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I have a Shimano compact double on my road bike with an 11-28 Cassette (50-34 Chainrings). I would like to change the cassette to 11-32. Is that possible and if it is are there other components I need to change?

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    Welcome to Bicycles @John. I'm not a Shimano person, but it depends on your derailleur. Do you know whether it's short, medium, or long, and it's model?
    – andy256
    Aug 8, 2015 at 13:48

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You'll need a new chain, since the chain will be slightly longer.

You need to see what the ratings of your rear derailleur are. It has to have enough capacity (i.e. the capacity rating has to be greater than or equal to large chainring - small chainring + large cog - small cog) for your setup. It also has to have appropriate ratings for the largest and smallest cog (i.e. the smallest cog rating has to be <= your smallest cog on the cassette [this is practically never a problem], largest cog rating has to be >= the largest cog on your cassette). If your RD meets these, great.

If your rear derailleur doesn't meet these, well, you need a new one. Here you have to match the cable pulls. Shimano 7-9 speed have the same cable pulls between road and mountain so you can use any RD in the 7-9 speed case, if you have 7-9 speed shifters. Shimano 10 speed mountain uses a different cable pull than Shimano 10 speed road (which is the same cable pull as 9 speed).

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  • If your bicycle has a short-cage rear derailleur you will at least need a medium-cage type with that cassette and a longer chain (+2-4 links).
    – Carel
    Aug 8, 2015 at 18:53
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My tiagra on giant defy 2014 handled the change from 30T to 32T maximum without too much fettling needed.

It depends of derailleur and bike angle where they meet too, you need to adjust B screw so that the top wheel of the derailleur is moved 'back' from the cog

It's one of the most popular questions on bike forums, and i looked at a lot.

In the end you have to decide if you can do it yourself and buy a new cassette (and then new longer chain) cost around $50? for both, or just ask your bike shop, let them take the worry/hassle and pay for their labour.

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    You still need a cassette tool, chainwhip, chain tool and adjustable wrench to get the cassette off and new chain sized and put on. A hex key and screwdriver for a new derailleur provided the cable is in good condition.
    – Batman
    Aug 8, 2015 at 18:08
  • Thanks for your answers guys. I'm learning all the time. I have a short cage derailleur and I think that is at it's max so will need to be changed to medium. Add the 11-32 cassette and a longer chain and i think I will be done. I'm in the Alps at the moment so won't get it done till I can get the bits. Tools are not a problem. I'll update when it is done. Aug 9, 2015 at 8:06

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