Originally Posted by
twocicle
Bill your points are all valid but they are do not answer the OP's question. The OP hates wide range cassettes and has no need for them (typically flat FL except for KOM sprints on overpasses and bridges). I'm not a hater of long cages - we have a SGS on our tandem in order to use wider ranged cassettes as needed.
Longer cages do introduce a couple slight negatives not mentioned... namely increased cage flex (ie: more shift imprecision), a couple more chain links and a longer/lower chain loop.
Yes you are correct, I just wanted him to know he could still use a long cage if he wanted as there is a lot of misunderstanding about mixing componets on a Tandem. To be more specific about what he ask I would say it's hard to beat a Shimmano Ultegra mid or short cage rear derailuer in my opinion for what he wants to do, he did ask about shimmano products. I also wanted him to know 9spd or 10spd STI shifters shifters will work when it comes to the 9 spd rear derailuer and the indexing is done with the STI shifters not the derailuer.
Thanks & Ride Safe,
Bill G