ColaJacket

Wickwerks 53/34

Tell us how it works.

GH

superdex

Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Gear Calculator

floridamtb

Great job on the 6 gap, I wanted to do it but crashed and broke my wrist in June and only got cleared to ride on Sept 14th. Oddly enough though my hand surgeon from Weston went and rode. Hopefully next year, and when I do I'll throw my "climbing cassette" back on. I use an 11-28 when I go to Virginia to do some real climbing. Here in Lauderdale my small ring never sees any action and I run an 11-23 with the 50/34 crank. I've considered changing the crank but really my only reason to do so is my OCD since it's the only non Ultegra component I have on my bike.

OldTryGuy

Make sure you stay vertical on the bike, much easier on the body.

Riding up Hogpen, there were times I wished I had a 34/50. I'm all set for another assault next year, big difference being I will be prepared and plan to cut my time substantially.

BTW, November 15th is the Horrible Hundred in Clermont, FL. I'm registered for it and being only 2.5 hours from my home it's going to be a sweet outing. You could make this ride since you're back on the bike and without those extra traveling hours needed for Ga. the trip would be a piece of cake.

series1811

I ride a 52/36 and 11/28. It is more than adequate for steep ascents. If your legs are as strong as you think, I would go for the 52/36 and 11/28 combo. Go ahead and put on a new chain if your current chain hasn't been replaced for a while. If the cassette has any issues, it will let you know.

redlude97

What makes you think you need a 52x11?

series1811

That's kind of a snarky question. I didn't know I have to justify my personal preferences to you. I find 52/11 very useful when conditions allow me to go 30+ mph.

MikeyBoyAz

If you're close enough to tell, you're too close!

redlude97

It wasn't meant to be. Most people other than pros who run a 52/53 have 12t small cogs. A 52x12 lets you get to 41mph@120rpm. A 52X11 is good for 45mph. At both of those speeds you're better off in an aero tuck. A 12x27/28/30 would be a better use of your available gearing

fietsbob

11:50 in a road or cross bike , is a 127" gear .

if you feel a need for more ? (pedaling down mountains) buy 2 new chainrings for the crank with the 50 & 34t on it.

series1811

LOL, I wish I could spin at 120 rpm. If I hit 100 I am doing great. Like I said, the 52x11 is useful. If it were only used by pros/cat 1's, I doubt we would see it as an OEM spec on so many newer models out there. For what it's worth, I ride in a lot of canyons. I find myself using the 52x11 on the descents where the grade starts to level out and I want to maintain 35+ mph. On a 1-2% downhill, the tuck isn't going to help me much, and I find I can apply power smoother on a descent with a slower cadence than with a very high cadence. I like having it.

PhotoJoe 

I'd suggest you go climb GMR (Glendora Mountain Road) to Mt. Baldy. Once you get to the village, have a cinnamon roll and the restaurant, and contemplate if that's about the level of climbing you enjoy doing. If you want more, continue on to the ski lifts. Once you decide the level of climbing you want to do, then determine if your current gearing works for you or if it's time to make a change. For me, I'm running a compact with 12-28. I need every bit of that to do the village. I'm actually going to change to a 12-30, but I'm 232 lbs. and lack the leg strength to be a great climber. I'd rather spin more.

shoota 

Another vote for 52/36 11/28. One thing that i like that i havent seen mentioned is riding flats in the 36 keeps the chain mid-cog in the back. With a 34 i was constantly reaching the high end of the cassette and it was annoying.

UnfilteredDregs

I'm not a pro/ CAT 1, I can spin at 100 quite well, I tuck effectively and yeah, I agree...it's nice having a big ring for extended downhill.

allen254

thank you, i think i will, i have been riding the original oval crank for a while and think i should upgrade to a nice shimano crank, i feel like the oval cranks bend when i put power to them . i think i will replace both cassette and chain i think i will get the 52/36...11/28

Lazyass

Where did you come up with that?

series1811

Can't go wrong with that. I think you will find it covers all of your needs nicely.

andr0id

We're talking about a current generation 11 speed Ultegra crankset, so most of us are assuming that is going to be used in an 11 speed Shimano drive chain. You're going to have hard time finding an 11 speed Shimano road cassette that starts with a 12 or 13. They pretty much all start with 11.

colnago62

Shimano has a 12-25 and a 12-28 that are easily found in line.

andr0id

Yeah, I noticed that those are there now.
They've also photo shopped in a 14-28 there at the bottom now too.
https://si.shimano.com/php/download.p...6800-3602C.pdf

GuitarBob

Can you point me to a 12-28 that's not Dura-Ace? I can't find one.

colnago62

Ultegra has a 12-30, which is close. The ultegra and 105 can accept larger cassettes, which may be why there isn't 12-28 option.

redlude97

Everyone nowadays wants an 11T even if they don't need one. Campy still has quite a few options that start with a 12T

GuitarBob

I think you're wrong about the existence of a 12-30 too, I don't see it for sale anywhere. If you do, please point it out.

Cassettes

colnago62

Check out Excel Sports, Boulder. They have an 11-32, on sale even. Oh, I see, I wrote 12 instead of 11.

The orginal statement was that it would be hard to find a 12-28 Shimano cassette. It in fact is not. Why don't you buy the Dura Ace cassette? It is the size you wanted, right?