ddimick

I moved from the Shimano Ultegra 11-28 to a SRAM 12-28 for that exact reason. I can get by without the 11, but I use the 12 all the time.

RJM

I use that cassette and don't have much of a problem with it. Honestly, I would rather have a 12 x 28 with a 16 tooth cog though. The 4 tooth jump at the end is actually really useful when I am huffing up a hill and really want something easier, I just put it in the 28 and it feels so much better and I only had to shift once. I would much rather have the bigger tooth jump in the low end.

PhotoJoe 

Yah, I'm eying that 12-28 pretty hard.

So the SRAM 12-28 would fit the bill?

12-28: 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-22-25-28

njkayaker

I don't think the jump there matters much. Using the 28 with the big ring would be cross-chaining anyway.

The missing 16 might be an issue for more people, since it's in a typical speed range.

Think of the 28 as a bail-out gear for the small ring. If you have to have a gap, that isn't a bad place for it.

Exactly. Having a gear in between the 24 and 28 isn't going to make you go much faster.

Yes, that would be a better set for most people.

I'm wondering if a 13-32 would be better for me.

ultraman6970

Have the same issue, i never use 11,12 and 13... when i was racing yes but now makes none sense to even have those becaue i can't move them the way i used to so I dont touch them.

RJM

Oh yeah, it would. When this cassette wears out that is probably the one I am getting.

CdCf

Hmm, we're all different. I ride a 53/39, 11-25 setup and I often find myself wanting a taller gear than 53-11 on fast sections or long downhill segments. I'm hoping for a change to 10T as the smallest sprocket on regular road cassettes.

PhotoJoe 

I agree we're all different. I talked with a friend of mine on Saturday who rides the mountains around L.A. with a Standard 11-23. There ain't no way this old body is doing that!!!!!

blt

I didn't buy my first bike until the 80's, a 1986 Univega SupraSport, came with 52-42 in the front, 14-32 6 speed in the back. Rode a lot of hills with it, I didn't need tighter gears, didn't need higher gears, but I needed lower gears.

ultraman6970

53x11 going down hill hitting 120 rpms or 75 75rpms???

revchuck 

Eric - FWIW, Shimano still offers the 12-27 in 105, and also offers 12-28 in 4600 Tiagra. My Ultegra 6600 12-27 is about worn out, and I'll replace it with the 105 version.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is how nice it is to have closely-spaced cogs on a windy day. Going into a headwind, I'm in the small ring and whatever cog I need to keep my cadence where I want it.

Bob Dopolina 

qft

Nice.

Bacciagalupe

If you're not riding in a way that an 11, 12 or even 13 in a 9sp or 10sp drive train is useful, then I have serious doubts that your cycling will benefit from having more granular shifting.

njkayaker

Having a gear you don't use makes no sense. If you don't use the 11, then you could replace it with a lower gear that might get some use (that is, it could go to increase range rather than granularity).

I certainly don't really need the 11 and I would benefit from more granular shifting. And I don't think I'm unique.

I'm not sure if the OP's interest in 14 being his highest gear makes sense.

I do know there are a fair number of randonneurs whose gearing is significantly lower than a top of 50/12. It wouldn't surprise me that many of these riders like more granular gearing too.

gregf83 

What 'way' would that be? Juniors don't seem to have any problem riding without those gears. They just use a higher cadence. There are lot's of people who wouldn't have any problem winning Pro/1/2 races on a 14.

TDRILL

Great replies, thanks guys. Yes maybe the 14 is a bit much for me now, but if my bike was originally sold with a 13 or 14, it wouldn't have been a bad thing. If you saw the small rises in the road (which you would consider to be flat) that had me huffing and puffing when I started, you'd understand . . . though maybe they assume a Madone isn't going to be most people's first bike and they'd be able to handle a bit bigger gearing. Its taken my previously lazy ass two years to get to the point where I actually want to click into 34-11 with some regularity but that is because I'm finally strong enough to start using my big ring up front more often and need to get better about shifting the front.


In any case, I guess the point is I wish Shimano had off the shelf cassettes with a little higher gearing for us old folks or guys with somewhat bum knees that still like to climb. It is a good point though that even though you may not use the higher gears much, there is some benefit to having a good range on your cassette so that you don't need to shift the front so often. Though my 11 is very rarely used, my 34-12 does get some action and there are benefits to not needing to shift the front and still get some good speed going from the small chainring.

Although I appreciate the custom cassette that was posted, I'm likely to switch to that 12-28 SRAM cassette when its finally time to replace my original.

njkayaker

We have no idea whether juniors have "a problem" with those gears. They are forced to use the gears and some of them might prefer higher gears.

Nick Bain

This post is too long to read but I am gonna say just get smaller chainrings. I love the 46/36 on my CX bike it makes the ratios on the cassette closer. ANd is great for early season riding. and downshifting the chainring up hill is feels the same as downshifting the rear. Perfect spacing.

Phantoj

Yeah, instead of the 34/11 combo, try to find something in the big ring that works for you. Small/small is the least happy gear combination for your bike...

Also, IMO, if I really needed the low, low gears you're talking about, I'd just get a triple crankset.

"Krabbe's twenty was still clean as a whistle..."

gregf83 

The original statement was that if you didn't use the 'little' cogs that you were somehow an inferior cyclist and wouldn't benefit from finer granularity in other gears. My point was that this was nonsense as Juniors race with only a 14, clearly aren't inferior, and wouldn't have any problem riding away from most members on this board.

kt22mike

I completely agree. I also tried to order a 12-32 recently and everybody is out of stock. A 14-32 would be an ideal cassette for us older guys that do long distances, have no intention of racing and like riding a bike with high quality components.

On a similar note - why can't they build a carbon frame that could support a back rack. A rack capable of letting you carry rain gear and maybe a change of clothes so you can do some overnight "credit card" stay in a hotel trip. And even build it for more a more comfortable riding posture. Light, strong and flexible!

seypat

There is the million dollar question. Why no carbon light tourers/tourers? Or at least a carbon bike with some bosses for adding accessories.

gregf83 

Because the market for customized tourers is small and the cost of a carbon bike would be higher than other alternatives and offer no real benefits. The number of people willing to pay significantly more for shaving a lb or 2 off a loaded tourer is very low. They make high performance carbon tandems though.

nhluhr

I saw a "Junior" yesterday. The kid couldn't have been more than 12 but there he was with his little backpack and his white leather shimano shoes and clipless pedals on his tiny road bike. It was awesome. My wife (who was riding with me on our commute home) immediately looked over and said "our kid will have that".

seypat

What about at least some bosses so you can mount some fenders if you want to? Riding in the rain is a PITA without fenders. I don't normally ride in the rain but you know how a shower can pop up.