"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - 50/39 users: What cassette range do you use in general?

11-21t
11-23t
11-25t (My personal fave- if you can find one!)
12-21t
12-23t
12-25t
12-27t
13-29t (Campy)

Do you mean 53-39?

I've got a 12-23, and I'm not a big fan of it...going to an 11-23, hopefully I'll have a little more top end oomph.

Do you mean 53-39?

Oops! Yes, 53-39. Mods, help?:o

For my 53-39, I run a 12/26. Its great because even on 10% grades I can keep my cadence around 70-75. The downside is that in the big ring I have to jump between my 19T, my 17T, and my 15T, so sometimes when I shift I wind up spinning my legs too fast or too slow for my liking.

I have a 12x27 on my primary race bike. That gives me enough low gears to do long extended climbs. It might be nice to have something different so I can have an 11 for sprints or downhills. However , since this is my first season, I need to do more work on my climbing and my sustainable power before having an 11 on there will become an issue. :)

11-23

12-23
11 is way too big for a sprint unless it's seriously downhill. most people overgear for a sprint.

I've got a 12-25 now and its my only cassette. I'm looking to buy an 11-23 or a 12-23. I want the 11 gear for sprints, but I also want the 18 gear. I guess I can have it all when 12 speed makes its way.

either 11-23 or 12-25.

12-23
11 is way too big for a sprint unless it's seriously downhill. most people overgear for a sprint.
Yeah, even a 12T is probably overkill for most of us when it comes to sprinting. At 120RPM you'd be going 40mph.

12-25. While an 11t would be nice for powering out of corners on those uberfast descents, I get a *lot* more tactical use out of the 25 in climbs. But you know as soon as Shimano starts shipping 11-25s this summer I'm all over them. Even if they are only 105-level at this point. :D

12-25. While an 11t would be nice for powering out of corners on those uberfast descents, I get a *lot* more tactical use out of the 25 in climbs. But you know as soon as Shimano starts shipping 11-25s this summer I'm all over them. Even if they are only 105-level at this point. :D

Shimano starts shipping 11-25s

This is fact? Where did you find this info, their website?

Personally I like either a Shimano 12/25 or SRAM 12/26

11/21, but I live in Florida. I'd use an 11-20 if they made one.

11/23 for most rides and flatter races.
12/26 for climbing courses.
11/21 for crits.

11/21, but I live in Florida. I'd use an 11-20 if they made one.

florida? you could use a 11-13 three speed.

This is fact? Where did you find this info, their website?

It was a tiny addenum in their 2006 product supplement with the new XTR stuff...it showed the new Tiagra levers (9-speed levers shaped like D-A, Ultegra and now 105 10speed! *heart*) and also 'mentioned' there'd be a 105-level 10-speed 11-25 cassette. I recently had a phone conversation with Shimano (for other reasons), asked as an aside when they'd be shipping them, apparently we should see them go out beginning to mid July. :D :D :D

This should also make a lot of guys running the new FC-700 compact cranks VERY happy, I'm thinking they're the market Shimano had in mind. But I have a feeling they're going to fly off the shelf into the hands of both compact and standard double customers alike.

9-speed:

11 X 23 to race
12 X 27 for centuries, long mountain training rides, and recovery rides.

I like the 11 for the long descents around here but it's way over kill for sprinting imho.

I may go to a 12 x 25 for a nice allrounder.