Medium or Large Cage Rear Derailleur?

[Rage]

Huh, that's odd. The Specialized specs show a 3x9 setup with a long cage. Again, not sure what your gearing is so if you're not a 3x9 you're prolly ok.

A medium cage has a 37T capacity whereas a long cage can handle 45T. Let's say you're a 2x9 with 11-34 rear and 22-32 front. You got 23T spread on the rear and 10T spread on the front for 33T total spread, so a medium will work. A typical 3x9 with 22-32-44 front will have 22T front (added to the 23T rear) for 45T total, so you need a long cage. A 3x9 could only shift up to the 15 tooth cog with a medium cage derailluer which would make the big ring pretty much unusable IMHO.

Rg.

[jimithng23]

Huh, that's odd. The Specialized specs show a 3x9 setup with a long cage. Again, not sure what your gearing is so if you're not a 3x9 you're prolly ok.

A medium cage has a 37T capacity whereas a long cage can handle 45T. Let's say you're a 2x9 with 11-34 rear and 22-32 front. You got 23T spread on the rear and 10T spread on the front for 33T total spread, so a medium will work. A typical 3x9 with 22-32-44 front will have 22T front (added to the 23T rear) for 45T total, so you need a long cage. A 3x9 could only shift up to the 15 tooth cog with a medium cage derailluer which would make the big ring pretty much unusable IMHO.

Rg.

that's an awful lot of math on a Sunday morning...sheesh

[Honestcox]

Huh, that's odd. The Specialized specs show a 3x9 setup with a long cage. Again, not sure what your gearing is so if you're not a 3x9 you're prolly ok.

A medium cage has a 37T capacity whereas a long cage can handle 45T. Let's say you're a 2x9 with 11-34 rear and 22-32 front. You got 23T spread on the rear and 10T spread on the front for 33T total spread, so a medium will work. A typical 3x9 with 22-32-44 front will have 22T front (added to the 23T rear) for 45T total, so you need a long cage. A 3x9 could only shift up to the 15 tooth cog with a medium cage derailluer which would make the big ring pretty much unusable IMHO.

Rg.

I agree with your math - my setup is the standard 3x9 with the standard number of teeth you quote, and technically the medium cage should not work, but it actually worked and I never had any issues. I always avoided going from the big ring to the biggest cog, so never ran into trouble. I have the 2009 model and they do show the med cage was standard with that model:

http://www.specialized.com/zz/en/bc/...3&menuItemId=0

But I am going with the long cage! Going to put it on right now . . . Thanks for the input!

[Rage]

I have the 2009 model and they do show the med cage was standard with that model...

Well, I'll be duped.

Rg.