Finally Switched Cassette's

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jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
So will i now see a difference in my climbing ability as i prefer to sit and spin, to standing and grinding

switched out the 11/26 for an 11/28 - compact chainset 50/34. Still debating dumping the 50t for a 48t though.
 
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jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
anyone - someone - hello - anyone there
 

potsy

Rambler
Location
My Armchair
anyone - someone - hello - anyone there
:hello:
You will see a 'slight' difference but nothing earth shattering I wouldn't have thought.
I have gone from a 12-25 to a 12-27 albeit on a triple and it is noticeable, certainly helps at the end of a long day :thumbsup:
 

edindave

Über Member
Location
Auld Reeker
Will that gain you much for the expense? Unless it's going to get you using the 11 on the rear more then maybe, but do you spend much time in the one up from it?
I run 50/34, 11-28, and I'm rarely using the 11 or 12 unless downhill with a tailwind!
 
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jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
it is for the end of the ride i need it for - my 45 mile loop see's me climbing 1000ft continually over the last 8 miles, with one ferociuos climb in the middle which starts straight after a tight hairpin bend, which means you have no run up or speed going into the climb
 
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jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
Will that gain you much for the expense? Unless it's going to get you using the 11 on the rear more then maybe, but do you spend much time in the one up from it?
I run 50/34, 11-28, and I'm rarely using the 11 or 12 unless downhill with a tailwind!
the expense was £13........hardly worth me breaking sweat over to be honest
 
your climbing 'ability' will not be affected, because that relates specifically to your fitness. But your gearing will be slightly lower, if that's what you meant..? Overall it just means you will go slower uphill for the same effort.
 
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jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
your climbing 'ability' will not be affected, because that relates specifically to your fitness. But your gearing will be slightly lower, if that's what you meant..? Overall it just means you will go slower uphill for the same effort.

climbing speed would relate to fitness

climbing ability relates to, have i got the right gears to give me the ability to climb that hill, while sitting and spinning, rather than grunting and grinding
 
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jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
Sorry I wasn't clear, I meant the 48.

Sure the 28 will be much better for the hills :smile:
the reason i was thinking of the 48, is because i think it would give me better cruising speeds at the middle of the rear cassette, without having to go up and down the cassette to much for small climbs and small descents
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
So will i now see a difference in my climbing ability as i prefer to sit and spin, to standing and grinding

switched out the 11/26 for an 11/28 - compact chainset 50/34. Still debating dumping the 50t for a 48t though.
Changing the 50 for a 48 will not affect your climbing as surely you will be on the 34 ring for hills if you changed the cassette for a smaller gear ratio.AFAIK the tiagra + mechs will handle a 30 tooth max rear gear, any higher than that and you would be looking to change your rear mech to a MTB long cage assuming your running shimano groupset.I use sram that has the ability to go to 32 tooth on the back with the wifli mechs e.g. apex.
The only other options would be changing to a triple which means you need a new crank,chainrings ,bottombracket and LH shifter which is going to be expensive.
 
climbing speed would relate to fitness

climbing ability relates to, have i got the right gears to give me the ability to climb that hill, while sitting and spinning, rather than grunting and grinding

true - and if you don't have the ability on a 26 then you won't have it on a 28 either. Just accept that if you go uphill, you will need to work harder...which may include some 'grunting' and grinding' as you put it...
 
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jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
i'm there on the 26 - just want to make it a little easier on the knee, can't be doing with more surgery
 

edindave

Über Member
Location
Auld Reeker
the reason i was thinking of the 48, is because i think it would give me better cruising speeds at the middle of the rear cassette, without having to go up and down the cassette to much for small climbs and small descents

Easy way to find out the difference it will make to cruising speed is to plug the figures into the Sheldon Brown Gear Calculator. http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

You can put the 48 and 50 side by side and see how they compare for a given cadence. And lots of other options... dunno your cassette but you can see the result here for an 11-34.

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