Nigelnaturist
Guru
- Location
- Pontefract
Never did in over 12,000 miles. I wear wheel rims out quicker than freehubs.
11-32 or 11-28 cassette - what noticeable difference is there?
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Louch
105% knowledge on 105
- Location
- Kingdom of Kinnard
I went from a 32 to a 28 this year. Find it a lot harder climbing on the 28. I'm usually faster, but it takes a lot more from me. When it ones time to replace derailleur I will swap to 32 again. Using shimano ultegra and im over 200 lbs
Dec66
A gentlemanly pootler, these days
- Location
- West Wickham
I pootle about on a triple; 50/39/30 front, and originally 12/25 rear (8 speed). I could get up pretty much anything with that, but up the 1 in 4's and 1 in 5's I'd be stood up on the pedals.
I now have another triple; same at the front but 12/32 at the back. This would allow me to spin up a cliff face, pretty much. But, do you know what? I hate spinning. Doing 90rpm for 6mph road speed is rather disheartening to me. Plus, if I remain seated on the steepest hills I feel like I'll fall backward. Thus, I'd rather keep the bike in a higher gear and stand up.
I guess the point of my ramble is; horses for courses really. If you like spinning, get a big rear sprocket. If you prefer to stand, get a smaller rear sprocket and closer ratios.
Incidentally, the 12/25 on the original is now an 11/28, which makes it markedly faster downhill whilst easing a bit of the pain on the big slopes, at the slight cost to acceleration (but at my age I don't so much accelerate as gather momentum, so it doesn't really matter).
I now have another triple; same at the front but 12/32 at the back. This would allow me to spin up a cliff face, pretty much. But, do you know what? I hate spinning. Doing 90rpm for 6mph road speed is rather disheartening to me. Plus, if I remain seated on the steepest hills I feel like I'll fall backward. Thus, I'd rather keep the bike in a higher gear and stand up.
I guess the point of my ramble is; horses for courses really. If you like spinning, get a big rear sprocket. If you prefer to stand, get a smaller rear sprocket and closer ratios.
Incidentally, the 12/25 on the original is now an 11/28, which makes it markedly faster downhill whilst easing a bit of the pain on the big slopes, at the slight cost to acceleration (but at my age I don't so much accelerate as gather momentum, so it doesn't really matter).
Racing roadkill
Guru
The biggest difference is that an 11-32 cassette is for a mountain bike, the 11-28 is for a road bike.
Nigelnaturist
Guru
- Location
- Pontefract
CS 6800 11-32 Ultegra is hardly a mountain bike cassette.
T.M.H.N.E.T
Rainbows aren't just for world champions
- Location
- Northern Ireland
I think it was an attempt at humour from a guy who isn't remotely funny
And don't forget to tighten your lockring to spec, my hub is knackered because I didn't tighten it enough
Nibor
Bewildered
- Location
- Accrington
I run a 34 on mine and I have a triple
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
What's your point, Robin? Perhaps the OP's daughter has a higher power to weight ratio than you? Maybe she'd appreciate usable gear ratios rather closer together than your 11-34 offers.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Well, herein lies the problem. We don't know what the OP's daughter actually needs/wants.
We do know that she'd lose a noticeably big chunk off her bottom gear if she switched from 11-32 to 11-28. But we don't know if she'd care.
We do know that she'd get closer ratios than she's currently used to if she switched from 11-32 to 11-28. Again we don't know if she'd care.
Personally I would and wouldn't care, respectively. And guess what? I run an 11-32.
Nibor
Bewildered
- Location
- Accrington
I didn't have a point I didn't realise it was compulsory.
I should imagine the ops daughter definitely has a higher power to weight ratio than me.
I imagine it would be a good idea to see how she manages on a 11-28 and swap it out if it is an issue.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Clever clogs
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
Postmanhat
Senior Member
- Location
- Derby
Find some proper hills then.
Agreed! Went from a 32 to a 30 recently and that's pushing it at times. Might as well book the hernia op now trying the local ones on a 28
