Cassette gear ranges

[Ccchicane]

Having recently returned to cycling ( and got the bug again big time! ) I have noticed that I'm struggling on the steeper hills, I have an eight speed cassette ranging from 11 to 23 teeth, is it worth changing this or should I just persevere until I get fitter? Thanks cc

 

[PpPete]

I'd say worth changing.... but you may be limited by what rear mech you have.

 

[Ccchicane]

Rear mech is an older shimano 105, indexed 8 speed, would this be ok? What range would you recommend?

 

[smokeysmoo]

You can get an 11-28 8 speed cassette like THIS

FYI, SRAM and Shimano are interchangeable

to CC by the way

 

[Hawk]

SRAM and Shimano cassettes are interchangeable but the mechs sure aren't!

According to techdocs.shimano.com, the shortest 105 (i.e the 105 mech allowing least range) is 11-27 (some are 11-28 and there's an 11-30 too). An 11-27 cassette would be ideal but I've found them hard to get cheaply in the past - 11-28 seems to be more commonly sold as a low-range mountainbike gearing instead of a high range road gearing [isn't it convenient that the lower-range "road" mechs can only go up to 27?]

I've been running an 11-28 on a Sora derailleur that's only rated for 11-27 and had no real issues. Just keep your b-tension screw all the way in!

 

[Ccchicane]

I think I'll give it a try, thanks for the advice everyone :-)