12-28 or 12-30 Cassette?
- Thread starter Joffey
- Start date
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Eribiste
Careful with that axle Eugene
- Location
- Eckington, Worcestershire
I've just changed the cassette on my Boardman, going from 26 to 30, a very noticeable change. Not so much an 'emergency' gear as something that makes climbing so much easier. I'm glad I made the change.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
I'm pretty terrible on hills. Personally, I would leap at the chance of an extra two teeth. Yes, I certainly would notice the difference.
RichK
Guru
- Location
- Birmingham, England
I have recently fitted a 12-32 
(from a 12-30) just for a specific lumpy ride. I thought it was £23 well spent. ymmv 
(from a 12-30) just for a specific lumpy ride. I thought it was £23 well spent. ymmv 
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
If your rear mech has the capacity for both the extra 2 teeth of slack, and also the 30T largest sprocket, then go for it ... Why ever not?
It should be very easy to find the spec for your mech and discover its capacity and largest sprocket. Be aware also that the stated limits can be a bit conservative and can be pushed beyond a bit (or so they say on here!)
It should be very easy to find the spec for your mech and discover its capacity and largest sprocket. Be aware also that the stated limits can be a bit conservative and can be pushed beyond a bit (or so they say on here!)
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
Got the same on my Caad8 and the 30 fits just fine, it's not a massive difference from the original 12-28 but every little helps
Got the same on my Caad8 and the 30 fits just fine, it's not a massive difference from the original 12-28 but every little helps
Every little does help! Haha
But you do lose another gear from within your range, creating a bigger jump. It's a fine line balancing the two options. Once you progress, you will soon sit comfortable with the 28 on most rides and wish you had that intermediate hear at times. I would consider maybe holding back for a bit before swapping and seeing how you go?
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
I've decided the argument about avoiding bigger 'jumps' no longer holds when you have a 10 or 11 speed cassette.
It made a difference with 6 speed 14-28 freewheel, but not any more.
And if I've progressed at climbing hills it's not because I can push a bigger gear up them, it's because I've learned to spin up them (Think Froome dropping Quintana on the Ventoux.... except at about one sixth of the watts/kg
)
It made a difference with 6 speed 14-28 freewheel, but not any more.
And if I've progressed at climbing hills it's not because I can push a bigger gear up them, it's because I've learned to spin up them (Think Froome dropping Quintana on the Ventoux.... except at about one sixth of the watts/kg
)
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
The talk about big jumps between gears leaves me cold. I've never found myself thinking "ooh, I wish I had a gear between these two - this one's just a bit too high and that ones a bit too low". I have, on the other hand, very often found myself thinking "I really, really wish I had a gear below this one" and occasionally jabbing the shifter in the hope of making one appear. Nor am I likely to progress in my abilities. Quite the reverse, unfortunately.
Disclaimer: Gearing, like saddles, is very personal. I'm not saying anyone is wrong here. YMMV and all that.
Disclaimer: Gearing, like saddles, is very personal. I'm not saying anyone is wrong here. YMMV and all that.
andyfraser
Über Member
- Location
- Bristol
As you said in your disclaimer, gearing is personal.
That being said...
My hybrid is 9 speed 11 - 32 and there are most definitely times when I wish there were in between gears. I change up because the gear I'm in is too low but the new gear is too high so I change down again etc. My road bike is 9 speed 11 - 25. This rarely happens with that cassette.
ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
I switched the five speed freewheel on my road bike from a 14-26 to a 14-28 around a year ago. It made a surprisingly big difference to my climbing ability, much more than I would have thought.
Having a slightly larger gear spacing isn't the end of the world either - it's a good way to learn how to spin a nice high cadence when in that slightly-too-low gear!
You can't really carry too low a gear around IMHO - on my commuter/tourer I have a 28/32 low gear, which I've only used once or twice, but when I needed it I *loved* that big 32t sprocket.
Having a slightly larger gear spacing isn't the end of the world either - it's a good way to learn how to spin a nice high cadence when in that slightly-too-low gear!
You can't really carry too low a gear around IMHO - on my commuter/tourer I have a 28/32 low gear, which I've only used once or twice, but when I needed it I *loved* that big 32t sprocket.
