escarpment

Im thinking about switching out my 7 speed cassette from a 12-30 to an 11-23 as I never really use anything over 16 or 18. I have a semi compact crank 44-50.

Im just curious if i will have to shorten my chain. Im afraid the cassette might be too steep but I want to try it, and I dont want to buy a new chain if I switch back.

Thanks.

cny-bikeman

Nice to be young and in shape! If you retain the same rear derailleur you do not have to shorten the chain. The derailleur pulley's long cage will take up the slack just as it did before, and won't know that you no longer have the larger cogs.

dsbrantjr

Don't forget to adjust your B-screw for the smaller cassette. If you decide to stick with that cassette, shortening your chain may result in smoother shifting. Make sure you can still shift into the big chainwheel/big cog combination without straining anything before you ride it.

escarpment

thanks guys, glad i asked.

noglider 

What are you going to do with a 50/11?

Delmarva

About the same thing I do with a 52 11. Have fun on downhills.

FBinNY 

There's no need and little (if any) benefit to shortening a chain. Since your chain is already short enough to work with the 12/44 combination, it should be short enough for the 11/44 which is just about the same.

Not shortening the chain has the added benefit of allowing you to change your mind and going back to the larger cassette.

AlphaDogg

The 50/11 combo on my roadie is fantastic for maintaining a relatively low cadence (less than 150rpm) on high speed downhills. I used it to get up to a top speed of 49.5mph on a hill that I could coast down at 44mph. Hugely different from the 48/13 on my hybrid.

ThermionicScott 

And to live in a place without hills.

Like Frank advised, I would leave the chain alone since you're only asking the RD for another half-link of takeup.


P.S. I'd check which cassette you have before deciding on the new one. Shimano made a 12-28 and a 13-30 7-speed cassette, but no 12-30's that I know of. I'm not aware of any 11-23 7-speed cassettes, either, but the 12-21 would probably be up your alley.

escarpment

I found one made by origin 8
https://www.ebay.com/itm/290762556446...=p5197.c0.m619

Its cheap and looks like fun, But I live in a pretty hilly area, moved back to milwaukee. But like i said, I only the first 3 or 4 cogs anyways, 12- 20~ Its only big in the big cogs when I installed new RD. I spend most of my time in the 44 front ring..

krobinson103

Nice.. my commuter could use one of those. Best it has at the moment is 48/12 with a wide spaced rear cassette. 48/11 and nice close spacing would be fun for those 'fredly' moments. Nothing like riding a heavy commuter at speeds people don't expect

fietsbob

Just that you are putting a new cassette and a worn chain together..
not really a good match.

noglider 

I'd rather have hills. I don't like headwinds. And I enjoy hills.

cny-bikeman

To each his own, but I've always preferred to tuck and coast on that fast a downhill. More left for the flats and uphills, especially in "rollercoaster" hills where you can partially coast up and then power over the next hill. I can't imagine wanting to pedal at 140 revs when tucking in with pedals level would probably get to almost the same speed on a longer downhill. I've hit 55 mph coasting, according to speedometer of a car next to me on the El Cajon pass going into San Bernadino, CA (pre-computer days).

rogerstg

WOW, that's impressive. I have to ask, what do you consider high cadence?