Larger cogs and chainrings also wear more slowly and wear the chain more slowly than small ones (on paper, anyways - I don't know if there is a practical difference).

SRAM has a 12-28.

SRAM PG1070 10 Speed Road Cassette | Chain Reaction Cycles

I had this on my 105 until I changed to the Ultegra 12-30

I agree with most of the others. I don't use an 11 tooth freewheel on my bikes. The 12-25 (campy) or 12-27 (shimano) are my usual go to casettes.

From the other side, I really like the 11

Doesn't get a ton of use with the 50, but i really like it as it gives me a decent gear in the 36 without having to change rings.

Carry on...

I like the 50x11 because I know I don't spin like a pro when jra.

Jesus, you guys are all such wimps! I had to have a custom cassette built to run 1-11 because of my mighty guads! If I didn't have that 1 on my cassette, I'd be spinning 64000 RPM up hills!

Right. SRAM Red doesn't come in a 12-anything in 11-speed.

I think I'm about to do the same thing myself. I'm currently running a 11-28 105 5800 rear (running a 52-36 front).

I never use my 11 gear...I do not do downhill bombs and I'm too mortal to run a 52-11 any other time. Looking at the two, the lay out as such:

11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25-28

12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21-23-25

The 11-28 makes bigger jumps in the middle of the cassette...the place I spend the most time. The 12-25 adds a 16 and 18 tooth giving you a smooth, 1 tooth per shift set from 12 all the way to 19.

My only beef would be losing the 28, which I do use from time to time...Possibly I could cannibalize one and make my own...not sure though, the 105 larger gears are fused into on piece.

True.
My quibble, is that in 11-speed Shimano, almost all cassettes start with 11, so there's not as much choice for many people.
If they never use an 11 cog, there's no benefit to 11-speed if they can't find a 12x cassette.
Campy has a few more options

That is one expensive-ass cassette.

I am worth it. In all seriousness, if you click on the drop down bar for cassette options it shows a 12x28. Also, at the bottom right of the page: "Cassette ranges: 11-23, 11-25, 11-28,12-25, or 12-28."

I have 5700 10 speed and I switched to a 12-30. It's amazing for the steep climbs of the Rocky Mountains! I have never missed my 11.

Both ends of the gearing are likely to be seldom used, but occasionally useful. That being said, I'm looking for a 1x drivetrain with 10-42 and a 42-tooth chainring on my next bike with a high gear basically the same as a 50x12.

- Mark

I have compact (50/34) with 12/28 cassette. Once in a blue moon when I shifted to 50-12 combination, I swear I heard the bike chuckled at me.

I'm stuck on 9-speed. Why change? For one thing, I have zero use for a cog bigger than 12. I rarely needed or used the 54-13 I could put on my racing bike when I was 24 and at the strongest and fastest this body would ever see.

I elected to go with Campy 9-speed when I built up my current bike 8 years ago. I love the 9-speed, I have (2)12s and 13 and 14 tooth small cogs and use all of them on two different wheels. 13-23 gives my great gear choices. 14-25 the same choices less a fast downhill gear.

At the Smuggler's Notch (Cat 3-4) race 40 years ago, I should have won riding a 54-14. I didn't due to being dumb and having not pre-ridden the finish; it had nothing to do with my gear choices. That race went up, then down the backside of the 1000' Smuggler's Notch pass. 55 mph descent. The two of us driving that race were myself riding without a 13 tooth cog and a junior on a 52-15. Big gears aren't everything.

Ben

Yeah, I can't figure out why Shimano never actually made a 5700 12-30, and apparently they're not making a 12-30 for the new Tiagra 4700 either. It's only ever been a Ultegra 6700 cassette, and as others have stated in this thread, they're getting scarce.

There's a 4600 12-30, though, and pretty easy to find and cheap.

Good point, I had forgotten that one. Still mysterious as to why Shimano abandoned this cassette setup.

I think that is a safe bet!

Although Spicewood Springs Road in Austin is quite a challenge..both ways.

I want Shimano to make a 12-30 and 12-32 11speed cassette

9, actually, with a tripple chainring...nashbar sells a 9 speed ultegra cassette in 12-27. I figure 27 is close enough to 28 that I won't miss it

As my kid has to run lower gears the typical setup is 45X12 or 52X14. Bigger cogs are better. Tony Martin used them for winning world TT. They put less chain tension, less frame flex, less friction, and less wear.
There are (now) 11speed options that are every bit as good as the DA options. We use the solid 1 pcs RECON 14-27 (125g) for racing and Shimano Ultegra 14T-28 for training. With 52 front. I get most olders do not rev like kids, but a 54X13 should do for most rides (what I ride), don't you think?

I'm still stuck on 10 speed, but long ago realized I had no real need for an 11 or 12 and have been using a 13-25 cassette ever since with a 53-39 up front. I get far more use out of the 18 than I would from an 11 or 12.

I'd prolly occasionally use the 11 if I had one, but I don't need it. A nice to have. 50/34.

I went with a 45t chainring on my junior's bike. Just a lot easier (not to mention cheaper) to find a 12-25.