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Old 08-02-11, 11:33 PM
  #19  
haaseg
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Southern California
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Bikes: 2010 FUJI SL-1 Comp

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Originally Posted by hhnngg1
We're talking speed difference.
You're talking about some fantasy measurement where you have the absolute perfect rider doing things absolutely perfectly with perfect form in a perfect environment.

My personal experience is that climbing hills with a 10 gear cassette is much smoother and much easier than with an 8 gear cassette, which means I can climb faster, climb smoother with less jarring to the system, and climb more efficiently. It equates to less suffering and more energy for the rest of the ride. Just coasting down hill, I don't have that all perfect form, and I can get about 3-4 mph faster if I'm in the drops vs on the hoods. Which... when going between 30 and 35 miles an hour is what... 10%?

So taking into consideration the abilities of your average cyclist trying to decide between entry level and enthusiast level, I'm going to say it's a much bigger difference.
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