iamStewart Posted January 23, 2015 Posted January 23, 2015 I originally posted this in the "great chain/cassestte/gears" thread, but received no response, so I'm trying again! Quick question regarding cassettes. When I purchased my first road bike last year I didn't really look too much into different cassette options, but long story short the bike I got came with a Shimano 10-speed 12-30t cassette. This was great for me, as when I bought the bike I had only been cycling a few months and my fitness was exceptionally low, so the small gears helped me get up hills and let me spin when I was tired. However, 9 months later I am a lot fitter and consistently doing over 150/200km a week and I find that I am now using the 30t just because it is there and I feel it may be hampering my improvement. I also feel that I am "missing" a gear or two in the middle of the cassette. I have looked into options and it seems that my only real options are an 11-25t or 12-27t. I'm a little scared of going to a 25, as I may struggle and not enjoy it, but investing in a new cassette is not something I want to do regularly, so wonder if the 27t would be too easy after a while. Any advice would be great! Thanks.
GoLefty!! Posted January 23, 2015 Posted January 23, 2015 can't really answer that question without knowing how fit you are.
David Marshall Posted January 23, 2015 Posted January 23, 2015 The choice also depends on your chain ring sizes. Check out the post "Crankset opinions" currently running. You really need to try out the different ones for yourself. The strong men (used to?) ride 53/39 with a 23/11 cassette. These days climbing at a slightly higher cadence is considered beneficial so 25/11 is probably the most popular cassette, at least here in Gauteng. Older men (like me) and ladies go for a compact 50/34 crank and maybe also a bigger cassette. The problem that I find with the bigger (28 or 30) cassette is the sharp drop between the gears which can leave you going from fast spin to grind in one click. New mid level bikes seem to come out with compact cranks and a fairly big cassette. Most guys ride like that without knowing any different. I would borrow a wheel with a 25/11 and try it out over the hills you usually ride.
The_black_stig Posted January 23, 2015 Posted January 23, 2015 Cassette is something that you should have a few (1 or 2 different sets) options that you can choose prior a race event; So IMO if you think you should get the cassette, just get it my experience is that, for a 10speed cassette. the 12-27 cassette will be able to handle most situations (especially the long hill-climb); but if you're stronger rider, 12-25 is also a good considerations. one of the factors for a cassette choices is the gear-ratio; cassette such as 12-25 will have a closer ratio & will allow one to maintain cadence on a straight.
GoLefty!! Posted January 23, 2015 Posted January 23, 2015 Only challenge with maintaining two cassettes is that one also has to maintain two chains if the low gear tooth difference is greater than 2T.so 25-27 is just about ok, but 25 and 28 needs an extra link in the chain for the 28
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