dennis veatch

I don't have any personal experience with the new carbon cage mid length GS
cage allowing for full range gearing and a triple up front, but have a
double and an XT GS (mid cage) 760 (rapid rise/low normal) currently. I
cannot see being able to tighten the chain enough or having enough
derailleur arm rotation available for a mid cage and a triple. I think
you'll find your chain excessively loose and won't track well in bumpy
conditions under load.
I did find when going to a double/bash ring and a GS (mid cage) then I had
much less chain slap, thrown chains and never missed the triple for general
XC/Trail riding. Went with a 34t on my front large ring and a 24 on my
small and that made up for the lost top end.
Later went with a road 11-24 cassette but that's a different story. Hmmm,
no that I think about it, I can probably remove a few links to tighten the
chain more considering the cassette.

Message: 5
Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 17:48:28 -0700
From: "Greg Phillips"
Subject: [OBRA Chat] GS vs. SGS Cage - rear derailleur
To:
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hello Obraland. I'm looking for some advice and thought I'd turn to you
expert gear guys and gals. I'm thinking of picking up a new XTR M972 rear
derailleur for the coming season and wondered what opinions are out there on
GS vs. SGS cage. I generally think of GS as offering quicker shifting, but
having a more limited range for gearing. With the new carbon cage on the
M972, I'm wondering if the added stiffness makes the point moot. Currently,
I'm running a standard XTR 11-34 rear cogset and XTR front setup and that's
a good overall setup for my riding.

Thanks for any advice you're willing to offer.

Greg

Brian Johnson

> I generally think of GS as offering quicker shifting, but
> having a more limited range for gearing. With the new carbon cage
> on the
> M972, I'm wondering if the added stiffness makes the point moot.
> Currently,
> I'm running a standard XTR 11-34 rear cogset and XTR front setup
> and that's
> a good overall setup for my riding.
>

Hi Greg.

The only advantage, really, that a short pulley cage is going to
offer is a shorter chain. This, in turn, means that you have a
smaller range of gearing (or at least a smaller selection of gear
ratios). You'll save a little weight due to the shorter chain,
shorter pulley cage, maybe one less chainring, and maybe fewer total
teeth on your cassette.

In actuality, both short and long cage RDs will give you the same
shifting performance. The difference on performance may have been
true in the 1980's but not anymore.

Any if the 11-34 is good for you, then stick with a long cage RD.

Good luck!

* * *

My father asks "Do you live here or ride a bike?"

http://liveorridebikes.blogspot.com

Greg Phillips

Hello Obraland. I'm looking for some advice and thought I'd turn to you
expert gear guys and gals. I'm thinking of picking up a new XTR M972 rear
derailleur for the coming season and wondered what opinions are out there on
GS vs. SGS cage. I generally think of GS as offering quicker shifting, but
having a more limited range for gearing. With the new carbon cage on the
M972, I'm wondering if the added stiffness makes the point moot. Currently,
I'm running a standard XTR 11-34 rear cogset and XTR front setup and that's
a good overall setup for my riding.

Thanks for any advice you're willing to offer.

Greg