Campy 11s with 32 cog

[mcteague]

Well, my 63 year old legs are asking for some help. Seems a 32 cog is in my future. My 6 year old Chorus 11s setup has a 34/50 crank and 12-29 cassette. I have been searching for options but no clear path has presented itself. So, asking the Paceline brain-trust for their opinions and experiences.

A) Just try the short cage RD with a 12-32 cassette by adjusting the B-screw and avoiding the large/large crossover. Chainstays are 41.3cm so, not too long.

B) Get a Wolf Tooth Roadlink to drop the derailleur down a bit. I understand that can work but wonder if the overall shifting quality goes down.

C) Get a Campy medium cage assembly to replace the short one. Trouble here is this part only really seems to exist in theory. No one seems to have them in stock.

D) Say "screw it" and go whole hog for a 12s Chorus group when it becomes available. Sure the RD is ugly but this would allow me to move my 11s setup to my old bike with has 10s Centaur. Tough part is I am not sure the 12s chain will work well with the 11s crank. I could always just sell the old one along with the Centaur stuff. Its only money after all! :rolleyes:

Tim

[bfd]

Well, my 63 year old legs are asking for some help. Seems a 32 cog is in my future. My 6 year old Chorus 11s setup has a 34/50 crank and 12-29 cassette. I have been searching for options but no clear path has presented itself. So, asking the Paceline brain-trust for their opinions and experiences.

A) Just try the short cage RD with a 12-32 cassette by adjusting the B-screw and avoiding the large/large crossover. Chainstays are 41.3cm so, not too long.

B) Get a Wolf Tooth Roadlink to drop the derailleur down a bit. I understand that can work but wonder if the overall shifting quality goes down.

C) Get a Campy medium cage to replace the short one. Trouble here is this part only really seems to exist in theory. No one seems to have them in stock.

D) Say "screw it" and go whole hog for a 12s Chorus group when it becomes available. Sure the RD is ugly but this would allow me to move my 11s setup to my old bike with has 10s Centaur. Tough part is I am not sure the 12s chain will work well with the 11s crank. I could always just sell the old one along with the Centaur stuff. Its only money after all! :rolleyes:

Tim

A) sounds like your short cage RD can handle the 12-32. Why not try it?

B) I hear good things about the wolflink, so that's a good option too.

c) Probikekit has the Chorus med-cage RD in stock and where I got mine:

https://www.probikekit.com/bicycle-derailleurs/campagnolo-chorus-11-speed-ho-rear-derailleur/11479843.html

D) I don't know, not sold on 12 just yet. But if can move the Chorus 11 to another bike, well you will need another group....

Good Luck!

[Duende]

Seems like you’ll need the 11-32 cogset, in any of the scenarios you posted. Might as well get it. Try it first... then go the medium cage route if needed. No money lost.

FWIW, the 32 cog worked with my chorus 11 derailleur. But my chainstays are 420.

Betcha it’ll work though. :)

[woodworker]

I swapped out the cage from short to medium cage on my Chorus 11, and it works fine with the 11-32. I forget whether it was Potenza or Centaur, or something else, but the whole derailleur was pretty cheap and was available on line. I'd check around on the web.

[crossjunkee]

I just moved to 12 speed with the 11/32 cog and I'm LOVING it! I went from hating the looks, never wanting disc, and wouldn't even consider tubeless. I'm not looking back and I'm all in with 12 speed hydros and tubeless. I don't even know who I am.

But seriously, the 32t with a mid compact crankset is exactly what I've been dreaming about, especially for CO.

[bfd]

Seems like you’ll need the 11-32 cogset, in any of the scenarios you posted. Might as well get it. Try it first... then go the medium cage route if needed. No money lost.

FWIW, the 32 cog worked with my chorus 11 derailleur. But my chainstays are 420.

Betcha it’ll work though. :)

You guys are stronger than me as I have an 11-32 cassette and wished I got the 12-32. The 16t, which is missing in the 11-32, is more useful for me than the 11t as I'm too old and fat to push such a small gear. As soon as I wear out this 11-32, it will be only 12-32 for me! :)

Of course, it could be worse, my buddy just splurged and got the new Sram AXS. He has a 10-33 cassette?! I can barely push a 12t cog and 11t hurts, so I really want a 10t?! I guess what saves him is he got the 46x33 crankset. Still, do you really need a 10t cog?!

YMMV!

Good Luck!

[OtayBW]

A) sounds like your short cage RD can handle the 12-32. Why not try it?
Really? I didn't think a short cage RD would handle >30. :confused:

[Mark McM]

I'd try A) first. The cage length only affects capacity, not maximum sprocket size, so the small cage should work with a 32.

Option B) shouldn't be necessary.

Option C) is the fall-back position if the short cage derailleur doesn't have the capacity for 12-32 + 50-34 (36 tooth capacity). The 2014 Campagnolo catalog doesn't show a medium cage Chorus derailleur, but there are long cage Athena derailleurs (in black) that will work with the pre-'15 Chorus derailleurs.

There is also option C2), which is to get a '15+ medium cage Chorus derailleur and '15+ right shifter. You might also be able to get '15+ lever/body assembly (https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=50059&category=771) and rebuild your current right lever.

Option D) is obviously possible, but very expensive.

[Clean39T]

Well, my 63 year old legs are asking for some help. Seems a 32 cog is in my future. My 6 year old Chorus 11s setup has a 34/50 crank and 12-29 cassette. I have been searching for options but no clear path has presented itself. So, asking the Paceline brain-trust for their opinions and experiences.

A) Just try the short cage RD with a 12-32 cassette by adjusting the B-screw and avoiding the large/large crossover. Chainstays are 41.3cm so, not too long.

