Author Topic: Terrific reference/resource on derailleur drivetrain compatibility  (Read 4643 times)

Danneaux

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Hi All!

I came across a very useful resource for mix-matching derailleur drivetrain components that explains clearly why and how some nonstandard combos work while a majority...notsomuch.

http://blog.artscyclery.com/science-behind-the-magic/science-behind-the-magic-drivetrain-compatibility/?fbclid=IwAR27OewmaUAmmqtD3vWeaPhO6j2XLVAjtIdQsA-zMaNxzkLEqrsmiMwBKg0

Handiest for me ('cos I like to pair road drop handlebars and shifters with MTB gearing) are the tables listing cable pull, derailleur shift ratio and cog pitch for varying drivetrains...and the few cable-routing/anchoring tricks that help things work more smoothly but maybe not perfectly.

Best, Dan.

mickeg

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Re: Terrific reference/resource on derailleur drivetrain compatibility
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2022, 09:53:21 PM »
I hate to tell you this, but that has been around a long time.  It is so old that they do not even list 12 speed data on it.  I cited that link a ways back:
http://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=12619.msg93712#msg93712

But, if you were unaware of it, it is a great find.

My rando bike with the Campy 10 speed shifter mates great with my Shimano XT rear derailleur and a Sram eight speed cassette.  Each shift is about 2.8mm of cable pull.  I built up that bike with that mix of components in 2016.

PH

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Re: Terrific reference/resource on derailleur drivetrain compatibility
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2022, 12:08:31 AM »
My days riding drop bar bikes is over, the last got a fond farewell a few weeks ago.  I'm pretty much done with derailleurs as well, I have no front mechs and just one rear on the E-bike.
It's the end of a long preference for Campag levers, but also a requirement for low gears so Mix and Match has always been applied. I've had 8, 9 & 10 spd levers and 7-8-9-10 spd rear cassettes all with triple fronts chainsets, worked either via a Shiftmate or altered cable attachment at the mech.  I don't recall seeing the above article before, the CTC (Now Cycling UK) tech pages have long provided the same information, I first mentioned those on this forum in 2006 ::)
http://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=841.msg4302#msg4302

The link in that post is broken, probably changed in one of the updates, though those seem to have stopped in 2012, this is the most recent
https://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-library/components/transmission-gears/derailleur-gears/shimergo

I don't know if the more modern stuff works, the Campag Ergos of old have gone, the micro indexed front shifter that worked with any mech is now only found at the top end and the modern Shimano rear mechs have too strong a spring for the modern Campag levers, so even when there's a good match there's possible issues with slipping and wear.

It's not all bad news, the off the shelf Shimano groupsets intended for gravel bikes, seem to provide the same range of gears as some of the mixes I've used, though I've neither looked too closely or have any experience of them.

mickeg

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Re: Terrific reference/resource on derailleur drivetrain compatibility
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2023, 10:55:45 PM »
The Arts Cyclery link did not work today and may be gone forever?

But the CyclingUK.org link from Ph still works.  If anyone might want to have this data later, you might want to make a copy of it in case that disappears too.

I have a PDF version of the Arts data, it is 11 meg, sometimes data disappears so I made a copy for myself.  I do not want to violate any copyright rules, but I might be willing to share if someone needs it.