Bicycle Mechanics - Campy cassette choices, none of them ideal

It's time to replace the chain/cassette on my Campy 9-speed, but I can't find a Campy 9-speed 12-25 cassette. (Probably a sign that I should upgrade the whole gruppo, but not this year.) I've got 39/53 chainrings and have always assumed 12-25 was the way to go in the back, though I honestly haven't experimented with other cassettes. So my choices seem to be:

Miche 12-25 cassette (I'd rather stick to Campy but...)
Campy 12-23 or 13-26

I'm also considering buying a 10-speed cassette, dropping one of the cogs, and using my 9-sp spacers -- will that work? There are plenty of 10-speed cassettes to choose from.

Any advice?

The 10 speed cogs are quite close to the same thickness as 9 speed, but not exactly the same, so you'll have a little error in overall width.

There is no 10 speed cassette that improves your choices after dropping a cog. You can't drop a first position cog without also replacing the second cog with another first position cog. An 11-25 could be made into a 12-25 with a 12T from another 9 speed cassette.

Do you really need the 12T small cog? A 53x12 is a 119" gear and a 53 x 13 is 110". A 110" gear will give you 33 mph at a cadence of 100 rpm so consider if that's sufficient. If the 13T small cog is enough, the 13x26 cassette is really a good choice as it's a straight block from 13 to 17.

Do you really need the 12T small cog? A 53x12 is a 119" gear and a 53 x 13 is 110". A 110" gear will give you 33 mph at a cadence of 100 rpm so consider if that's sufficient. If the 13T small cog is enough, the 13x26 cassette is really a good choice as it's a straight block from 13 to 17.

That's a good point. However, I was thinking that my small ring will max out pretty quickly, assuming I don't cross-chain I'm spinning out at 39 x 14, so I'm wondering if that's going to be annoying. Not sure -- never used anything but a 12-25 before...

Get a Miche Campy splined cassette (http://www.bikeman.com/FW1572.html). Then if you want a different ratio, you can just buy some loose cogs (http://www.bikeman.com/store/merchant.mvc?) to custom make a different cassette out of your 12-25.

That's a good point. However, I was thinking that my small ring will max out pretty quickly, assuming I don't cross-chain I'm spinning out at 39 x 14, so I'm wondering if that's going to be annoying. Not sure -- never used anything but a 12-25 before...

The 13-26 is my favorite, I don't miss the 12 at all. With a 53 big ring I don't use the 13 that often. As a general rule if I see that I'll be below 20 mph for a while I'll run the 39 inner ring. If I expect to be at or above 20 for a while I'll go to the big ring. I can run up to 21 mph on the 39 and as low as 18 mph on the 53 without cross-chaining and still maintain a good cadence. I usually run a 13-26 cassette on my Campy 10-speed bike and Shimano 9-speed bike.

Al

I agree, I suspect if the 13-26 was put on without his knowledge he would never know the difference
but just what is the price difference?

I agree, I suspect if the 13-26 was put on without his knowledge he would never know the difference

The difference is about 3 mph at 120 rpm (38 mph to 41), but only the OP can decide if they would notice that or not. I would, but I have a long, straight, 40+ mph descent on my commute.

The difference is about 3 mph at 120 rpm (38 mph to 41), but only the OP can decide if they would notice that or not. I would, but I have a long, straight, 40+ mph descent on my commute.

Then a long straight 4mph ascent on the way back? Heh

I got a 13-26 10 speed cassette when I was going to ride in the mountains, and I kept it on the bike afterwards. I liked having the 18 tooth cog that is missing on the 12-25.

I have 34/50 chainrings, and the only time I miss a faster gear is if I want to pedal downhill over 32-34 mph. Otherwise, the 50-13 is good for group sprints up to at least 30 mph, which is as fast as I can go, anyway.

I would, but I have a long, straight, 40+ mph descent on my commute.
I have a reasonably long 40-45 mph decent on one of my local rides too but I'm perfectly happy to just tuck in and let the bike roll.

If you are commuting, then nobody is chasing you and you aren't trying to reel in a breakaway. Why pedal like mad when you are going that fast anyway and are better off to just lower wind resistance?

As to the OP's concern that his small ring will max out with a 14T, uuhh, that's why the maker gives you a big ring. Feel free to use it.

Wow, 40 mph and I'm cashing in my downhill dollars, no pedaling for me. This coming from a person who's thankful everyday for the 13 x 29 ten speed cassette that Campy offers.

It's time to replace the chain/cassette on my Campy 9-speed, but I can't find a Campy 9-speed 12-25 cassette. (Probably a sign that I should upgrade the whole gruppo, but not this year.) I've got 39/53 chainrings and have always assumed 12-25 was the way to go in the back, though I honestly haven't experimented with other cassettes. So my choices seem to be:

Miche 12-25 cassette (I'd rather stick to Campy but...)
Campy 12-23 or 13-26

I'm also considering buying a 10-speed cassette, dropping one of the cogs, and using my 9-sp spacers -- will that work? There are plenty of 10-speed cassettes to choose from.

Any advice?

Go with a Mavic cassette. You can space the cassette to use with Campy 9 (includes the spacers) and use it on a Shimano freehub. The coolest thing about the Mavic cassette is that you can completely customize every cog choice. A Mavic cassette lot with 21 cogs covering the whole range up to 28t today sold on eBay for around $100.

How cool would it be to fine tune your cassette for a Horrible Hilly ride, a corncob for hammering on the flats or a criterium, or a wide range for just cruising around in the countryside (or bike camping).

"but just what is the price difference?". I guess I should have made it more clear. what is the price diference between the Miche and the Campagnolo?

Go with a Mavic cassette. You can space the cassette to use with Campy 9 (includes the spacers) and use it on a Shimano freehub. The coolest thing about the Mavic cassette is that you can completely customize every cog choice. A Mavic cassette lot with 21 cogs covering the whole range up to 28t today sold on eBay for around $100.


Meaning that the OP would have to buy a new freehub in addition to the cassette and spacer kit and wind up with an inferior cassette on a Shimano freehub on a Campy bike. Wouldn't happen to me.

Then a long straight 4mph ascent on the way back? Heh
Pretty much. 6-8 mph for me, and the stronger riders would be ashamed at me for that. It averages 5% for about 4 miles.



I have a reasonably long 40-45 mph decent on one of my local rides too but I'm perfectly happy to just tuck in and let the bike roll.

If you are commuting, then nobody is chasing you and you aren't trying to reel in a breakaway. Why pedal like mad when you are going that fast anyway and are better off to just lower wind resistance?

Because it's fun. However, I don't pedal the whole time. I pedal like mad near the top until the grade gets past 5% and then tuck for the remaining 3.5 miles.



"but just what is the price difference?". I guess I should have made it more clear. what is the price diference between the Miche and the Campagnolo?
Ahh, I see. Miche is a little less expensive iirc, but it's not about that. I've heard people say that Miche wears faster and is heavier, but the advantage is in being able to buy loose cogs to mix and match for any gearing combination you want.

I just posted the suggestion because the OP can't seem to find a Campy 12-25, and they offer a Miche one in a box ready to go.