Need Casette Sizing Recommendation

(Joe) said:

I'm a casual rider who also likes occasional (e.g. infrequent) racing.
I ride in an area that has a fair number of hills, most of which are
less than 1/4 mile long. They can be a real killer on my current
bike, which has a 13-23 in the rear casette (and I am a bit out of
shape this year). I am always on the lowest gear going up those hills
(and usually use the highest gear setting going down them). I don't
tend to ride on real long trips, usually just 3 hours or less.

I'm in the process of upgrading the bike and am looking at new road
groups. I've noticed most of the higher-end racing bikes have 11-23
on the rear casette. Are these impractical for my application? What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a triple
on the front.

Sheldon Brown's gear calculator is helpful to play with options-

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

There is an Ultegra 12-27 cassette. And Harris/Brown has some
interesting custom cassettes-

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/k7.html#9cassettes

No reason not to have a couple of cassettes. A wide range for most of
your riding and a tighter range for races.

Quoted message said:

I'm in the process of upgrading the bike and am looking at new road
groups. I've noticed most of the higher-end racing bikes have 11-23
on the rear casette. Are these impractical for my application? What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a triple
on the front.

If you're talking a 9-speed system, what's to lose going to a 12-25? The
gears are still spaced a whole lot closer than what I used to race on. And
if you're talking 10-speeds heck, toss on a 12-27 and be ready for
*anything* that comes your way! But the main reason for doing that would be
in the event you travel someplace where the hills are a bit longer than you
find locally.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"Joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm a casual rider who also likes occasional (e.g. infrequent) racing.
I ride in an area that has a fair number of hills, most of which are
less than 1/4 mile long. They can be a real killer on my current
bike, which has a 13-23 in the rear casette (and I am a bit out of
shape this year). I am always on the lowest gear going up those hills
(and usually use the highest gear setting going down them). I don't
tend to ride on real long trips, usually just 3 hours or less.

I'm in the process of upgrading the bike and am looking at new road
groups. I've noticed most of the higher-end racing bikes have 11-23
on the rear casette. Are these impractical for my application? What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a triple
on the front.

Joe said:

I'm a casual rider who also likes occasional (e.g. infrequent) racing.
I ride in an area that has a fair number of hills, most of which are
less than 1/4 mile long. They can be a real killer on my current
bike, which has a 13-23 in the rear casette (and I am a bit out of
shape this year). I am always on the lowest gear going up those hills
(and usually use the highest gear setting going down them). I don't
tend to ride on real long trips, usually just 3 hours or less.

I'm in the process of upgrading the bike and am looking at new road
groups. I've noticed most of the higher-end racing bikes have 11-23
on the rear casette. Are these impractical for my application? What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a triple
on the front.

What do you have on the front? If its 52/42 then a change to a 39 would
make all the difference in the world. On a 9 speed I always think that
53/39 and 12-23 is standard gearing... at least it is for me.

Stan Cox

i live in north Ga. i. e. Tour de Georgia mountain stage area. A 12-23
would kick your ass around here. A 12-25 is about right. A 12,13-27
gives you a bonk gear 🙁 I,m 38 so i started riding on 6 speed
un-indexed freewheels. Having 8 regular gears & 1 just get me home i'm
dead gear is ideal. Maybe that helps...

[email hidden] (Joe) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I'm a casual rider who also likes occasional (e.g. infrequent) racing.
I ride in an area that has a fair number of hills, most of which are
less than 1/4 mile long. They can be a real killer on my current
bike, which has a 13-23 in the rear casette (and I am a bit out of
shape this year). I am always on the lowest gear going up those hills
(and usually use the highest gear setting going down them). I don't
tend to ride on real long trips, usually just 3 hours or less.

I'm in the process of upgrading the bike and am looking at new road
groups. I've noticed most of the higher-end racing bikes have 11-23
on the rear casette. Are these impractical for my application? What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a triple
on the front.

I don't understand why you would need even a 12, unless you are
consistently spinning the 13 up to 100rpm on the downhill parts. I
personally don't think an occaisional racer needs a 12 either, unless
you are racing in significant hills or have a compact front. Then the
question is, how challenged are you by the 23? Is it bringing you
almost to a standstill, or are you able to keep the pedals turning at
a pretty decent, if painful, clip? If you're having a hard time
keeping the pedals going, then go for the 27, or even higher; if
you're just looking to ease up some while you get in better shape
maybe try the 25. By staying with the 13 you may be able to add 2 big
sprockets and keep reasonably close spacing. You might also consider
going to a 39 in the front if you have something bigger as the small
ring now.

