Short or long cage for the RD?
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Short or long cage for the RD?
Hello everyone,
I'm currently trying to figure out which groupset to get for my first road frame, and one of the things I'm dubious about is what type of rear deraileur to get, whether I should go with a long cage, or a short one.
Is it totally dependent on which cassette I pair it up with?
I'd like to eventually try both a 11-25 and 11-28 cassette, so I'm guessing getting a long RD is a safer bet? Or would the long cage perform poorly with a smaller, 11-25 cassette?
Thanks much for your opinions!
I'm currently trying to figure out which groupset to get for my first road frame, and one of the things I'm dubious about is what type of rear deraileur to get, whether I should go with a long cage, or a short one.
Is it totally dependent on which cassette I pair it up with?
I'd like to eventually try both a 11-25 and 11-28 cassette, so I'm guessing getting a long RD is a safer bet? Or would the long cage perform poorly with a smaller, 11-25 cassette?
Thanks much for your opinions!

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It's more about the cranks. Short with double, Long with triple. Most derailers will handle 28T no problemo, even the short cage Shimano 105 RD I have that's only rated to 27T.
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I have a 53 front and 27 back with a short rd.
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#4
Portland Fred
Short is fine for your casette but get the long if you have a triple up front. If you think you might someday get one of those 34 tooth pie plate cassettes, you'll want an MTB RD that works with your shifters
Long cage will work fine with a smaller cassette. Think of it this way, it wouldn't be too useful if it only worked with the big cogs...
Long cage will work fine with a smaller cassette. Think of it this way, it wouldn't be too useful if it only worked with the big cogs...

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I'm definitely going with a double standard crankset (172.5mm 53/39). Perhaps an 11-32 cassette since like this one would give me better range while on the big ring? (my intended use is flat terrain almost exclusively)
Last edited by Stix Zadinia; 09-30-13 at 11:38 PM.
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Short cage will work fine with a 53/39 and 11-28. You'll likely need a long or mid cage RD for a bigger cassette though. Long cage will work just fine with smaller cassettes - after all an 11-28 goes all the way to, well, 11. I'm not sure why you'd get a standard double though if you need a 32, why not get a compact double with closer spacing of an 11-28?
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I'm guessing in time I'd favor closer spacing between shifts, but for now I still want to have the 53T option for the higher shifts.
* In fact, Im wondering if I can get an 11 speed-specific 55T or 56T outer ring, just to have as a spare that is, along with an appropriately cut spare chain..
...Just as I'm eager to try different things out, and I'm a fan of high gears -even though my knees disagree
* In fact, Im wondering if I can get an 11 speed-specific 55T or 56T outer ring, just to have as a spare that is, along with an appropriately cut spare chain..
...Just as I'm eager to try different things out, and I'm a fan of high gears -even though my knees disagree

Last edited by Stix Zadinia; 09-30-13 at 11:51 PM.
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Whatever floats your boat, but has been said many, many times around here, 50x11 is a plenty big gear for some darn fast/strong riders.
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Well, over time I'd like to add some aerobar extensions as well, and pretend I'm on a TT while on my commute.. 


I'd like to try out different stuff more than anything else, really. I could even end up settling for a double compact crank, later on..



I'd like to try out different stuff more than anything else, really. I could even end up settling for a double compact crank, later on..
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My shimano 10 spd long cage with 30t rear and triple at front work smoothly, shimano short cage max is 28t with double at front should works fine.
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I have a 52T crank and 28T back with a long shimano RD.And,I haven't found any problem with it.The rear deraileur works well.

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I'm definitely going with a double standard crankset (172.5mm 53/39). Perhaps an 11-32 cassette since like this one would give me better range while on the big ring? (my intended use is flat terrain almost exclusively)
11-25 is perfect for flats, 32 is good if your have some epic climbs to bail you out of, but I don't really see a need on the flats.
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This is going to be very strange gearing.
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OP, for a 32 tooth cassette with double crank, you don't want a long RD, you want a medium RD like the Wi-Fli stuff from SRAM. Long is for big rear and triple front. Short is for regular rear and double front. Medium is for big(ger) rear and double front. Keep the RD as small as possible to optimize shifting.