respect to Campys BS, you can use a short cage with a 29 cog. The cases where it may not work is if you have a particularly short hanger,which is not the norm on current frames. Lots of folks have done it with perfect resrult. You cannot damage your dreailer by trying it.

I'm going to give it a try with the shortcage first, but I've decided to get some professional help with the install. Are there any recs/tricks I can give to the mechanics when they do the install (i.e., shorter chain length, adjusting some springs in the derailleur to create a different position, etc.)?

As a side note I just learned today that I actually have to get a new Campy free hub case to accomodate my campy 13-29 cassette (which I just picked up from supergo for $88 today). I didn't realize until taking my bike into the shop today that I actually had a Mavic 12-25 cassette, not a Campy one. This is cool as Mavic makes great stuff except that we also learned that I have a Shimano free hub on my Kxsyrium aftermarket wheels . The Shimano free hub will not accomodate a campy cassette, hence the need for the Mavic crossover cassette, which was designed to solve the problem of having a Shimano hub with a Campy drivetrain. Mike's Bikes has quoted me $60 for the campy compatible free hub (which includes the inner bearnings). Does this sound like a fair price?

Assuming I can get away with my shortcage and avoid purchasing campy part RD-CH302M (thank you, khuon), this all seems like a worthwile investment in money and time to get the 29 advantage on the hills. The only tragedy I suppose is that it won't be very easy for me to swap cassettes in and out because of the free hub incompatability, unless there is a miracle workaround here?

Get a Shimano compatible cassette and respace it with a Wheels Mfg. respaceing kit. That is what I have on my Spinergy rear wheel. Shifts like a dream with my Mirage group, but I have a 12-26.

Get a Shimano compatible cassette and respace it with a Wheels Mfg. respaceing kit. That is what I have on my Spinergy rear wheel. Shifts like a dream with my Mirage group, but I have a 12-26.How does that get him a 29 cog ?

I'm going to give it a try with the shortcage first, but I've decided to get some professional help with the install. Are there any recs/tricks I can give to the mechanics when they do the install (i.e., shorter chain length, adjusting some springs in the derailleur to create a different position, etc.)?

Size the chain big/big plus 1" without going through the deralier and see how it works. You will be exxceeding wrap capacity spec by 3 teeth, so if there is no latitude in that spec you will have to avoid a few small cogs when in the small ring. There is an adjusting screw for upper pulley clearance on the backside of the derailer.

There must be something Shimano compatible with a 29, then he doesn't have to spend the money on a new freehub. Even with the respacing kit, you still come out ahead of the game in comparison. Sorry if I wasn't clear enough for you.

There must be something Shimano compatible with a 29, ................ Really?

There must be something Shimano compatible with a 29

Does anyone else besides Campy make a 29??