Thanks bidaci, for the comment on 48x11. A lot of people here on the hybrid forum feel they need taller gears, and I don't understand why. I know my legs are not as strong as many, and I depend on spinning higher rpms to maintain speed, but I can't spin out 48x11 on flat ground, let alone sustain it.

I ride the middle ring most of the time, having a 11 tooth cog allows me to go faster without shifting the front chainring, so I like having it.

USAF, do you use the lowest gears now? Would you be willing to give them up for a closer spaced cogset? If you are riding mostly in the big ring, the 12-25 bidaci recommends will give you closer spaced gears than a 11-26, which is good. For me, I'd get a 8spd 11x28. I don't think switching to 9 speed is really worth the money.