"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - What size cassette are you using?

...and why?
I think my current setup has a 12-25 on it, but I also have a triple. I'm switching to a 53/39, considering going to 11-? I'm just wondering what everyone else is using?

12-27 with a standard 53/39 crankset.

I use them all. I have never "needed" a 53x11 when catching up on a descent in a road race. I am probably going to put an 11 on my TT bike though, since I don't want to be spinning like a madman to get a few more MPH on downhills. As it is I use a 54/42 on the TT bike.

As far as the 27T cog goes, I use it quite often in training, less often in racing, but there are definitely sections of RR courses in NY state where I need the 27T. Most notably the wall in the Owasco Road Race which has sections of 20% or more. At the moment, I have no intentions of changing my gearing, since I am just getting to the point where I can do L2 rides on hilly terrain. Once my power goes up to perhaps 4.5 w/kg at threshold then I could see changing to a tighter cassette.

12-25 for most races. 13-26 for cross, 12-23 for crits (I'd rather have an 18 than an 11)

11-23 for most races. 12x25 for training, and the rest of the races.

Edited to add.... can this be moved to 41?

"it depends"

...um... whatever the race requires...?

It makes no difference what I use. I live in Florida where it's pretty flat, and the few hills we do have are short enough that you can just muscle over them in 2-3 minutes.

If you live in a flat location like me, then 11-23, or 11-21 is probably ideal. Maybe 12-23. If you live some place hilly, you'll want something else.

11-23 9 speed with a 50/39 semi-compact...means I just changed my 53 for a 50. I usually always raced on this gearing regardless of the race but for races like Streaked Mtn, Putney, Fitchburg, Killington, Smugglers Notch, etc. I would use an 11 or 12-25.

52-39 with a 12-25 cassette. 39-25 is low enough since it is pretty flat by me and 52-12 gives enough top end not to spin out.

I'm going to have to spend some time in my 52x12 to see if I'm actually spinning out or not (descending). I'm pretty hilly here, so maybe by dropping the triple, I should go all the way up to a 28 in the back? Hmmm...why is it that NONE of my decisions regarding my training/racing can ever be EASY??!

53x39, with either a 11-21 or an 11-23 in the back. I run a 46x39 and a 11-25 for cross. They get me up even the steepest hills around here.

Begin the accusations about how I'm a liar.

12-27. I need all of it. Why does it matter what I use?

I've got 11-23, 11-25, 12-25, and 12-27 depending on need.

12-25 on a 53/39 for racing and training. I will be putting a compact crank on though for longer climbing training rides. I'd like to be able to do some 10,000+ ft rides without hurting my knees too much.

I use a custom cassette that's just 11s all the way across. I filed a tooth off one of them, so I've got a 10.

i use a custom cassette that's just 11s all the way across. I filed a tooth off one of them, so i've got a 10.

lol. :)

11-28 8-speed, because I can get up most of the hills with the 42 little ring, gonna get the 39T little ring on there soon and will climb all the hills with ease

13-25 7-speed, because that was on the wheelset that came with the bike. They're sewups, so only for special occasions.

The one that fits in my player. I think the other ones are called 8 tracks.

I use a custom cassette that's just 11s all the way across. I filed a tooth off one of them, so I've got a 10.


Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner.

I've got 11-23, 11-26, 12-25, and 12-27 depending on need.

This is me on my road bike. I use the 11-23 for crits and the 12-27 is on my 'climbing' wheels. I've got some really steep hills that I train on sometimes, and I just gotta have the 27 for that (OK, the 26 would probably work, but....). The other 2 are just really good all-rounders.

I also have an 11-32 8-speed on the 'cross bike. I=Wussy.

I use a custom cassette that's just 11s all the way across. I filed a tooth off one of them, so I've got a 10.

:lol::roflmao2::lol:

After today's ride, I found that on some of the steeper descents, I am spinning out. My big ring is currently a 52, so maybe the 53 will be all I need to gain a little more on the downhill.
I think I may try a 12-28 once I make the switch next month. Some of my local hills are beasts. Thanks for the info...

You should spend some time working on spinning past your comfort zone. I think just about everyone has over 150rpm in them if they work at it, and I would think 200rpm is likely for lots of riders.

Still, nothing wrong with a 53-11. It helps me keep the power up on steady SST rides even when descending some steeper hills.

I used to have trouble with 130. hit 198 rpm today. If I can then anyone can learn to spin fast.

I used to have trouble with 130. hit 198 rpm today. If I can then anyone can learn to spin fast.

Sometimes its nicer to not have to spin like a madman going down a huge hill. LOL

53x39-26x13
53x42x30-26x13

it was on a flat.

I used to have trouble with 130. hit 198 rpm today. If I can then anyone can learn to spin fast.

that's mental...Im a masher

70 rpm is normal +/-

it's bupkus compared to a trackie.

Back in one of my many ill-informed phases, I worked on extremes in cadences. Climbing in a 53x13 and descending in a 39x23. I'd gotten into the 260rpm range on a regular basis.

12-25, 11-25 or 11-23... Have all of them and it doesn't make much difference in FL.

I prefer not to use the 11-25 for training because of the giant leap in the middle of the cassette (don't know what the #'s are). One gear is too low, the other too high when riding in the ~23mph range.

I've only got one cassette, which means it's a 12-25. Pretty much ideal for a wimpy amateur in middle TN (or in western MA). Though I would probably be using the same cassette in east TN, too.

I've got mavic carbones as my fun wheelset, so I have 11-23 on my those wheels for faster group rides and races. I keep an 11-26 on my training wheels and for the big hills.

I have a compact, 50-34. I actually raced the entire season with the 11-26 and training wheels (before I got the carbones) because I was too lazy to change it.

50x42
12-23

If I was doing a TT, I'd throw on an 11, otherwise I can race anything with my "little" 50x12 and still rarely have to use it.

I alwyas run a 12-23 in the back and a 53-39 up front. I live in FL though, so don't need much else. I'm not a big cadence weenie either, I pedal with what is comfortable...most of the time right around 87-93rpm...sometimes less on climbs (more like short sprints here in FL though).

I train all winter on a SRAM 11-28, and use the whole range. The 28 is great when you've been climbing for 50 minutes and run into a nice 20% wall, and having a 53-11 is usefull for 20 minute descents. But unless you too live in he rocky mtns, you probably won't need such a span.

I tend to race crits on an 11-23, and hilly RRs with an 11-26.

I'm currently running 50x34 front and 12-25 rear. For races I switch out to my 11-23.

12-25, 11-25 or 11-23... Have all of them and it doesn't make much difference in FL.

I prefer not to use the 11-25 for training because of the giant leap in the middle of the cassette (don't know what the #'s are). One gear is too low, the other too high when riding in the ~23mph range.

Its called the 18. One of the most important cogs to have for racing. The whole idea in racing is to have the closest gears possible for the event. In a flat crit, its a straight block, one tooth difference between cogs.

12-25 for racing/training - might go to 26/27 for hilly races for next year though, sometimes the 39x25 just isn't enough for me sometimes..

I run a 53/39 up front, and I currently have a 11-23 in the rear. I'm grabbing a 11-26 for my new bike though, to make it a little more climbing friendly. I like having the 11 for fast descents and sprints.

11/26 on my road bike and 11/23 on the tt bike