Just downloaded the spec sheet for the Shimano Ultegra CS-6700 cassettes. Don't remember seeing it before, but this sheet shows a 12-30T cluster. Cogs are 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-27-30. Is this something new? None of the normal on-line vendors show it as being available. Might be nice to have if the current rear derailleurs will handle it, which the spec sheet seems to imply. (p.s. I see that Tiagra has a 12-30T, but Ultegra would be nice.)

Dura-Ace is now available in 11-28T, but at almost three times the cost, I run with Ultegra clusters.

Tech doc here: EV-CS-6700-2924B

I'd love to see them offer a 12-30T. I'd swap out my 12-27 for one, if my 105 RD can handle it.

I have an 11-28 Ultegra 6700 cassette on my wheel now

They show the 11-28T Ultegra 6700 on the Tech Doc that volosong provide a link to.

About a third of the way down the page, this press release announces 12-30 cassettes and RDs in the Ultegra, 105, and Tiagra lines. As well as 12-32t in 105 and Tiagra.

https://www.bikerumor.com/2012/03/01/...2-alfine-more/

The Tiagra ten speed 12-30 has been out since the middle of last year.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ghlight=Tiagra

The CS-6700 in the tech doc is more recent. This one looks lighter than the Tiagra, which at 329 grams, is on the heavy side.

The Tiagra has a riveted 14-30 cluster. The CS-6700 only rivets the 24, 27 & 30 cogs.

FWIW, the Tiagra 12-30 cassette works perfectly with my 2011 Ultegra 6700 RD. It would be temping to try the 12-32.

Looks like Shimano was feeling the heat from SRAM's wide range Apex and Rival options. BTW, I read somewhere that SRAM will be offering mid cage RDs and wider range cassettes in the Force and Red levels for 2013 also.

A SRAM cassette will also work for you and I believe they are cheaper than a DA but more expensive than an Ultegra. However 28 is as high as they go right now.

This is good news. I'm currently running an Ultegra 12-28, that I converted from an 11-28 by nixing the 11 and adding the 16. When the Ultegra 12-30 is available, I'll get one for the compact bike and dump my triple bike as it will no longer be needed. Anybody want to buy a Madone 4.5 with full Ultegra? Sounds like Shimano is trying to capture some of the Apex market share; or cater to us baby boomers who are not as strong as we used to be 30 years ago.

This topic causes me to think that I should know more about gearing. I'm running the standard 52X39 crankset and (I think) a 14X25 9 sp. Ultegra cassette.

Shimano makes a 14-25 nine-speed cassette. If that is what you have, your drivetrain has a tight but narrow range.

Any problems with hills? A 39x25 could make climbing tougher than it needs to be.

Are you...young, strong or live near the beach?

14-25 would be a 'junior' cassette. Junior racers are restricted to gearing no higher than a certain value, depending on their age. The cassettes are available but are not common.

12-25 is a more typical Shimano 9sp cassette.

The switch to lower gearing isn't due to the aging rider population, it's that the pros have realized that appropriate gearing makes them faster, and we of course ape them. I no longer hear racers on the starting line berating each other for having 'wussy' low gears. I used to get that a lot when I used a 53/39 crank and a 13-24 cassette. Back then 13-21 was the norm and everyone struggled on steep hills.

I think that's exactly the cassette I have.

I'm 66, perhaps a little stronger than cyclists my age and live on a ridge in a hilly part of eastern CT. But, I make up for all that with a lousy learning curve.