I am a SS 29'r kind of guy, but on my geared bikes I rarely if ever ride in the 11T sprocket. I find it 'stiff' and slow because my leg speed gets slowed so much. I like the 12T cog though! So I am thinking of bailing on all the mountain cassettes I own and going 12-27. I know I will miss the 32-28 every now and again, but I am very used to standing and suffering from all the SS riding I do. Anyone else thinking this? My favorite cassette of all time was my 12-28.
11-32 or 12-27?
andyjensen
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I am a SS 29'r kind of guy, but on my geared bikes I rarely if ever ride in the 11T sprocket. I find it 'stiff' and slow because my leg speed gets slowed so much. I like the 12T cog though! So I am thinking of bailing on all the mountain cassettes I own and going 12-27. I know I will miss the 32-28 every now and again, but I am very used to standing and suffering from all the SS riding I do. Anyone else thinking this? My favorite cassette of all time was my 12-28.
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thats so crazy it just might work!
i have a 12/28 xtr i dont think i put many miles on if yer interested. m-900 if i remember right but ill check when i get home.
i have a 12/28 xtr i dont think i put many miles on if yer interested. m-900 if i remember right but ill check when i get home.
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Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I've always paid more attention to the low range of the cassette (i.e. 32t vs. 34t, etc). I don't spend a lot of time in the smallest cog anyway- if I need a gear that big I'm probably not in the small or middle ring, and 44x13t (or whatever the next smallest cog is) is pretty hard to spin out. So for me the 11t vs. 12t isn't much of an issue at all.
However, a 12-27 is lighter and allows you to run a shorter chain. I like the lower gearing offered by the bigger cassettes though as it lets me stay in the middle ring longer. Important for racing, as more front shifts = more chance for a dropped chain, and more moments you have to temporarily lay off the power. Less important for trail riding, but still a consideration.
However, a 12-27 is lighter and allows you to run a shorter chain. I like the lower gearing offered by the bigger cassettes though as it lets me stay in the middle ring longer. Important for racing, as more front shifts = more chance for a dropped chain, and more moments you have to temporarily lay off the power. Less important for trail riding, but still a consideration.
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Remeber back in the day of old when there weren't so many choices? Not that choice is bad, I like it. But you kind of have to decide if you are willing to waste a gear, the 11T in my case, and keep a very useful 28T or in dire situations a 32T (11-32). I'm not saying I never ride a 32T - I do. But I try to avoid it, because once you are in it you are going slow! Even in the middle ring - but I understand from the racer's perspective as well. I'm going to toss a 12-27 on and really thrash myself and see if it is a viable option. I live in the Front Range of Colorado, and most rides require lots of hills...just doesn't seem right avoiding the pain - is that why we really ride? Pain?
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Since you are asking on the Turner forum, I'm assuming you are riding a full squishy bike.andyjensen said:
Here's my thought...It's not fun to stand and mash on a fs bike.
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uhhhh......... no. not so much. i was under the impression it was supposed to be fun to ride and pain was for the racers. now ya can see why i sucked at racing bikes.andyjensen said:
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How about a 12-34...
ok you may not use the 34 that often but its a good get out of gaol option if you ditch the granny.
ok you may not use the 34 that often but its a good get out of gaol option if you ditch the granny.
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8 Speed
As supplies of higher end 8 speed cassettes are drying up a bit, I'd probably stick to 9 speed.
As supplies of higher end 8 speed cassettes are drying up a bit, I'd probably stick to 9 speed.
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This is somewhat said with a half-smile.andyjensen said:
Why stop with the 12T cog? It's only a one tooth difference. Get a Phil/White Ind freewheel hub and you can run a Shimano 13-28 or 14-28 freewheel. Ya, they're only 7spd, but 8spd shifters will work with them, and they are reasonably robust. No comment on weight.
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I like the 11-32 for the smooth spread of gears (no funky differences) and lighter weight. 34T is ultra redundant if you have a granny gear (not to mention pedaling in the granny 22 with the 34 makes you go so rediculously slow as to make it difficult to balance in rough sections), although I don't really use the granny even with the 11-32. It's all about training yourself and for the people that think they must ride with a 34, you would adapt to a 32 eventually.
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Harris Cycles..
offers some real nice touring cassettes. i as looking at the12-30andyjensen said:
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You're stronger than me.andyjensen said:
What do you run on your SS 29er? I usually go 32x20 or 32x22 here in Loveland.
On my geared bikes I use my 34t all the time. It comes in handy for those long steep high alpine climbs. Comments of "you'll adjust to a smaller cog" are ridiculous without knowing the local terrain. I'm actually thinking of ditching the 11t (agreed, never used) and slapping an Action Tec 36t behind my cassette on my Sultan.
If you're willing to spend bucks,you can get a custom Ti cassette from Action Tec and choose your gearing.
More than a few 29er racers run the 12-27, in part because it tightens up the ratios, since the 29er effectively expands the gap between each gear.
I adjusted to the gaps within a few weeks and like the 34 because it lets me stay in the middle ring longer (as Miles pointed out).
I adjusted to the gaps within a few weeks and like the 34 because it lets me stay in the middle ring longer (as Miles pointed out).
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Many interesting replies - thanks, I always learn from others' points of view. I do ride a rigid, hence the "mashing" a FS is an ide new to me. I will try the 12-27, and Harris cycles....
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