Originally Posted by redlude97

53x11 is only ~90rpm @35mph. Doesn't seem necessary at all. In fact if you look at the 2nd place on the list, they don't hit more than 120rpm and average ~105rpm which is the equivalent of only a 50x15 or 53x16. They never touch the end of their cassette whether it was a 11 or 12. I don't doubt that you like your 53x11, and it seems plenty of people do, but it really only became common in the last ~5 years. 53x12 has been plenty for most racers for decades