i need your help. when it comes to mechanics of the bike, i'm still a noob.

currently on my bike i'm running full ultegra 9 speed components. since i've injured my knee, doc said i can still ride, but need to take it easy.

so i'm thinking about changing out my ultegra 9 speed cassette 11/23 to a SRAM 9-speed cassette 11/34

my guess is that besides this change, i'd probably need to change out the chain and possible the shifter cable.

but the main question remains is, would i be able to use this SRAM with all of my other ultegra group?

please help.. thanks.

Probably not as the Ultegra rear derailleur is unlikely to work with a cog that large. Shimano claimes that rear derailleur has a 27T limit but experience says 30 or even 32 teeth usually works but 34T almost never.

You could substitute a Shimano MTB rear derailleur and that will solve the problem. Any Shimano 9-speed MTB rear derailleur (not the newer 10-speed Dyna Sys MTB derailleurs) should work and will allow your current shifters, etc. to be used.

thanks for the quick reply. is there a particular model i should look into for the shimano 9speed MTB derailleur? also, would i need to change the shifter cable as well?

finally since using a shimano derailleur would be the choice, should i look into getting a shimano 11/34 cassette instead of sram?

Unless you're married to the idea of the 11-34, there are 11-28, 30 and 32 options. Also, if you have standard cranks, there are 38t chainrings out there, but that's the lower limit of 130BCD.

Another angle at it- a set of compact cranks and an 11-28 cassette could retain your original RD with much lower gearing.

dan.. even for a road bike? never thought about using a compact crank... the thing is i don't want to lose too much of speed but gaining more easy when climbing.

Compact road. 50/34. The 34/28 low pretty much erases the need for a triple.

if there are carbon components that are lightweight, i'd be open to it. just need some gears that will keep these knees riding..

well, this is what i currently have on my road bike.

Ultegra 9 speed
CRANKSET / 170MM - 53/39
9 SPEED CASSETTE / 12-25

so would it be possible to run something like this?

Shimano Deore XT 9 speed + Shimano XT RD-M780 Shadow Rear Derailleur SGS along with my current Ultegra 9 speed?

Yes, SRAM and Shimano cassettes are interchangeable. I've been running SRAM 9 and 10-spd cassettes with both Shimano XT and Ultegra derailleurs for over 10 years. In fact, I prefer SRAM cassettes over Shimano.

But as the others state, make sure the derailleur has the capacity needed for the crank and cassette.

mudpie, when I check the websites, I see 1 with the capacity 43T and some show 35T. What does that mean?

No, as HillRider noted, you can't use Dyna-Sys with 9 speed, the M780 is a Dyna-Sys RD, you need a non-Dyna-Sys RD for this to work.

so something like this? https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...83_-1___400178

Yes, the Deore will work fine, as it's not Dyna-Sys, the capacity will be good for an 11/34T cassette as well

That's chain wrap capacity.
Largest ring-smallest ring + largest cog-smallest cog.
Currently you have-
53-39 = 14
25-12 = 13
Total = 27

Rders are rated by max cog size AND chain wrap capacity.

Yup, that's a good one for your project. BTW, "top normal" means the derailleur is in high gear when the cable is loose, and pulling the cable shifts to a lower gear - that's the conventional configuration... don't get one that says "low normal" unless you know for sure that's what you want; I'm not sure who buys those.

[h=2]Shimano Deore M591 SGS Rear Derailleur[/h]The Shimano Deore M591 SGS Rear Derailleur features the low-profile Shadow design and features direct cable routing and a strong guide spring to maintain chain tension and eliminate chainstay contact. Top-Normal shifting system is optimized for use with Shimano RapidFire shift levers and provides precise and rapid performance with a light shift effort.

