Cassette Conundrum

[smokeysmoo]

Quick question to anyone who fancies it re: my Raleigh Record Sprint.

Long story short but the gearing is a little harsh for me at the moment with an 8 speed 12-23 cassette on.

I don't want to do any more than just change the cassette ATM. So given that after cold setting the frame the bike now has modern wheels and an 8 speed 105 rear mech, would either this ROAD or this MTB* cassette be OK to ease the gearing a little?

*the MTB one would be either 12-28 or 12-30 as I doubt 12-30 would work with the rear mech, but I'm happy to be told otherwise.

 

[Cyclist33]

An 8 speed 12-12 cassette?? How many teeth do the middle cogs have?!

 

[Drago]

How old is this bike? Is it cassette or freewheel?

 

[smokeysmoo]

An 8 speed 12-12 cassette?? How many teeth do the middle cogs have?!

D'oh! my bad

It's a 12-23 and I've edited the OP now

 

[smokeysmoo]

How old is this bike? Is it cassette or freewheel?

I've cold set the frame and it's got modern wheels on now with a 12-23 cassette.

 

[Big_Dave]

my raleigh is 3x8 with a 105 rear mech and I run a sram pg850 11-32 cassette 11-12-14-16-18-21-26-32

 

[smokeysmoo]

my raleigh is 3x8 with a 105 rear mech and I run a sram pg850 11-32 cassette 11-12-14-16-18-21-26-32

It's all Greek to me TBH

My rear mech is a 105 and I believe it to be a 5500. I know the cage makes the difference as to what size cassette it will handle, that's about it though.

 

[themosquitoking]

I've got a 12-30 on my short cage 105 with no problems.

 

[Big_Dave]

I would imagine it should work ok I'm guessing your crank is 42/52, a short cage is generally for double chainset, medium cage is for triples, If you order a cassette from CRC try it on your bike to see if it works, if it doesn't send it back, they do free returns

 

[sittingbull]

I'm running 3 x 8 with 52/42/30 and the above SRAM 12/26 cassette.

Unless I'm really testing myself I struggle on some (16%) hills on the middle ring, hence need to drop to the 30 (granny).

I could be wrong but assume you're running 52/42 rings, as I am on a Raleigh of the same era, in which case you might find the 26 cog inadequate and the MTB 30 cog more suitable, albeit with more of a jump between shifts.

From memory your rear mech should be stamped GS (long cage) or SS (short cage), GS would be good, I doubt SS would work on the 30 cog cassette.

 

[smokeysmoo]

From memory your rear mech should be stamped GS (long cage) or SS (short cage), GS would be good, I doubt SS would work on the 30 cog cassette.

The mech is like this one

I'll have a look tomorrow for any markings but I suspect it's a standard short cage version.

 

[sittingbull]

The later short cage mechs (eg 5700) will handle a larger cassette cog.

With the earlier ones like yours it's not just a case of taking up the extra chain length but I think the jockey wheels may actually foul the 30 tooth cog, even with the "B tension screw" correctly set.

 

[Big_Dave]

The mech is like this one

I'll have a look tomorrow for any markings but I suspect it's a standard short cage version.

That's a short cage so will be 28 tooth max