Too Much Chain?

Question:

My road bike is a 10 speed with 53/39 and 12-27 cassette. Could I change to an 11-23 without shorting the chain?

Hi Ross,

You must be getting fitter if you are changing from a 12/27 to an 11/23 cassette? You might have to shorten the chain as there will have been quite a lot of chain to go round a 27 tooth sprocket. With a change of 4 teeth on the large sprocket it could make a difference, but its only 1 tooth difference on small sprocket so it's less likely to be a problem. The best way to check is to put the chain on the 39 tooth chain ring and the 11 tooth sprocket, does the chain hang down? Does the rear derailleur take up the loose chain? If not then you need to take out some links or get your bike shop to do it for you.

Some chains are easier than others to shorten, if you have an easy link connector then its no problem, Shimano is probably the most difficult as you need a new special link pin that you need to push through then break off the remainder of the pin, it can be tricky as you also need a special chain link tool, so if you are not sure what to do then either get one of those easy to connect links, but you will still need to get a chain link tool to shorten the chain or go to the bike shop and get them to do it. If the chain is still tight and not hanging down when it's on the smallest cog and smallest chain ring, then you have no problem and you can leave things as they are and get on with riding on your bigger gears. You must have thought that you lived in a hilly area as a 39 with a 27 would get you over just about anything.