• Features Shimano's Double Servo-Panta mechanism for smooth consistent shifts
• Light weight design
• Optimized for use with Shimano 9-speed cassettes but will also work with Shimano 8-speed
• Durable and reliable performance thanks to Shimano's proven technologies
• Can be used on road bikes or mountain bikes
• A great upgrade for improving the shifting performance of entry-level bikes

Also, MTB derailleurs don't have barrel adjusters since they're in the shifters, so you'll probably want an in-line doodad like this:


[h=2][/h]

I'd put that doodad close to the shifter rather than close to the derailleur, tho. That would allow adjustment while riding, which is convenient.

Yeah, I'm using downtube shifters; Ultegra 9 brifters could have it in front of the handlebar.

thanks guys.. so it sounds like i can keep my crank as is at 53/39 and add a 11/34 cassette to the back + new deraileur.

so, just to recap on the things i need:
Shimano Deore XT CS-M770 9-speed Cassette 11/34
Shimano Deore M591 SGS Rear Derailleur
9 speed Ultegra chain (can I still use my existing one since I still have the extra chain left over from last time)
In-line barrel shifter (where can i get that on performance?)

Anything else i'm missing? Do I need to change the shifter cables?

You can use your old chain, but you need to use two of those special break-off pins to attach it the piece- pushing out the pin through the sideplates of the chain made the holes too big to retain a re-used pin; that's what the special pins are for. Also, don't push out the original special pin- leave it there and use a virgin pin to break the chain. A 23 cassette to 34 increase means you'll need 5.5 more links- but since it needs to be an even integer, use 6 more links.

I'd check it for wear first- lay a 12" ruler against the chain and the pins should line up at the 1/2" marks. If the 24th link is more than 1/8" long, then the chain should be replaced. I'd just replace it anyway- you'll have a nice new drivetrain, why run an old chain to wear out the cogs faster? I'd go one step further and get a KMC chain with a quick-link. Then you don't need to futz with the special little pins that Shimano loves so much.

Also, if the derailleur is like the picture on the performance site, then you don't need an adjusting barrel- it has one built-in.

thanks for the info. right now i have chain-links on there, so i was thinking to get another chain-link to attach it. i haven't ridden much since my knee injury, put about 200 miles at most on the bike and it's been sitting there. so the chain should be ok. just not sure if using additional chain-link is safe.

also, how hard would it be to adjust the rear derailleur after i put the parts in. that part i have no problem with, just the adjustment part i'm a total noob.

Boy I don't see it. Looks like just a housing stop.




Didn't find one on the Performance site, but these are pretty cool, they just stick out of your hoods:

i think this is the one i need Shimano Deore M591 SGS Rear Derailleur since this is not Dyna-Sys type, which was recommended for my ultegra 9 speed.

so beside performance, where are some places to get the parts i need for cheap?

Yeah, that's a good one with an adjuster. You can get all this stuff off Amazon.

yea.. but i noticed some are sold by nashbar.. so they add some freaking shipping fee..
may be i should check out other brands like sram or something? would that also work with my ultegra?

my main concerns is whether or not shifting will be smooth like now.. or will it get rough?

found a different shimano cassette.. will this work? not sure if all 9speed MTB cassette will work with my ultegra.

Shimano HG50 9 Speed Mountain Bike Cassette

also, i think this is the exact same one as sold on performance or not. the term long cage in the description is throwing me off.

Deore M591 SGS Long CageRear Der

Yep, those parts will work well. Shifting will be just fine- my wife's bike has the same parts (HG50 cassette and Deore M590 derailleur), and it works just as well as the original all-Ultegra group the bike had on it originally. Long cage is fine, it just means that the capacity of chain takeup will be greater than medium cage or short cage, 45 tooth versus 37 tooth versus 27 tooth, IIRC (largest chainring + largest cog - smallest chainring - smallest cog). Most mountain bike derailleurs are long cage.

No- SRAM won't work, the amount of cable travel for each shift is different between SRAM (or Campagnolo, or Shimano Dyna-sys) and the standard Shimano derailleurs. Stick with the Deore M591. It's relatively inexpensive, it works well and it is a good match to the cassette and the shifters.

Yea, its the 11 that is hard on the knees, take the big chainring off,
and make it smaller ..
or leave it off.
90" top gear is plenty..