Road Cycling - what cassette should I get?

I am getting campy components and I am curious what cassette to get? I am just starting biking and I am 23 and am in pretty good shape. I live in Seattle and there are obviously hills and mountains around. What cassette will be the best overall, I am worried about using my legs more than my lungs on the climbs. I am getting a double and my options are 11-23, 12-25, 13-26, 13-29. Any advice would be great.
thanks

when i first started out a while back i used a 12-25. i'd say thats the best thing to being with, as initially the 25 will be useful on the hills and youll still have the 12 for when you really want some speed.

I recently bought a used bike with a Campy double and a 13-29 cassette. The 29 is *plenty* of gear for the hills I do around here in the midwest. I rarely use it. I have an 11-25 (I think) on my other bike (Shimano) and sometimes wish I had another gear when the road keeps going up. Of course, I'm almost 50 and have only been riding consitently for a couple of years. I would think that at the age of 23 you wouldn't need the 29 on the rear, and would be fine with a 25. (Although I biked the Columbia River gorge last August on vacation and was real happy to have a big gear back there! If you decide to go with the 26 you might as well just get the 29 though, since they both have the 13 on the other end. If you're a strong rider I say go with the 12-25.

i have an 11-21T cassette.. I can use this even on long climbs, but since I replaced it w/ a 12-30T cassette, I could climb faster, and my legs fresher..

the only disadvantage w/ wide T range cassettes are the transitions from one gear to the other.. the 12-30 cassette has 2T differential, w/c makes it harder when I'm going fast with a headwind.. The 12-21, however, is very effective because I can fine adjust my pedalling..

In the scheme of things cassettes and chains are pretty cheap. Especially if you're starting out, I'd recommend something up to a 27T. With the hills there and the fact that your legs might need some training, you'll appreciate it. As you get fitter, you'll have a better sense of whether you can handle a smaller cassette. Don't worry too much about the small side...you will use it a lot less than the big ring.

Have fun!

Buy two one for flats and the other for hills.

Paul

the fact that you're fairly new to cycling and you're riding hilly roads around seattle, i'd recommend you starting out with the 13-29. if you only ride shorter rides with just a few hills, being in pretty good shape, you could probably "mash" your way up the hills with a 12-25, but if you're riding longer rides with lots of hills, you want to be able to spin up the hills in a taller gear like a 29 so that you don't exhaust your legs in the first half, then not having anything left for the last half. once you get some good mileage under your belt, get a good efficient pedal stroke, figure out a good cadence for you, and get in good cycling shape, like dexmax said, you'll probably want to have a closer ratio cassette like a 12-25 in your arsenal. like BigR said, they're relatively inexpensive, and you'll definitely appreciate the closer spacing if you're in headwinds and finding just the right gear becomes that much more important. i use a 13-25 for flatter rides with only moderate hills, and a 12-27 for rides with steeper climbs and faster descents :D yahooo!

have fun,
- ralph

You're 23 and strong...a 12-25 should be fine. If you have BIG hills, like >5 miles long, 2000ft, maybe go for a 12-27. You're gonna look like an old man with a 29...it's huge...the roadies are gonna laugh, trust me. Besides, the spacing bw gears is going to be all screwed up.
If you REALLY need a bigger gear back there, just get a triple.

I would go with either 12-25 or 13-26. I have a 28 and never use it. Either the 25 or 26 should give you enough range for developing your legs and your climbing endurance. Good luck.

I haven't been to Seattle for awhile, but if memory serves, some of those hills may be short, but pretty steep.

Since you're getting a double and you're new to cycling, I would strongly recommend the 13-26. Maybe even the 29. Since your new to it, you probably won't notice the wideness of the gear spread. That's more something that you notice when you become really attuned to your body and can better judge what exertion you can sustain for any period of time, and when you start looking for the magic combination of max speed versus that exertion level (like racers do).

If your gearing is too tall (small cogs), then your rides are gonna get cut short and you may become frustrated (which risks you staying off of the bike). Gearing that's short (big cogs) won't have this effect; it just means that you'll have a gear or two in reserve when the going gets steep. You can change it later with no impact on your current rides.

As far as other roadies laughing at you for having a big a cog, screw 'em. They're not on your bike; you are. If it is a big deal to you, just shave your legs and they'll forgive you. ;)

Besides, anyone remember last year's SFGP? The announcer was pointing out the few people who were using a big Shimano 12-27 cogset, and comparing it to the smaller cogs that most of the "European regulars" were using. If memory serves, that big combo won that race...

-Erik

thanks to all, I am going to get a 12-25 because it sounds like the best all around cassette. I think I can build up my strength pretty quickly so if anything I think it will just push me a little on those first long climbs.
Thanks

Just get a 12/27 and you will be within 10% of a triple and it shifts much nicer than a triple. Triple chain rings are for people that are not serious road bike riders, and usually have chicken legs!

Triple chain rings are for people that are not serious road bike riders, and usually have chicken legs!You're just joking, right?

You're just joking, right?

NO,,,,,,,why do you think they call them GRANNY GEARS ............? :D Come on now....... there good reason for that nick name!

You're just joking, right?

No, he's posing.

No, he's posing.You're right! And he probably doesn't have any long, steep hills where he lives either. Anyway, it doesn't matter what gearing you have as long as it gets you up the hill.

You're right! And he probably doesn't have any long, steep hills where he lives either. Anyway, it doesn't matter what gearing you have as long as it gets you up the hill. Wrong... I have many hills and am said to be one of the best climbers in the bike club,,, Its easy to see who uses granny gears without even asking ! lol get in shape and loose the body fat and you dont need a granny..............
:p

Wrong... I have many hills and am said to be one of the best climbers in the bike club,,, Its easy to see who uses granny gears without even asking ! lol get in shape and loose the body fat and you dont need a granny..............
:pWho the heck are you to tell people what gears they should use? Your presumptuousness definitely puts you in poseur class.

Your need for a triple all depends on what your riding style is. You can turn higher revs at a lower gear or push harder gears at lower revs. Both methods can get you up the climb in the same amount of time and you still do the same amount of work.

But go ahead, keep your double. I love to see macho riders suffering on long, steep climbs while I spin by with my triple. It really p*sses them off! :D

Steve "The Svelte One" E

Another vote for 12-25. By the end of summer you'll probably gonna look down at the front chain rings and wonder why on earth you have that little one on there..... :D