Road Cycling - Rear cassette questions

I bought a new bike in late March, a Cannondale R1000. It came with an SRAM 12-16 cassette.
I'm thinking about buying a Shimano Ultegra 12-23 to gain the 16t cog. I do a lot of riding in the 15-17 cog.. and feel the 16 would give me more speed. The 26 is rarely used.. if at all.. bring the the largets cog, I don't use it on the 53, and I've never had to use in on the 39 with hills in my area.

I've put over 800 miles on the bike since I bought it, and have had no problems. I've cleaned the chain/drive system on a regular basis.


My questions are:

Should I do this?

Should I change the chain as well? Or should me present chain, or at this miliage, would it be necessary? I would like the ability to change back for a rides in the mountains.

Which should I buy? the SRAM(210g/$54.99) the Utegra(210g/$38.99) or the Duraace(157g/combo with chain $94.99). Is there really a noticable difference? Is there any reason to buy anything other/more than the Ultegra?

gear changes/transistion w/ the 11-23 would be smooth. With the 12-23 (12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23), your gear changes in the 12-17 region would be 1T apart. very good when you want to fine tune your stroke/cadence.

Your chain is fairly new, it would not be a problem. But if you were to spend $50+ bucks, why don't you get yourself a chain as well. :)

The 15 will give you more speed than a 16, at the same cadence. A 12-23 isn't a bad choice, but if you are someone who likes to push the limits, having the 26 as a bailout gear, in case you bonk when you go for a longer ride than you planned on, or find a hill you didn't know about, etc. isn't a bad thing. The advantage of the SRAM cassette is that it is all separate cogs, so in theory, you could take apart the 12-23 and the 12-26 and build your own custom cassette, or see if you can get the cogs you want to build your own. The Ultegra uses a spider system, where several cogs are one piece and can't be separated. The Dura Ace is overkill. The chain replacement question is harder to answer. I generally get a season out of one chain, but I am compulsive about keeping my drivetrain clean, which helps keep the wear down.

cassette decisions are so subjective. i just switched this year to a 11-21 from a 12-23 and it did take an adjustment period, but i now see the smoothness and love it. <disclaimer: i live in the mostly flat midwest, although there are rolling hills, so i can get away with this combo>

i've rarely felt the need for less than 39-21... even after i've blown up and need to walk the bike home.

I'm in the 17 a lot, and the 15 is sometimes a little harder than I would normally want to run, so often I'm running in the 17 when I might otherwise he in the 16. That's a speed difference.

I would get a new chain, but I've never replaced a chain myself and am I a little scared. That's something I want done by someone who knows what they're doing.

The 26 IS a good bailout gear... But I'll miss it mainly in that I'm used to climing in the 53/23 combo, now I'll have to do the 53/21 or drop the the smaller ring. I've yet to HAVE to use it. I thought it was good when I bought the bike as I was going from a triple to a double, but I don't spend much time in the small ring.. though I really should.. just for recovery rides.

I was thinking of putting it on my old bike that runs a 13/26 low end shimano(on a triple, that's insane). A friend is using that bike(though I refgret loaning it, would be a great commuter). After riding it again, I really notice the 12 being gone.. and the overall difference between tiagra and ultegra.. and the weight/quality of the bike, and the wheelset.

And Yes, the DuraAce is overkill, but at $5 more than the SRAM cassette/chain combo, it would be worth it. NOT for the Ultegra.. which is like $58 w/chain.

The advantage of the SRAM cassette is that it is all separate cogs, so in theory, you could take apart the 12-23 and the 12-26 and build your own custom cassette, or see if you can get the cogs you want to build your own. The Ultegra uses a spider system, where several cogs are one piece and can't be separated.

Does this suggest that the SRAM is better? It is worth $18 more than the Ultegra?

After the coupon and credits, the Ultregra would be about $30 shipped. Of course.. it's on backorder until June 20th. The Dura Ace and SRAM are available today. THAT may be worth $18. But I'm not in a big hurry either.

I run a 12-23 set up, and love it. I try to stay out of the 23, so that I'll have it in an emergency (seems kind of silly, because avoiding the 23 is more likely to cause that very emergency).

Since you want the ability to change back to the larger cassette, then definitely buy a new chain, and keep the old chain and cassette together. Don't be intimidated by changing the chains...it's no big deal. Get someone to show you how to use a chain tool...it's not difficult, but there are a few tricks which you'd rather not have to discover on your own. (namely, not poking the pin all the way out of the plate).

Don't sweat the difference between SRAM and Ultegra...provided you're buying the higher quality SRAM stuff. I've no opinion on Dura Ace.

Good Luck

I run a 12-23 set up, and love it. I try to stay out of the 23, so that I'll have it in an emergency (seems kind of silly, because avoiding the 23 is more likely to cause that very emergency).


stop avoiding the 23 and get a 12-25t... :D :D :D (just kidding!)

I just installed a 105, 13-23 on my triple with 30, 42, 53 just to pick up the 18. 42-18 is a great combination for me on the flats. The 105 cost me $36 shipped from Excel in Colorado. If you can live without the 12, then the 13-23 gives you the 18. The 18 would be nice with a 39 on gradual inclines ... do you ever feel like when you go from 19 to 17 that you really have to dig a little deeper?

See my post on the subject from last week (with a pretty graph).

click here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=51797)

-mark

I have on my bike 53-39 x 11-21, on a nine cogset , I have no problem climbing the mountains here, I have been riding the route of the Hamilton World Cycling Championship several times I don't need the extra tooth at the rear to climb that route, and I don't have to dig deep in my pocket to climb them, I think its only in the mind that when you have a 23 or 25, that you end up thinking that you have to use the 23 or 25, thanks

I vouch for the SRAM cassettes from my experience...

I also am riding with a SRAM and love it. But the best prices for the cassettes are on the Excel website......$38.95.
Wish I could get a commission.

Why are you using the 53-23 combo? It puts WAY too much strain on your chain. You should try top avoid using the big-big and small-small combinations. They force the chain to deflect across the entire width of the drivetrain, which is 90° off of the direction chains are designed to flex at. This can cause your chain to snap, or at the very least cause undue wear of the chain and the cogs. If the hills in your area are so small that you can run that combo, you should eb running an 11 low straight block instead of the 12-26 anyway.