Try to buy a cassette that will give you some interchangeability and
options with what you have now, which means all separate sprockets, so
you can experiment; that would be an argument for a 12-27 which would
give you two new big sprockets and one new small one, assuming you
don't have one of those annoying designs that don't allow you to
separate the big cogs. Separate wheels for racing and training would
be a good idea so you don't have to mess with changing sprockets at
the last minute as part of your race preparation.

JP

Joe said:

What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a triple
on the front.

Why not a 12-27? The only difference between a 12-25 and a 12-27 are the
last two cogs.

12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25

vs.

12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-27

Slightly wider spacing on the low end makes sense. You want equal
percentage changes, not necessarily equal tooth changes.

Art Harris

Stan Cox <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<qlbzc.1476$EI5.567@newsfe6-win>...

Quoted message said:

Joe said:

I'm a casual rider who also likes occasional (e.g. infrequent) racing.
I ride in an area that has a fair number of hills, most of which are
less than 1/4 mile long. They can be a real killer on my current
bike, which has a 13-23 in the rear casette (and I am a bit out of
shape this year). I am always on the lowest gear going up those hills
(and usually use the highest gear setting going down them). I don't
tend to ride on real long trips, usually just 3 hours or less.

I'm in the process of upgrading the bike and am looking at new road
groups. I've noticed most of the higher-end racing bikes have 11-23
on the rear casette. Are these impractical for my application? What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a triple
on the front.

What do you have on the front? If its 52/42 then a change to a 39 would
make all the difference in the world. On a 9 speed I always think that
53/39 and 12-23 is standard gearing... at least it is for me.

Stan Cox

Thanks Stan--I forgot to mention, I'm using 52/42 on the front. Does
dropping down to a 39 make all that much of a difference?

Quoted message said:

From: [email hidden] (Joe)

Quoted message said:

Thanks Stan--I forgot to mention, I'm using 52/42 on the front. Does
dropping down to a 39 make all that >much of a difference?

Doesn't actually push you up the hills. Better, though. Shifts great on Ergo 8
and 9 speed, with 53 or 52t big ring. Probably costs less than a cassette to
try out. --TP

Joe said:

Stan Cox <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<qlbzc.1476$EI5.567@newsfe6-win>...

Quoted message said:

Joe said:

I'm a casual rider who also likes occasional (e.g. infrequent) racing.
I ride in an area that has a fair number of hills, most of which are
less than 1/4 mile long. They can be a real killer on my current
bike, which has a 13-23 in the rear casette (and I am a bit out of
shape this year). I am always on the lowest gear going up those hills
(and usually use the highest gear setting going down them). I don't
tend to ride on real long trips, usually just 3 hours or less.

I'm in the process of upgrading the bike and am looking at new road
groups. I've noticed most of the higher-end racing bikes have 11-23
on the rear casette. Are these impractical for my application? What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a triple
on the front.

What do you have on the front? If its 52/42 then a change to a 39 would
make all the difference in the world. On a 9 speed I always think that
53/39 and 12-23 is standard gearing... at least it is for me.

Stan Cox

Thanks Stan--I forgot to mention, I'm using 52/42 on the front. Does
dropping down to a 39 make all that much of a difference?

Oh yes! makes a heck of a difference, about the same as a tooth at the
rear. Its really noticeable. If I lived in a really hilly area I might
go to 52/39 13-25(dont tell anyone but my winter bike has 50/39 13-25 on
it to help me keep spinning). Dont worry about spinning out on the
descents just enjoy them...there's another uphill bit round the corner
🙂 All the Best

Stan Cox

Harris said:

Joe said:

What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a
triple on the front.

The 12-25 is a pretty good all around cassette for most people, which is why
it's standard on most bikes. But if you don't have a triple and you need lower
gears, other cassettes may be better for you -- either the 12-27, or some of the
MTB cassettes. Also, Sheldon Brown makes custom 13-30, etc. These are a really
good idea, unfortunately ignored by Shimano.

