Cassette gearing choices
04-13-18, 03:38 PM
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Cassette gearing choices
I'm soon buying a new cassette to replace my 10 speed 11-28 Ultegra cassette. I'm sticking with Ultegra and have several gearing choices: 11-25, 11-28, 12-25, 12-30. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages to each choice? I'm pretty happy with the current gearing choice I'm replacing, but maybe I should change. By the way, my group set has a triple chain ring.
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04-13-18, 03:54 PM
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If you never use the 28T cog, buy the 11-25. If you never use the 11 or the 28, buy the 12x25. If you sometimes wish you had a lower low gear, buy the 12x30. Otherwise, just replace the 11x28 with a new one.
04-13-18, 04:12 PM
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There's no right or wrong. Do you use your highest & lowest gears ? If not get the range that suits you best.
Personally, I prefer to give up an 11 or even 12 tooth cog, for an extra cog in the middle that will get more use.
On the low end, have a gear low enough to get up your toughest hill when you are tired.
Personally, I prefer to give up an 11 or even 12 tooth cog, for an extra cog in the middle that will get more use.
On the low end, have a gear low enough to get up your toughest hill when you are tired.
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04-13-18, 04:20 PM
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There's no right or wrong. Do you use your highest & lowest gears ? If not get the range that suits you best.
Personally, I prefer to give up an 11 or even 12 tooth cog, for an extra cog in the middle that will get more use.
On the low end, have a gear low enough to get up your toughest hill when you are tired.
Personally, I prefer to give up an 11 or even 12 tooth cog, for an extra cog in the middle that will get more use.
On the low end, have a gear low enough to get up your toughest hill when you are tired.
04-13-18, 04:29 PM
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Even when I was racing, I rarely used my top gear. Much prefer an extra middle gear that will get used 20x more that the highest gear.
Campagnolo makes some cassettes starting with a 13t which I think is great.
.
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04-13-18, 04:33 PM
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I love my 9 speed 12 - 27, paired with a 48 - 36 - 26 triple. Don't know what I would do if they stopped making the 12 - 27 cassette.
04-13-18, 08:10 PM
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I am using an Ultegra 12-30. I rarely use the 12 and do not often use the 30, but of the 2, the 30 wins because when you need it you really need it. It the high gear is not high enough, I will coast - BUT, I am a casual road and towpath rider, not a racer.
If you are at the design limit of the RD, the 30 "may" require a chain alteration. It does not on mine, but on the wifes bike it would, her RD maxes at 28.
If you are at the design limit of the RD, the 30 "may" require a chain alteration. It does not on mine, but on the wifes bike it would, her RD maxes at 28.
04-13-18, 08:13 PM
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Unfortunately this stopped with the move to 11 cogs. Instead of 13-29 getting an 18, Campagnolo released a 12-29.
Moving to 12 cogs dictates an 11T first position, and like SRAM Campagnolo no longer offers cassettes with one tooth jumps through the 19 cog. You can have either 11-29 or 11-32.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 04-13-18 at 08:16 PM.
04-14-18, 06:46 AM
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I agree that Campy's best 10-speed cassette was their 13x29 and Shimano's 10-speed cassette of choice is the 12x27, They are straight blocks from 12 or 13 through 17 so they have the all-important (to me) 16T cog.
The Shimano 13x25 and the 14x25 and 14x28 11-speed cassettes do avoid the often unnecessary 11 or 12T small cogs but don't go low enough for those who need a significantly lower gear. They "Junior" cassette intended for young riders required to have restricted high gears.
The Shimano 13x25 and the 14x25 and 14x28 11-speed cassettes do avoid the often unnecessary 11 or 12T small cogs but don't go low enough for those who need a significantly lower gear. They "Junior" cassette intended for young riders required to have restricted high gears.
04-14-18, 09:59 AM
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if it's 1fc x 10rc, I'd opt for these options:
12-30 if you know you'll be in the woods /use wider tires.
11-25 if you strictly are a road/pavement user.
11-28 to retain current consistencies.
12-30 if you know you'll be in the woods /use wider tires.
11-25 if you strictly are a road/pavement user.
11-28 to retain current consistencies.
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