New Cassette ?????????

[black'n'yellow]

Can anybody who understands the gearing better than me please help. I am looking to change my wheels and will therefore need a new rear cassette.

you don't really 'need' a new cassette - you could swap the cassette from your existing wheels.

I currently ride a compact (not sure of exact gearing !! ). With my intention to take my bike to France this year for a couple of the tour climbs, can anybody offer advice on which cassette I should consider ? I find the 11-23, 11-27,11-28 etc quite confusing, thanks.

Gear choice will depend on your fitness - so it's difficultt to offer gearing advice, as I doubt if anyone knows how fit you are currently.

 

[geo]

I appreciate fitness plays a large part, to give you an idea I ride 20 mile 3-4 times a week on a relatively flat loop course in about 1hr 5 mins. Can comfortably manage 40 mile averaging about 16 mph,but I'd not claim to be great on the climbs . Thanks for advice about changing cassette from existing wheel but I intend to just keep them as a winter wheel. When I said I find it confusing what I mean is I don't really understand how much easier / harder each diff size gear ring makes the hills. As in would an average fitness rider really notice the diff between say 11-23 and 11-27 for example.

 

[Rob3rt]

I appreciate fitness plays a large part, to give you an idea I ride 20 mile 3-4 times a week on a relatively flat loop course in about 1hr 5 mins. Can comfortably manage 40 mile averaging about 16 mph,but I'd not claim to be great on the climbs . Thanks for advice about changing cassette from existing wheel but I intend to just keep them as a winter wheel. When I said I find it confusing what I mean is I don't really understand how much easier / harder each diff size gear ring makes the hills. As in would an average fitness rider really notice the diff between say 11-23 and 11-27 for example.

Absolutelly! Go ride your bike and then see how different it feels to ride two different ratio's 4t apart!

1 point to note though, you need to ensure your rear mech can handle the larger sizes, short cage mechs are usually good up to about 27t, but when you start to go larger the jockey wheels can foul the cassette. Also you need to consider the difference between the biggest and smallest gears as the mech may not be able to take up enough chain slack. You may have to invest in a longer cage mech in such a case (this is based on the assumption you have a short cage rear mech, which is most common).

 

[geo]

Thanks Rob,sound advice there I think

 

[Peteaud]

Cheers Matt, its tricky riding by yourself. Couple of the guys at work mountain bike but I'm the only roady.
Looks like I just need to spin faster!!
This was this morning http://app.strava.com/activities/35300033
24 mph is a distant dream for cruising so I must have low cadence. hopefully my cadence sensor will arrive before the weekend and I can see how I'm doing.

Set your privacy zone.

 

[Phil485]

Cheers Peteaud, thought it was, hopefully it is now

One other quick question, as mentioned I have an 8 speed cassette, but a 9 spd Shimano tiagra mech. I know I don't need a new one, but if I wanted to go up to a 9 speed is it as simple as swopping them over and reindexing the shifter? What about the chain, assuming not a lot of wear (bike has only covered about 700miles) and the large ring is the same size do I need to change that? Anything else to watch for?

 

[Peteaud]

9 speed shifter, 9 speed cassette and 9 speed chain if you want to go to 9 speed.

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