With today's 9 and now 10 speed cassettes, there's no reason not to have the
gears you need.

Quoted message said:

Why not a 12-27? The only difference between a 12-25 and a 12-27 are
the last two cogs.

12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25

vs.

12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-27

Slightly wider spacing on the low end makes sense. You want equal
percentage changes, not necessarily equal tooth changes.

I actually prefer the smaller gaps in the 12-25. I'd sooner go to a smaller
chainring than the 12-27, but that's the luxury of having a triple.

Matt O.

Stan Cox said:

Joe wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Thanks Stan--I forgot to mention, I'm using 52/42 on the front. Does
dropping down to a 39 make all that much of a difference?

Oh yes! makes a heck of a difference, about the same as a tooth at the
rear. Its really noticeable. If I lived in a really hilly area I might
go to 52/39 13-25(dont tell anyone but my winter bike has 50/39 13-25
on it to help me keep spinning). Dont worry about spinning out on the
descents just enjoy them...there's another uphill bit round the corner
🙂 All the Best

A 39 chainring will make about the same difference as a 12-27 cassette, for
maybe half the cost. But I'd go one further with a 38, which is the smallest
that will fit most road doubles. Since you have a 52 for your big ring instead
of a 53, it stays within most front derailers' official limit of 14 tooth gap.

Matt O.

Harris <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Joe said:

What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a triple
on the front.

Why not a 12-27? The only difference between a 12-25 and a 12-27 are the
last two cogs.

12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25

vs.

12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-27

Slightly wider spacing on the low end makes sense. You want equal
percentage changes, not necessarily equal tooth changes.

Art Harris

That does make a lot of sense--a 27 on the low gives a great deal to choose from.

"Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Harris said:

Joe said:

What
would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a good
broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with a
triple on the front.

The 12-25 is a pretty good all around cassette for most people, which is why
it's standard on most bikes.

I just don't get it. 12-25 is a pretty good all around cassette for
elite racers who train in the mountains but for common people who
don't ride down mountains or have a compact crankset, a 12 is not very
usable. Ironically, the tourists who ride mountains would probably
want something lower than a 25.

Personally, I think the 12 tooth cog is a macho marketing gimmick.

JP

JP said:

"Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Harris said:

Joe <[email hidden]> wrote:

> What
> would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a
> good broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with
> a triple on the front.

The 12-25 is a pretty good all around cassette for most people,
which is why it's standard on most bikes.

I just don't get it. 12-25 is a pretty good all around cassette for
elite racers who train in the mountains but for common people who
don't ride down mountains or have a compact crankset, a 12 is not very
usable. Ironically, the tourists who ride mountains would probably
want something lower than a 25.

Personally, I think the 12 tooth cog is a macho marketing gimmick.

Perhaps I should have said "pretty good all around, among Shimano's available 9
speed cassettes."

I like the 12-25, because of the smaller gaps at the lower end, plus I find the
12 useful for descending big hills (though not necessary). Shimano *should*
make a 13-30 or something. Campy, BTW, has a very nice 13-29 10 speed. For
most people, the extra gear is more useful at the lower end.

Matt O.

"Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

JP said:

"Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Harris wrote:

> Joe <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
>> What
>> would be a good all-around casette for me? Does a 12-25 give a
>> good broad range of gearing for my needs? I don't want to go with
>> a triple on the front.

The 12-25 is a pretty good all around cassette for most people,
which is why it's standard on most bikes.

I just don't get it. 12-25 is a pretty good all around cassette for
elite racers who train in the mountains but for common people who
don't ride down mountains or have a compact crankset, a 12 is not very
usable. Ironically, the tourists who ride mountains would probably
want something lower than a 25.

Personally, I think the 12 tooth cog is a macho marketing gimmick.

Perhaps I should have said "pretty good all around, among Shimano's

available 9

Quoted message said:

speed cassettes."

I like the 12-25, because of the smaller gaps at the lower end, plus I

find the

Quoted message said:

12 useful for descending big hills (though not necessary). Shimano

*should*

Quoted message said:

make a 13-30 or something. Campy, BTW, has a very nice 13-29 10 speed.

For

Quoted message said:

most people, the extra gear is more useful at the lower end.

For those still using 9 speed, Campy also offers 13-28 and 14-28 cassettes.