Originally Posted by
Ataylor
Couple more questions for anyone willing to answer:
1) If I went down to a 28T cassette, could a different crank size make up for the "loss" of the cassette (i.e. going from 32T to 28T)?
2) If I did decide to go to a lower-sized cassette (it'll definitely be either 28 or 30), is there any advantage to using the shorter (SS) derailleur vs the longer one (GS)? I was told I could just use the long version, but I wonder if there's any benefit at all to using the shorter cage?
The difference between a longer crank and a short one is similar to one lower gear, but crank length choice is more relevant to riding position, leg length, etc., or mainly what happens to be on the bike.
A 28t cassette can use a short cage RD for slightly snappier shifts and a few grams lighter, but the GS one preserves the option to put a larger cassette on if you want.
For the overall question, IMO the need for tighter ratios only shows up when riding fast with a group. On your own or with cadences < 85 or so it doesn't matter.