Can a 'mountain bike cassette' go on a road bike?

[swee'pea99]

I'm looking to get a lower bottom gear, with some serious hill-climbing in prospect, so I was thinking of replacing the cassette. Some of the ones I've been coming across call themselves 'mountain bike cassettes'. Are they actually any different? Surely they'll fit the same hub? Is it just a question of not getting one with a biggest sprocket too large for your rear mech to handle? Any advice appreciated.

 

[2Loose]

The same as a road cassette, but generally with bigger sprockets.

As you say, if your rear mech can handle that many teeth, you'll be fine.

 

[Peteaud]

You will almost certainly require a new rear mech and chain

 

[MattHB]

Don't forget you might need to increase chain length

 

[HLaB]

I've known a few folk later on in life that prefer to have lower gears but the benefits of a road bike, and good on them for getting out there; they've had mtb cassettes fitted but as said you'll need a new mech (unless its something like SRAM APEX) to handle the wider range.

 

[Manonabike]

You will need a long cage rear derailleur which can handle up to 34 teeth.

This would handle up to 32 teeth which is plenty

This is a long cage derailleur

The chain needs to be longer too but that is easy to calculate..... lots of info on that on the net.

Nothing more to it really.

 

[mcshroom]

I have a medium length Sora mech on my audax bike with a 28t cassette. any more and I think you'd need a mtb mech, although these do work perfectly well with Shimano STIs (except some new mtb mechs). I also have an acera mech on my tourer with a 32t cassette.

 

[swee'pea99]

Thanks all - much appreciated. I might pinch the long cage mech off my hybrid for a few days. I'll try it asis first of course, you never know. But you've confirmed what I needed - ie, there's no fundamental reason why not.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I put a 32T bottom cassette on my 'winter' bike - with an old Shimano Exage 500EX short cage mech, and was amazed when it worked with no problem. Try it and see.

 

[swee'pea99]

I put a 32T bottom cassette on my 'winter' bike - with an old Shimano Exage 500EX short cage mech, and was amazed when it worked with no problem. Try it and see.

Thanks. I have a 32T on its way from fleabay - I shall do exactly that!