fit a 32 or 34 tooth rear cassette on a giant Defy2?

[Mike7]

Hello,
I am thinking of fitting a 11/32 or 11/34 9 gear cassette to my Giant Defy2 (original is 11or12 /28, 9 speed) as I like to have a gear or 2 in reserve for some big hills when I am doing 40/50 +mile runs in the Highlands.This is following advice from my LBS.
This is instead of changing the bike to a tourer or to something like a Spesh Tricross which is a triple. I would maybe need to fit a longer mtb derailler.?
Any opinions would be appreciated, especially from someone who has done this.

 

[Peteaud]

11/32 or 11/34 rear with a Deore or XT long cage rear mech will work.

You will need a new longer chain

Depending on the year 2010 was 9 spd tiagra and 2011 was 9 spd sora.

2012 is 10 spd Tiagra

I was going to do it, but never did.

 

[lulubel]

Yes, it will work fine. I built my new bike up like that.

As Peteaud said, you'll need a long cage rear mech and a longer chain to go with your new cassette.

 

[Mike7]

thanks guys. I might just do it.
I am still in two minds wether to sell the bike and move on, or adapt to my needs.

 

[Peteaud]

thanks guys. I might just do it.
I am still in two minds wether to sell the bike and move on, or adapt to my needs.

To be fair i dont think it will look right anyway and you will have some big gaps between the gears. It might be worth selling the bike and getting a triple.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Keep the bike. Get n+1. Then your only problem is working out the next good reason for n+2!

 

[mcshroom]

It will work fine. My tourer has a mtb rear mech and a 32t cassette on it working from STIs. Other than some weird rapid-rise 10sp mechs, shimano mtb and road rear deraileurs pull the same cable.

A 1:1 gear ratio should be low enough for most of the Highlands, especially if you are relatively unladen.

You might be better looking at SRAM cassettes (they are shimano compatible) as they tend to group the gears at the top end and then have bigger gaps at the bottom, meaning you should hopefully have a decent selection in your normal riding range and then a few bail-out gears for steep bits. whereas the Shimano mtb cassettes are more evenly distributed across the whole range.

As for looks, I'd prefer to have a bigger cassette and have roadies scoffing at me than be walking up a hill

 

[lulubel]

As for looks, I'd prefer to have a bigger cassette and have roadies scoffing at me than be walking up a hill

Same here. I can't see the expressions on their faces once they're behind me, anyway.

 

[jackthelad]

rear derailler deore lx sjs cycles about £35.00
chain sram 971 114 links ebay about £15.00
cassette 11/32 shimano hg chain ebay about £12.00
hopefully this will sort you out
if you go 11/34 then you might need 116 links

hope this helps

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Other than some weird rapid-rise mtb 10sp mechs, shimano mtb and road rear deraileurs pull the same cable.

ftfy

 

[Tomba]

I done it on my cannondale synapse. Used a Shimano SLX rear mech with a Sram 11-32. Changed the chain too.

 

[Mike7]

Thanks alot for the replies. I have sold the Defy and am in the process of altering the Dawes Super Galaxy.
I am told by the Dawes dealer that the bike is a late 1990's hence the narrower bars and different set up. I will be fitting and raising wider bars, using a longer stem.I really liked the dimensions of the Defy so am trying to mimic this with the Galaxy. I am now on the lookout for a road or cyclecross triple...