Road cassette advice needed.

[Fork-it]

Hi, I have entered the Ride Joburg road event (full distance) after a looong absence from the bike. I have an 11 speed road bike with an 11 - 28 cassette. Will it make a big difference swopping it for a 11 - 32 (or even 34)? I am very worried about dying on the climbs. I am not planning on racing, I just want to enjoy the ride and use this to get back into cycling again for 2023.

Thank you.

[Ncayi]

1 hour ago, Fork-it said:

Hi, I have entered the Ride Joburg road event (full distance) after a looong absence from the bike. I have an 11 speed road bike with an 11 - 28 cassette. Will it make a big difference swopping it for a 11 - 32 (or even 34)? I am very worried about dying on the climbs. I am not planning on racing, I just want to enjoy the ride and use this to get back into cycling again for 2023.

Thank you.

Hi I have never done the 94.7 but hills are hills no matter where they are, in my humble opinion.

The downside with moving from an 11-28 to a 32 or 34 is that the jumps between sprockets are much more noticeable when you go up the cassette.

With that said, a 32 or 34 is always a good safety net to have when you have not ridden in a while. If money is not an issue and your derailleur will be compatible with a bigger cassette, get those granny gears. Your knees will be greatful.

Just my 2c.

[Jewbacca]

No

Well maybe, but not really.

What chainrings are you running?

50/34, 52/36 or 53/39?

It also depends whether you are historically a grinder or a spinner.

After 6 months off the bike I've found riding more torque at a slower cadence way easier than spinning in an easy gear. 

So I guess the correct answer is 'Yes, No, Maybe' depending on a whole lot of other variables and preferences. 

In my very humble opinion the answer is no. It's not worth it. 

[Paul Ruinaard]

your front chainrings are more importnat. FWIW I used to ride 53/39 and as i have got older have now gone to compact i.e. 50/34. If you wnat to spin and be comfortable use compact chainrings on your front 

[The Ouzo]

If you have the money to throw at it then by all means, but

1) I struggled a month or 2 back to get a 11-32 cassette, not sure what stock is like now

2) you would most likely need a longer cage RD or a hangar extender

3) most of the hills will have the wind at your back, just grind up them.

[Fork-it]

46 minutes ago, Jewbacca said:

No

Well maybe, but not really.

What chainrings are you running?

50/34, 52/36 or 53/39?

It also depends whether you are historically a grinder or a spinner.

After 6 months off the bike I've found riding more torque at a slower cadence way easier than spinning in an easy gear. 

So I guess the correct answer is 'Yes, No, Maybe' depending on a whole lot of other variables and preferences. 

In my very humble opinion the answer is no. It's not worth it. 

Ah, thank you. I am not sure what is in the front. Let me get back to you on this. Thank you for the input.

[Paul Ruinaard]

Okay so if you really want to do it you can get the Sunrace cassettes. I found a 36 11 online and have brought them in. I used it with a standard long cage Ultegra RD and it works fine.  But the compact rings in the front are the best way to impact your performance.

 

[Fork-it]

18 minutes ago, Paul Ruinaard said:

Okay so if you really want to do it you can get the Sunrace cassettes. I found a 36 11 online and have brought them in. I used it with a standard long cage Ultegra RD and it works fine.  But the compact rings in the front are the best way to impact your performance.

 

Thank you, perhaps not a bad option and sunrace should not break the bank? Where did you get the Sunrace? Also (stupid question) what qualifies as 'compact rings?

[Paul Ruinaard]

https://solomonscycles.co.za/products/sunrace-csms1-taw-11-36t-silver-cassette-sprocket/?utm_source=Google Shopping&utm_campaign=Google Merch &utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=67446

 

FWIW when i tried to get them they weren't available locally but it looks like they are. I imported some from Amazon or i think it was when i still was travelling to the USA so bought them there.

 

[Paul Ruinaard]

7 minutes ago, Fork-it said:

Thank you, perhaps not a bad option and sunrace should not break the bank? Where did you get the Sunrace? Also (stupid question) what qualifies as 'compact rings?

Compact rings on your front crank are something in the 52 or smaller big ring and 36 or smaller small rings. Older bikes used to come standard with 53/39 as the front rings (20 years ago) and 11-23 straight clusters at the back. So you just mashed big geras and got stronger. Along came a cyclist called Lance Armstrong and started the move to high cadence which shifts the laod to the heart and aerobic systems rather than muscles. Everyone had an aha moment and started fitting smaller front rings on. their bikes hence the birth of compact front rings. For example i run a 50/34 oval setup on my bike but i am almost 59 and old and not as fit as the youngsters who can push the big gears. 53/39 is old school and its more likely most bikes (raod bikes this all refers to) run smaller rings.

 

[Jehosefat]

45 minutes ago, Fork-it said:

Thank you, perhaps not a bad option and sunrace should not break the bank? Where did you get the Sunrace? Also (stupid question) what qualifies as 'compact rings?

As far as I am aware the current nomenclature is:

• Standard: 53/39
• Semi-Compact: 52/36
• Compact: 50/34

[droo]

6 hours ago, Fork-it said:

Hi, I have entered the Ride Joburg road event (full distance) after a looong absence from the bike. I have an 11 speed road bike with an 11 - 28 cassette. Will it make a big difference swopping it for a 11 - 32 (or even 34)? I am very worried about dying on the climbs. I am not planning on racing, I just want to enjoy the ride and use this to get back into cycling again for 2023.

Thank you.

Yes. Well, it would for me anyway. I'm still on 9sp and recently went from a 26 to a 29, and it's definitely made a difference. Compact crankset is on its way.

An 11sp RD should be able to deal with a 32T - check the specs online before you pull the trigger though.

[Bub Marley]

Dude. You’ll be fine on an 11-28. 
 

Save your money for something better. 

[Fork-it]

15 hours ago, Paul Ruinaard said:

Compact rings on your front crank are something in the 52 or smaller big ring and 36 or smaller small rings. Older bikes used to come standard with 53/39 as the front rings (20 years ago) and 11-23 straight clusters at the back. So you just mashed big geras and got stronger. Along came a cyclist called Lance Armstrong and started the move to high cadence which shifts the laod to the heart and aerobic systems rather than muscles. Everyone had an aha moment and started fitting smaller front rings on. their bikes hence the birth of compact front rings. For example i run a 50/34 oval setup on my bike but i am almost 59 and old and not as fit as the youngsters who can push the big gears. 53/39 is old school and its more likely most bikes (raod bikes this all refers to) run smaller rings.

 

Thank you for this. I had a look, I have a 52/36. Perhaps I should stick with what I have and see what happens.

[love2fly]

I weigh 105kg and have only ever cried for an easier gear when I rode the Jock in 2000 on a 9 speed and some time after up Hekpoort on the same bike. I've never believed in compact as it dulls the advantage of performance of a road bike by making you spin out too soon. I have 2 rear wheels with a 28 and a 27 and I never let myself use them. I stop at 2nd gear. Not sure of your full circumstances but unless you've got health issue or are are less than undertrained you should get by with what you've got. 

[Fork-it]

Thank you all for your valuable input and advice. I think I have made up my mind to stick with what I have and see how it goes. Perhaps that will be the motivation I need to work harder and become stronger. 

 

Now if you all can just give me a little push when you pass me on the climbs, that would be awesome. Thank you!