Adding a longer RD to a Tiagra 10 spd bike to be able to use a much wider range cassette

[Spiderweb]

You can buy a wolfs tooth derailleur hanger extender which will massively extend the range of your cassette.
There are cheaper brands available too eg. Sunrace etc.

 

[Dan Lotus]

Thanks all, appreciate the invaluable knowledge, input, experience and opinions, HUGELY appreciated :-)

Theoretically at 161cm, she is marginally small for it, however as her mum is 173cm, and I'm 178, I don't think she will be growing that much taller, so I'd like to think as an 'occasional' bike, I could probably make it fit with a longer stem etc, as long as she doesn't get incredibly tall.

I'm going to do a bit more mulling, and then make a decision on it soon.
I'm flying out there in Easter half term with her, so it would be a nice surprise if it was waiting when we got there - all be it a job to change the cassette out and RD etc - I have some basic tools out there, but enough for that job.

 

[Dan Lotus]

You can buy a wolfs tooth derailleur hanger extender which will massively extend the range of your cassette.
There are cheaper brands available too eg. Sunrace etc.

I have tried those before, maybe I was unlucky, or inept, but I was unable to get it work efficiently - that was on a 105 5700 setup.

 

[Spiderweb]

You will need a longer chain too.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

You will need a longer chain too.

Possibly, but maybe not - 6 teeth more is only 1.5 links of chain (two teeth per link, and only wraps half way around). So unless the current chain is right on the limit for big/big, it could well be OK. Though it's not a bad idea to replace it while you're at it anyway

 

[Dan Lotus]

A quick search in the garage tonight has unearthed a new Ultegra 10spd chain, theoretically my partners bike might need it, but I changed it a couple of years ago when I added an 11/34 cassette to her bike, so I don't think that's going to need to be changed anytime soon - she doesn't ride it very much :-(
I also found a short Specialized stem, I recall I bought it 2nd hand ages ago for some project (Might have been when I was trying to finesse my position), but never used it - it's probably 60mm, but has those adjustable shims that allow you to change the angle, not sure how it works, some kind of black magic, but I'm thinking that the chances are it might be a little bit of a stretch for her to start with, so this way I could drop the bars down a bit if required, and bring them closer to her.

So currently, it just looks like I need the RD and a 10spd cassette, the RD I can get from Halfords for £23 after BC discount and work savings card thingy, but they want £39.99 for the 11-34 cassette, so will have to source that elsewhere.
Tredz are favourite currently (£23.99), who are part of the same company as Halfords 😕

 

[Dan Lotus]

Thanks again everyone :-)

I've done the deal with the chap in Spain at 200 Euros (~£172), and my Dad is going to collect it.
I've seen more up close pictures, and it looks pretty much mint, I'd be surprised if it has covered more than 200km.
I've ordered the GS RD from Halfords, that's only set me back £23 after BC discount and work discount.
I've ordered the 11-34 cassette from Tredz, but added a couple of needed items (One for my daughter) to get to just over £55, and then applied ye olde £5 discount - so theoretically the cassette has only cost me £18.99!

I went through TCB for both, so the current total of £41.99 might come down even further (EDIT: £1.50 of cashback has tracked across the two orders, so virtually £40 - very happy with that) - so I'm looking at something just under £214 for it to be fully up and running with suitable gearing - I hope she likes it!!!!!!!!!
I'm relying on the hanger being straight - he says all the gears are working fine, as that's a tool I do not have at my parents place, though if required I could get one from Decathlon probably.
I'll likely take some new bar tape over just in case, as it will make it a bit 'prettier' for her, and an extra bottle cage - side entry, as it's a fairly small frame.

I did look at Decathlon initially, as I recall them selling bikes for around the £200 mark, but was surprised to see they seem to start at £500 now - I guess everything has gone up, and I know from experience the really entry level bikes have not the best quality wheels.

