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2 wheel sets, 2 cassettes, 1 chain will this work?

by jdryan86@ymail.com
Wed, Jan 20, 2016 08:34
6

I have bought a new bike and have 2 wheel sets that I could run depending on how I feel and which wheels I want to use. What I am thinking is that if I buy the exact same 11 speed cassette that is on my bike now and fit this cassette to my spare wheels then I can easily swap in / out the wheels as I wish with no problems? I have read some conflicting advice stating the chain / cassette won’t mix together - Is this true if the cassettes are the same? Both cassettes would be new as this is a new bike and I would purchase the same new cassette for 2nd wheels however the cassette that is currently on my bike will more than likely get used more than the spare set but will this setup work in theory or will I need 2 chains for each setup? (I could always swap the one cassette between the two wheels but for quickness and ease and the fact I am lazy and generally not good at bike maintenance quite like the idea of 2 cassettes.) Any advice greatly received before I invest in this setup as may decide against it based on the response. Please note this is a di2 bike not that it will make a difference?

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6 comments

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surly_by_name | 9 years ago
4 likes

With two minor caveats this will work just fine (I have been doing this for many years with 10 speed and now 11 speed; my experience is inconsistent with cyclesteffer's post). The two caveats are:

1. There may  be very minor differences in positioning of cassette on hub, so shifting may not be perfect when you swap, may require minor fettle with cable tension and/or stop screws.

2. If you use one wheel more than the other to a significant degree you should do one (or - preferably - both) of the following: be a bit more rigorous about replacing your chain regularly and probably at the early end of any recommended replacement period based on your chain checker and/or (b) swap the cassettes every six weeks or so in order that they wear a bit more evenly. It doesn't take all that long but its not the kind of thing you want to do every time  you swap the wheels

 

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Woldsman replied to surly_by_name | 9 years ago
1 like

surly_by_name wrote:

With two minor caveats this will work just fine ...

2. If you use one wheel more than the other to a significant degree you should do one (or - preferably - both) of the following: be a bit more rigorous about replacing your chain regularly and probably at the early end of any recommended replacement period based on your chain checker and/or (b) swap the cassettes every six weeks or so in order that they wear a bit more evenly. It doesn't take all that long but its not the kind of thing you want to do every time  you swap the wheels

 

+ 1

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hylozoist | 9 years ago
0 likes

I'm in a similar position with a new Wahoo Kickr trainer, which uses its own cassette.  Carting the bike up to/down from the loft room is enough of a pain as it is without adding on the faff of swapping cassettes, so I'm hoping to do something similar.  I've replaced the old worn cassette and chain on the bike so I'm starting with a new chain and new cassette on both trainer and bike.  I'm hoping that if I replace the chain before it gets too worn, and do similar mileage on both, it should all work out for a while.  I can't be the only one who has this issue...

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Stef Marazzi | 9 years ago
0 likes

Sorry dude, the chain and cassette wear together so you need to swap the cassette over when you change wheels. Once you get good at it, it takes two minutes.

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wycombewheeler replied to Stef Marazzi | 9 years ago
0 likes

cyclesteffer wrote:

Sorry dude, the chain and cassette wear together so you need to swap the cassette over when you change wheels. Once you get good at it, it takes two minutes.

 

chain wears about 3x faster than the casette, if you change the chain early  (and 105 chains are cheap enough to not worry too much about the lost life) then this should be fine. I have used one casette for the life of threee chains with no detriment when I put a new chain on.

rotating cassettes as proposed above is also valid, BUT it doesn't allow for a) different tooth ranges (climbing wheels or aero wheels with different ranges) b) campag freehub and shimano freehub (at 11 speed they are fully compatible)

 

if you really want to not sue one chain with two cassettes it may be simpler to change chains (using sram quicklinks, than changing cassettes)

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Dnnnnnn replied to wycombewheeler | 9 years ago
0 likes

wycombewheeler wrote:

if you really want to not sue one chain with two cassettes it may be simpler to change chains (using sram quicklinks, than changing cassettes)

That could work too, if you're good with the master link pliers. Still sounds a bit a faff though.

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