Originally Posted by
caloso
I put a 45t chainring on my son's bike. 45x12 with a 23mm tire is right under the limit, and it's much easier and cheaper to find a 12-25 or 12-27 cassette than a "junior specific" 14-25.
Somehow I thought you were a junior - or a recent one.
2016 (not 2015) the Shimano Ultegra 14-something (cheap) or a RECON alloy (<$200) are the way to go with a standard 52T front ring and offer future options. Chain tension matters and much over U14 a 45 is a minor issue - at least for males.