Cassettes & freewheels
Ryden rear gears for every drivetrain: a threaded 7-speed freewheel, 8- to 12-speed cassettes for HG-style freehubs in a choice of ranges, and a 10–52T wide-range cassette for 1×12 mountain bikes.
Choosing a cassette or freewheel
Cassette or freewheel?
Take the rear wheel out and look at how the gears attach. A freewheel screws onto a threaded hub and has its ratchet built in. A cassette slides onto a splined freehub and is held on by a lockring, with the ratchet inside the hub. The two are not interchangeable.
Match the speed
Count your rear sprockets and match the cassette, chain and shifter to that number. Chains are speed-specific too, so pair each cassette with a chain of the same speed.
Choose your range
A smaller largest sprocket keeps the steps between gears small for road riding; a larger one makes climbing easier. Most Ryden cassettes come in several ranges, from close road ratios to wide ranges for hills, gravel and 1× drivetrains.
Check your derailleur and freehub
Your rear derailleur must support the largest sprocket you choose and have enough total capacity. Ryden’s 8- to 12-speed cassettes are designed for HG-style freehubs, while the 10–52T Wide-Range MTB Cassette comes in Micro Spline and XD versions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a cassette or a freewheel?+
It depends on your rear hub. A freewheel screws onto a threaded hub and contains its own ratchet; a cassette slides onto a splined freehub and is held by a lockring. Freewheels are common on 7-speed and entry-level bikes, while cassettes are common on modern 8-speed and higher bikes. They are not interchangeable.
Which cassette range should I choose?+
Choose by terrain. Close ranges such as 11–28T suit fast road riding, middle ranges such as 11–32T or 11–34T suit mixed road, commuting and touring, and wide ranges such as 11–42T, 11–50T or 10–52T suit mountain biking, gravel and 1× drivetrains.
Will a bigger cassette fit my derailleur?+
Only if the derailleur supports that largest sprocket and has enough total capacity. Check its maximum sprocket size before choosing a wider range.
Which chain should I use?+
Match the chain to the cassette’s speed. The 7-speed freewheel and 8-speed cassette pair with the Ryden 6/7/8-Speed Chain, and the 9-, 10-, 11- and 12-speed cassettes pair with the Ryden chain of the same speed.
Is a lockring included?+
Yes, with every Ryden HG-style cassette. The Wide-Range MTB Cassette includes the retention hardware for your freehub version, and a threaded freewheel screws onto the hub, so it needs no lockring.
What warranty do they have?+
A 1-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects, as for all Ryden drivetrain components. Sprockets are wear components, so wear from use is not covered.
Secure checkout
Encrypted card & PayPal payment
30-day returns
On unused items in original packaging
Brand-authentic
Quality-tested and warrantied
Worldwide shipping
Tracked delivery to 100+ countries