help! need better gearing
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 25
Bikes: 2009 Scattante CFR Race
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
help! need better gearing
I have a 11-23T Ultegra 6600 cassette and a 53/39T FSA Carbon crank. The bike is geared higher than I'd like. What's the best, most cost effective solution?
Replace the cassette? If so, what combination cogs would you suggest?
Replace the 53T and/or 39T chain rings? If so, what do I need to look for?
Buy a compact crankset? (doubtful....)
I live in Ohio and ride half "hills" and half flats where wind is an issue. Definitely don't need mountain climbing setup, but do need some lower gearing.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Replace the cassette? If so, what combination cogs would you suggest?
Replace the 53T and/or 39T chain rings? If so, what do I need to look for?
Buy a compact crankset? (doubtful....)
I live in Ohio and ride half "hills" and half flats where wind is an issue. Definitely don't need mountain climbing setup, but do need some lower gearing.
Thanks in advance for the help.
#2
Asleep at the bars
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA and Treasure Island, FL
Posts: 1,743
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 234 Post(s)
Liked 203 Times
in
135 Posts
Get a 12-27 Ultegra cassette. Your FSA crankset may already be compact (110 BCD) in which case you can install smaller chainrings, but personally I'd swap out the cassette first.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 970
Bikes: Giant Defy 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The cheapest option is to replace the cassette, I'd suggest playing around with Sheldon Brown's Gear Calculator to try and get a better idea of what type of range you need and the different ratios you'd get with a wider cassette
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains
Posts: 6,169
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
If the 39x27 isn't low enough for you and your riding, it's the best option.
#5
Senior Member
Only you can answer this question.
How much lower do you need? If you are close with the current, then just get a new cassette. 12/25 would give you one gear lower then you have and 12/27 would give you 2 more gears.
If you need a lot more, then get a compact, but this is going to be a more expensive change.
How much lower do you need? If you are close with the current, then just get a new cassette. 12/25 would give you one gear lower then you have and 12/27 would give you 2 more gears.
If you need a lot more, then get a compact, but this is going to be a more expensive change.
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 25
Bikes: 2009 Scattante CFR Race
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks all! Looks like a 12-27 or 12-25 cassette is in my future. I obviously need a 10 speed, but what kind of compatibility issues might I run into? Need to stay with Shimano?
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains
Posts: 6,169
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Any Shimano spacing 10sp cassette will work, unless you have a rare 10sp-only freehub body (mostly on Dura-Ace wheels). Then SRam cassettes won't fit, as their 10sp cassettes fit 9sp splines.