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How to choose the right cassette for your bike?

The cassette is always located at the rear. It is made up of several “toothed wheels”, which we call pinions. Sometimes you still hear the term “sprocket set” to refer to the cassette.

It is sometimes possible to use a cassette from a different brand than the rest of your drivetrain, such as a SRAM cassette on a Shimano derailleur.

But not all brands are compatible:

• the Shimano cassettes et SRAM, for a road bike like a mountain bike, are interchangeable since they have the same spacing between the sprockets.

• Campagnolo road cassettes only work with Campagnolo drivetrains.

This part of the frame tends to be mishandled (twisted or even broken tab), modern bikes have an intermediate piece which avoids having to change the entire frame in the event of breakage. .

What is the function of a cassette?

A Boxes is made up of several pinions which are fixed on a free wheel, they are drivenar the chain. The cassette is one of the elements allowing you to vary the gear or reduction ratio of the transmission so that the rotation speed of the rear (driving) wheel varies.

The greater the number of teeth of the driven gear par the chain will be weaker the greater the speed of rotation of the wheel. The number of gears of a bicycle is given par the number of cassette sprockets multiplied par the number of chainrings on the crankset. Generally a cassette is made up of 5 to 12 speeds.

Procedure for not making a mistake

1 - Count the number of cogs on the existing cassette

2 - Identify the brand and model of the transmission (derailleurs and shifters)

3 - Check that the length of the freewheel body accepts the same number of sprockets as that of the levers

4 - Check that the cassette is designed for the same number of speeds as the chain, the levers and the rear derailleur (the 9, 10, 11, 12v chains do not make the same width even if they are of the same brand)

5 - Identify the capacity of the rear derailleur.

Par For example, a Shimano Deore RD-615-SGS 10-speed derailleur will be able to accept a sprocket of 32 teeth maximum and a sprocket of 11 teeth minimum, for a capacity of 43 teeth. Choosing your bike cassette depends on three main elements:

• the brand of your transmission,

• the transmission model on your bike,

• your gear ratio preferences.

For replacing a cassette par a new one equipped with a large sprocket with a fewer number of teeth than the previous one, you will need to shorten the chain to ensure normal operation of the derailleurs. Likewise, if the number of teeth on the large cassette sprocket increases, the chain will need to be lengthened.

It is possible to use a "road" cassette on a mountain bike and vice versa provided that the capacity of the derailleur allows it.

If you are replacing your used cycling cassettear a new cassette then you will also need to replace the chain, itar after several thousand kilometers the chain stretches and the teeth of the sprockets become dull. With a second-hand cassette you will therefore need a second-hand chain.

Shimano cassette

The different types of cassettes

Not all cassettes are the same, and there are different edits and technologies.

Difference between “freewheel” or “freewheel body”

When the sprockets are screwed directly to the freewheel body, we then speak of a “freewheel”. This is a fairly old standard, which is rarely found today.

When the pinions are independent of the freewheel body and the transmission is par a cassette support, we then speak of a cassette.

This is the most widespread system currently.

Freewheel body

There are two: the one used par Campagnolo, and that used by Shimano.

Although they operate on the same principle, they are however absolutely incompatible. A cassette made for one cannot be mounted on a freewheel body intended for the other.

Transmission-cassette-wheel compatibility

It is absolutely mandatory to ensure that the cassette is compatible with your road bike before purchasing it.

Bicycle transmission manufacturers such as Shimano, or Shame have their own standards. A Shimano cassette will not be compatible with a Campagnolo derailleur or shifters even if the number of cogs matches those of the shifters.

Choose the right standard

If your freewheel body is Campagnolo type, only Campagnolo cassettes can be fitted.

The standard used par Shimano is the same as SRAM's, and the two are interchangeable.

There are cassettes from other manufacturers, which are compatible with either one standard or the other, but never with both.

Choose the right size (number of speeds)

Your cassette must be suitable for your derailleur. If your transmission is designed for 10 speeds, you must use a cassette with 10 gears.

Most current bikes operate on 9, 10, or 11 speeds, and the majority of available cassettes are designed for this.

There are cassettes from other manufacturers, which are compatible with either one standard or the other, but never with both.

There are also bikes with 7 or 8 speeds, and others with 12 speeds.

Choosing your gears

Once the problem of the number of speeds has been resolved, the cassettes are identified par two numbers which identify the number of teeth of the smallest sprocket and that of the largest sprocket.

We are talking about a 11/28 sprocket set for a cassette in which the smallest sprocket has 11 teeth, and the largest 28 teeth.

There are cassettes from other manufacturers, which are compatible with either one standard or the other, but never with both.

There are also bikes with 7 or 8 speeds, and others with 12 speeds.

Depending on your practice, you will choose to have more or fewer teeth.

Advice and maintenance: For optimal operation and a long lifespan it is necessary to clean the cassette regularly (the ideal is after each outing) to remove pollutants (dust, sand, ...) as well as the dried grease using a degreaser and lubricating it again with a suitable product (which does not retain dust and earth particles).

Which cassette for which practice?

Each cassette is intended for a specific use, depending on the terrain on which you mainly ride.

Cassette for the dish

When there are few hills or differences in altitude that require you to grind, and on the contrary you are looking for big developments to go quickly, an 11/25 type cassette is ideal.

Cassette for mixed courses

If the terrain is hillier, or you are looking for a cassette that can be used on all terrains, it is better to go for 11/28.

This is the standard often automatically installed on bicycles.

Mountain cassette

When tackling long, steep climbs, you need as little development as possible so as not to tire. Here, a cassette of 11/32 or even 11/34 seems most appropriate.


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