markwebb

I want to use a larger sprocket on my rear casette - a 30 or even a 32 - for steeper ascents with tourning gear. My bike has a Dura ACe 7700 triple 9 speed standard cage rear derailleur.

Reading Sheldon Brown and the Harris Cyclery page, they state that a 30 will work with all Shimano standard RD cages and probably even a 32.

Question - anyone using a Shimano DA derailleur 9 speed triple RD with standard cage and a 30 or 32 cog in rear (triple 30 granny up front, too)? Does it work fine - or any problems or issues?? I'm not really interested in theories - I'd like to hear from real cyclists using this combo or who have used it to hear if it really works like Harrios Cyclery indicates, before I buy one of their custom cassettes with a 30 or 32 big gear in rear.

Thanks - and keep spinning !!!!!

Contra Fixie

Well I tried a 30 with a short cage Ultegra double RD on Harris' advice - despite the fact that Shimano's specs say 27 is the max for that model. I couldn't get it to work - you really can't crank the b-tension far enough in to keep the pulley and teeth from clashing with the 30 - so I emailed Harris and they suggested flipping the b-tension screw so the head can add to the angle. Didn't feel like getting that crazy, so stuck with the 27. I bet you could get your DA triple RD to work with that trick no prob. Sorry for theorizing. Best of luck.

merlinextraligh

can't speak for the D/A rear derailleur, but I know several guys with D/A setups that put on an Shimano MTB derailleur to run a 32 cog, and it works fine with the D/A brifters.

qqy

Yeah, I've used up to a 28 without a problem, but I think 30+ is pushing it. You'll need a MTB rear derailleur if you want a 32 in the back. An LX long cage can be found cheap on ebay.

On my touring bike I use a compact double with a compact front derailluer and a 9-speed MTB 11x32 cassette with a short cage XTR derailluer, mated to 105 STI shifters.

masi61

The Dura-Ace 7703 rear derailleur has a longer cage to wrap more chain when used with a triple, there are still some out there on the net, but It seems they're getting scarce. I don't believe this model is rated for anything higher than a 27 cog either, If you want to run a 30tooth or 32 tooth cog I think you'll have to use a Deore XT or other Shimano MTB rear derailleur.

sam83

My Bianchi Volpe came stock with Tiagra brifters, 52-42-30 crank and a Deore rear derailleur w/11-32 cassette.

It has benefited from some Ultegra / LX hand-me-downs over time, and still retains that same gearing.

johnny99

A DA rear derailleur can usually handle a 30T cog. Sometimes a 32T will work. Depends on the position of your derailleur hanger and maybe the lengths of your chain stays.

2manybikes

By replacing the B tension screw with a longer one from another deraileur I made a DA triple 9 speed rear derailleur work with a 34 tooth large cog. You may have to try it to see if it works. It worked OK but some of the nice fast shifting precision is lost.

kahn

If Sheldon Brown does not drop into this thread (I don't see him in many posts in Road cycling), then repost in the Bicycle Mechanics forum where he usually does reply in threads about gearing and sprockets. Or actually email him, he has replied to emails I've sent on upgrading my Ultegra triple to a lower granny and to additional questions about the cassette. Unfortunately, my 10-speed is a bit more quirky apparently but there is a Canadian company that makes pricy cassettes that MIGHT work.