B) Get a Wolf Tooth Roadlink to drop the derailleur down a bit. I understand that can work but wonder if the overall shifting quality goes down.

C) Get a Campy medium cage assembly to replace the short one. Trouble here is this part only really seems to exist in theory. No one seems to have them in stock.

D) Say "screw it" and go whole hog for a 12s Chorus group when it becomes available. Sure the RD is ugly but this would allow me to move my 11s setup to my old bike with has 10s Centaur. Tough part is I am not sure the 12s chain will work well with the 11s crank. I could always just sell the old one along with the Centaur stuff. Its only money after all! :rolleyes:

TimI vote for "D" -- it's only money ;)

My satisfaction with Record 12 is quite high, and I'm expecting I'll like the Chorus 12 just as much...

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[AngryScientist]

What about Option E - Get just the new chorus 48/32 crankset when it comes out for some lower end gear inches?

[jtbadge]

What about Option E - Get just the new chorus 48/32 crankset when it comes out for some lower end gear inches?

+1, or the Praxis versions that are affordable and readily available.

[ColonelJLloyd]

+1, or the Praxis versions that are affordable and readily available.

+1 to Angry and jtbadge. Most people would be well served to spend a few minutes with a gear calculator and figuring out how various combos translate to them and how they ride.

Do you know what a 100" gear feels like? 110", 120"? How about 25"? Calculate the gear inches of the gears you spend most of your time in. Once you've got a good handle on this stuff the best options for you are easier to see.

[Mark McM]

+1 to Angry and jtbadge. Most people would be well served to spend a few minutes with a gear calculator and figuring out how various combos translate to them and how they ride.

Do you know what a 100" gear feels like? 110", 120"? How about 25"? Calculate the gear inches of the gears you spend most of your time in. Once you've got a good handle on this stuff the best options for you are easier to see.

Swapping out his 50-34 crank for a 48-32 crank will reduce his low gear by 6% Swapping his 12-29 cassette for a 12-32 cassette will reduce his low gear by 10%. Cassettes are cheaper than cranks, so the cassette change will give him more gear reduction per dollar.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Swapping out his 50-34 crank for a 48-32 crank will reduce his low gear by 6% Swapping his 12-29 cassette for a 12-32 cassette will reduce his low gear by 10%. Cassettes are cheaper than cranks, so the cassette change will give him more gear reduction per dollar.

True story.

I didn't say 48/32 was the best or cheapest answer (yes, I quoted Angry and he referenced a 48/32 - but, maybe a 46/30 is ideal?), I said knowing your gearing and how you use it then deciding on the best option for your riding style is important. Lots of people have a top gear they rarely, if ever, use.

The right gearing and in what form it is achieved should be the goal. The more you know. . . that's my point.

[jtbadge]

Sure, cassettes are cheaper than cranks, but not if you likely have to buy a new shifter, rear derailleur, and chain, which the OP probably will. I got the Praxis Zayante crank + BB for like $130.

[R3awak3n]

I am running my short cages right now with 11-32 and works perfectly. It really depends on the bike... You could always give it a try and if it does not work just get a wolftooth road link

[sjbraun]

I swapped out the cage from short to medium cage on my Chorus 11, and it works fine with the 11-32. I forget whether it was Potenza or Centaur, or something else, but the whole derailleur was pretty cheap and was available on line. I'd check around on the web.

I did the same. Fairwheel bikes set me up.

https://fairwheelbikes.com/

[makoti]

The 12 speed option. I'm right behind you, and in order, I'll be changing over my S&S travel bike (damn you Campy, I wanted wireless!), the Crumpton, then the Hollands (the other Hollands, I mean).
It's only money I don't have.

[velotel]

I switched the cage on my 11 Chorus to a Potenza cage, been running that for a couple of years now I think. Then I switched the cranks to White Industries 30/46 and am thoroughly content with that, though to be honest I'd love to have a 34 cog in back. Someday. As i recall the Potenza cage didn't cost much at all.

[mcteague]

Yeah, I'm tempted to just try a new 12-32 cassette without an adapter to see if it works. I may wait for 12s Chorus to hit the market to see what the prices are before I make a decision.

C'mon Old Spud, waiting for your take on this! :rolleyes:

Tim

[pjmsj21]

So what’s involved in just swapping out the cage? And who sells just to age?

[oldpotatoe]

Yeah, I'm tempted to just try a new 12-32 cassette without an adapter to see if it works. I may wait for 12s Chorus to hit the market to see what the prices are before I make a decision.

C'mon Old Spud, waiting for your take on this! :rolleyes:

Tim

I would certainly put it on with your rear der to see if it works, Really depends on the bike/frame/der hanger/chainstay length, but I'd try it..otherwise, as has been mentioned a rear der cage..BUT the 'standard' cage is pretty long because of 11t pulleys.

BUT, a 2011/12/13 Veloce or Centaur 'medium cage', readily available on ebay, will work fine too in spite of being '10s'..Potenza too and the cages will swap as well.

[velotel]

So what’s involved in just swapping out the cage? And who sells just to age?
Mine came from Jim at Vecchio's. Yep, take off the old cage, put on the new cage. As I recall didn't even put a new chain on nor lengthen the existing chain. Might have been a wee bit of fine tuning of the adjustment. Works great.

[cnighbor1]

Campagnolo makes Cross crankset 46t /34t Use the 46t chain ring.
That reduces the amount of chain wrap needed by the rear derailleur allowing use of a bigger rear cog Seldom does one need the use of 11t / 50t
Than try the 32t with maybe only a longer chain
Next get a medium cage rear derailleur or long cage
On my seven I went from 11t /25t 34t / 50t short cage Campagnolo RD to 12t /29t and it worked fine