I looked on ebay here, and saw people trying to sell the entry level R1 for more than £200, and an R2, like this, on there for £225, that didn't look in the best condition, so I do feel like this is a decent deal, even though it is around 10 years old.

To my mind, it looks very clean and tidy:

Also, those pedals, do they look like road pedals but with a removeable flat platform on top?
She's dabbled with clips, but isn't fully committed yet.
I might take a pair of flats over with me.

 

[Punkawallah]

You might find this site useful:

https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/home.html

 

[Ajax Bay]

Looks a really good buy.
Behind the curve, I offer four observations/recommendations.
I doubt the hanger will be bent/non-vertical. You'd see some sign on the RD.
If your daughter reaches her mother's height (173cm) the bike will be too small for her. You don't share the size - I'm just going on the image. I would say max 168cm.
The stem is (my estimate) only 60mm already - no point in taking out another.
I recommend you consider taking out replacement brake blocks if there are downhills to go with the uphills you imply need a 27" gear.

 

[fossyant]

Looks a nice bike - and hardly used so a bargain.

 

[Dan Lotus]

Looks a really good buy.
Behind the curve, I offer four observations/recommendations.
I doubt the hanger will be bent/non-vertical. You'd see some sign on the RD.
If your daughter reaches her mother's height (173cm) the bike will be too small for her. You don't share the size - I'm just going on the image. I would say max 168cm.
The stem is (my estimate) only 60mm already - no point in taking out another.
I recommend you consider taking out replacement brake blocks if there are downhills to go with the uphills you imply need a 27" gear.

There looks to possibly be a small rub on the RD, but maybe just from having been leant against something rather than a fall.
I spotted the current stem length after going to find mine - it is already a tiddler, and 60 was my thought too :-)
The only reason for taking mine over is that it has adjustable angles - but probably not necessary, and something I can always take later in the year.
I dare say you are correct on the size, though I guess I could stretch it out a bit with a longer stem etc, especially as it has a tiddler now, I have some spare 120s knocking about. It already looks to have a ~25mm setback seatpost, so nothing I can do there really, aside a small amount of wiggle room with the saddle rails.

 

[Dan Lotus]

I have possession of the cassette and RD now, just have to see if I can fit them into my tiny carry on luggage

My Dad sent me a picture of the pedals - any idea what they are, not one I recognise?

Is it just a really worn flat pedal, but with a clip on rear reflector than renders them not flat?
I spy a nut, so should be easier to remove than the allen key only ones.
I thought that could be the underside, but when he let the pedal fall naturally and sent the pic, the other side was clearly the underside, as it had a prominent axle.

I've had some simple flat spiky pedals delivered over there, as she is starting to get in to clipped, but that won't be the time to try it I suspect.

 

[figbat]

I’m a bit late to this topic but I have put a 11-42T cassette on my gravel bike that runs Tiagra (4600). The RD is only specced to 36 (I think) but I have added a drop link (Wolf Tooth are the famous ones, mine is a cheaper copy) which works flawlessly.

 

[Dan Lotus]

Thanks Figbat, all good stuff :-)
This bike has a pretty friendly 50/34, so I'm fairly confident the 34/34 bottom gear will be sufficient for her - the climbs around my parents place tend to be lengthy as opposed to steep - much more my preference handily :-)
I recall having no success (I spent several hours trying to get the damned thing indexed) with the wolf tooth (Like you I think I went for a copy), when I tried to fit it on my partners Scott CR1 but thinking back, I have a strong feeling she fell off drive side, and bent the derailleur rather than the hanger, as I recall when I then bought a new long cage (105 5700) RD, it worked perfectly - by then I'd also kitted her out with a 34/34 bottom gear, so I didn't revisit the wolf tooth option.

Getting very excited now about her seeing it, as it will be a total surprise, and keep having to stop myself mentioning it in conversation with her or my partner.

These are the pedals I have bought:

And bar tape options:

Need to try and find some valve caps as well.

EDIT: Stole/acquired some purple valve caps off my partners current turbo bike ;-)