Mid-cage derailleur ok with triple crank?

[old_school_n00b]

I'm building up a XC rig for a friend with 44/32/22 chainrings and a 12-32 cassette. Can I get away with a medium-cage rear derailleur or am I stuck using a long-cage?

[switch]

I use a medium cage on the same setup as I have less problems with hangups. Just stay away from serious cross gearing.

[kperras]

yes it will be fine.

[IFO]

Posted via Mobile DeviceMy 08 stumpy FSR came stock with triple ring cranks and a mid cage D. works just fine even in the big ring the rear d isn't stretched out.

[leggatt]

I am using a mid-cage XT Shadow and works fine, but won't take the slack out of the chain in the small ring a some of the cogs on the rear cassette. But, since you will never use those gears anyway you should have zero issues.

[old_school_n00b]

Thanks for the confirmation! I think the 44/34/22 rings might be too much for the LX front derailleur to swallow as well - the chain drags on the cage unless I lower it on the seat tube, but then it becomes reluctant to shift to the big ring. Trying to find the sweet spot, but this bike is such a clusterfail it's unreal. Still only into it for under $100 in new parts along with a bunch of stuff from my bins, but the previous owner was using it locked into singlespeed as his snow day courier bike , and it was ridden hard and put away wet and salty.

Still going to make a sweet commuter for a clydesdale buddy of mine who had his Kona Hoss stolen, though!

[switch]

Originally Posted by old_school_n00b

I think the 44/34/22 rings might be too much for the LX front derailleur to swallow as well - the chain drags on the cage unless I lower it on the seat tube, but then it becomes reluctant to shift to the big ring.

An LX front derailleur is more than good enough; you should be able to set it up properly. The height of the derailleur should be set according to specs, which have the (with no tension on the derailleur) the bottom of the derailleur cage 2mm above the large chain ring.

[Chunk]

my stumpjumper comp came with a triple and a medium cage rd.

It only becomes an issue when the motion of the rear suspension lengthens the chainstays enough to max out the chain stretch.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Originally Posted by old_school_n00b

Thanks for the confirmation! I think the 44/34/22 rings might be too much for the LX front derailleur to swallow as well - the chain drags on the cage unless I lower it on the seat tube, but then it becomes reluctant to shift to the big ring.

Question: does the chain height change when you are sitting on the bike?

On my Slayer, the chain rubs in small/small when on the stand, but doesn't when I'm on the bike. If yours is similar, you may need to sit on it to confirm that the derailleur is at the correct height.

[Robot]

Originally Posted by old_school_n00b

I'm building up a XC rig for a friend with 44/32/22 chainrings and a 12-32 cassette. Can I get away with a medium-cage rear derailleur or am I stuck using a long-cage?

i've run a triple-ring with an 11-34 and a medium cage X0 for the past few years without any issues. i use an lx derailleur up front and it's more than acceptable.

[walleater]

Originally Posted by ChunkyMonkey

Question: does the chain height change when you are sitting on the bike?

On my Slayer, the chain rubs in small/small when on the stand, but doesn't when I'm on the bike. If yours is similar, you may need to sit on it to confirm that the derailleur is at the correct height.

Yes, when sat on the bike, the back wheel effectively rises up, so the chain can rub on the bottom of the front mech cage when no-one is on the bike, but when someone gets on the bike, the chain rises out of the way...

If that makes any sense at all.

[switch]

It makes sense, and happens on a rear suspension bike.

A shorter cage won't allow for as much chain slack to be taken up. If you set the chain length on a triple so that you can run large/large, the chain will almost hang loose when running small/small. The solution is to not run small/small.

For a double ring setup, the chain length can be set just fine; a 22/32 or 32/44 combo will work without chain slack issues.

[nouseforaname]

If its going to be a commuter, maybe worry more about cross chaining to the 44/32 combo, than the chain slack in the granny ring.

Especially if hes a clydesdale, he's not going to need much of the 22t ring.