Is there really a danger here?

hartmandesign said:

I just bought a new Shimano Ultegra CS-6600 10-speed freewheel to replace the one on my bike. The new one looks IDENTICAL to what I just pulled off my rear wheel, but I notice in the instructions it says, "If using in combination with a triple chainwheel, gear shifting performance will drop, and the bicycle may fall over and serious injury may result." I have a triple, so, hey, this sounds a little scary, even though I have apparently been using the same item for two years on my bike with no issues.

Any advice? Should I have purchased a different sprocket? The item is still in the original packaging, so probably exchange it for another Shimano-recommended freewheel. And if the shifting will be smoother and safer with another model, I'm all for it. Thanks in advance to anyone with sage advice!

Hub: Ultegra RW-600
Crankset: FSA 52-39-30
Derailleurs: Ultegra

I could be wrong, but I would guess that the insert that you read was NOT written by Shimano ...

In fact, I don't recall Shimano including inserts with their cassettes ... that doesn't mean that they don't.

FYI. I reckon someone is spoofing you because "chainwheel" is a UK term which I do not think would find its way into any "real" Shimano documentation.

that's lawyers stuff and typically exaggerated
in this way they avoid potential lawsuits from product owners

Notice

Use of this product could result in mild to severe side affect including but not limited to bleeding from you eyes, elbows and side burns as well as severe diarehea. You accept all responsibility for personl injury of property damage arising out of use of this product and are hereby barred from actions attempting to recover any disputed damages by yourself, your heir or any being or creature that may evolve ,mutate or be created out of your DNA.

I agree it sounds like a general (CYA) discalimer.

Thanks for replying.

Yeah, it's the real deal, alright. Same printed format, small folded insert...very similar as what came with a new Shimano chain I also bought at the same time...translated into about 12 different languages.

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, I considered the argument that it's only lawyerese. Probably one guy in Uzbekistan painted the road and sued Shimano for the equivalent of their annual GNP, and this language was added to the insert.

Still, if that's the case, I wonder what sprocket Shimano DOES recommend for triples. Guess I'll need to do some research on that one...

i have a triple chainring bike fitted with a standard 12/26 Shimano road cassette, chain and STI levers (9 speed)
i don't know about 10 speed + triple chainring though, it might work too with road 10 speed STI levers and a 10 speed chain. Ask your local Bike shop, good mechanics can solve or customise a fix over almost anything

What is the worst that is likely to happen: chain slips off of the chain-ring or the chain gets stuck between chain-rings?

Both happen to me a couple times a year (8 speed setup with a triple) I have never fallen over. The wheel will continue to spin, you just have to stop to fix it.

Try it on some easy controlled rides and see what happens. I think you will be OK.

In reality I have almost dumped on a steep climb by dropping the chain. I have know people that have been injured on steep climbs dropping a chain.You just gotta be quick un-clipping.

Sage advice. That's what I will likely do. In the past I've dropped the chain as well, but always on a shift, so I'm not as concerned about that on a steep climb. I'm more worried about actually breaking the chain, which I've done a couple of times (thus the new chain and most of my drivetrain...). Gotta get unclipped without much momentum fast when that happens. There's a few 15%+ grades on my normal rides, which is pretty steep for a slow, old guy like me.

Thanks,
Mark

maydog said:

What is the worst that is likely to happen: chain slips off of the chain-ring or the chain gets stuck between chain-rings?

Both happen to me a couple times a year (8 speed setup with a triple) I have never fallen over. The wheel will continue to spin, you just have to stop to fix it.

Try it on some easy controlled rides and see what happens. I think you will be OK.