Originally Posted by
MrWasabi
One of the other reasons was that maybe I could go with some different gearing at the same time. I'm here in Fl with mostly paved/MUP riding 85%/15% hard pack trails. I don't know how much difference I can make with just the cassette but maybe some chain ring changes up front too? I'm currently at 11-32D 9 speed in the rear and 48/36/26 up front. I'd like a little more speed for the pavement.
Your low gear seems excessively low for an area as flat as Florida. It's almost as low as what loaded tourists in hilly country would have.
You could take the opportunity to buy a much tighter geared cassette that would give you smaller gaps in the interior gears. An 11x23 or 11x25 should still give a plenty low low gear and a better gear progression.
BTW, your current 48x11 high gear is 118 gear-inches with 700c wheels or 113 gear-inches with 26" wheels. Either is good for over 30 mph at a cadence of 90 rpm. Unless you are a VERY strong rider this should be plenty.