Gearing Question
I'm running a Specialized Roubaix with a mix of Red and Force components. My chainrings are 50/34, my cassette is 11-28 (Ultegra I think). Living in Vermont I've been struggling with the Cat 4 and steeper climbs, I could really use one or two easier gears. I know, 34-28 isn't bad, but being a spinner, I just can't spin it fast enough, so I end up more like Jan Ulrich and have to pound the gears to get up our gap rides, resorting to switchbacking using the whole road at times. I was wondering if I can go to an 11-32 cassette and keep my Red rear and front Force derailiers, or can I go down to a 30 small chainring, (but then do I need to go down to a 48 big chainring)? I have the Pro model S-Works carbon crank, so I don't even know if going down to smaller chainrings is an option which is why I thought the cassette option might be the better way to go..