I'm still researching whether to go with a 12-27 cassette or a 26t inner chainring. I talked with my lbs guy the other day and he didn't think the chainring change was good because of the potential shifting problems on the front derailleur. I'm thinking I don't want to sacrifice the closer shifting changes that the 12-25 offers(we're still talking Ultegra 9sp)and I don't go to the 30t small ring I have now unless I'm climbing longer hills so back and forth between the middle and small doesn't happen often.The 26t chainring would give me closer to 1/1 ratio,26/25 than the 30/27 I would get if I changed the cassette. I realize I could go to a cassette with a 30, 32, or 34 but don't want to mess with my rear derailleur.
I'm looking for more feedback from the many experienced riders here. I'm under no illusions that any of the possibilities will be a magic pill to keep me from having to do the work to get better, just looking for as much help as possible. We've got some long steep climbs around here.