sultanofsuede

i'm probably going to get a record group set on my next bike and noticed that i can get a 32 or a 34 on my rear cassette. i'm getting older and leaning towards the 34, but wondered if anyone has any experience with this kind of configuration. is it too much? should i just get a mountain bike?

Iride01

Only you can say if that is too low a ratio. Assuming the front chainwheels will be the same size as what's on your current bike, then ask yourself how often you need what ever is your lowest ratio right now. For me, cassettes are a fairly inexpensive thing to change out. I wouldn't sweat too much about it.

Barrettscv 

I'm running three 2x11 drivetrains, a 50 & 34 with a 11-32, a 50 & 36 with a 11-28 and I have a gravel bike with 46 & 33 with a 11-36.

Each has it's place, but the 50 & 34 with a 11-32 does everything very well.

If you have long climbs in the 8-20% range, the 50 & 34 with a 11-32 is sufficient. The 11-34 is of minor improvement.

Don't get a mountain bike unless you plan to be off-pavement 90% of the time.

raisinberry777

I'm pretty sure the only two choices on Campag 12 speed are 11-29 and 11-32.

tony2v

Yup, https://www.campagnolo.com/WW/en/Com...ockets_12speed

Racing Dan

32 or 34 does not matter much except unless you are riding the ragged edge, but Im betting, without looking, the 12s 32 and 12s 34 are somewhat different in the mid range and high end. At least in Shimano 11s, the 11-32 are more different from the 11-34 that the 2t difference seem to suggest. I wasnt aware campy had a 12s 11-34?

Shimano 11s 32t vs 34t

Dave Mayer

I have a great new (old stock) road bike in which the gearing was too high. So I unwound the pins that held the 8-speed Shimano cassette together and replaced the 26 (low) tooth cog with a 32 that I binned from my local Co-op. I suppose I could have selected a 34: they had those as well.

​​​​​​​I have used bikes with cassettes with 24-34 single cog jumps. It works a lot better than you think it should, and the single large-cog bail-out gear saves having to convert to a triple crankset.

At the same time I replaced the useless 11 and 12 tooth cogs with a more useful 13 smallest. This all cost a buck. The shifting is great.

I've been running Campagnolo Ergopower since Day 1. I have multiple Campy-equipped road bikes. Great stuff.

Nevertheless, the Shimano 600 STI setup on my new (old) bike produces shifting as crisp and accurate as any any mechanical derailleur-based system I've ever used.

sultanofsuede

you guys are right - biggest cog is 32. (not sure why i was thinking 34).
and the mt. bike thing was kind of a joke (at my own expense) that maybe a 32 is just gigantic and i should be ashamed to put it on a road bike (no?).
even so, i believe its probably a good thing for me (and my age). could use a little help every now and then on some of the bigger hills i encounter.

mgopack42 

Hey the pros aren't ashamed of using lower gearing to take on the big climbs. why should we be. I looked at upgrading my chorus 11 speed to record 12 speed, and i decided going from a 29 to a 32 was not worth the $$. i would have been doing it for the "first kid on the block with a new toy" syndrome. if nothing else my 50+ years on this earth have taught me is that no one cares, and it doesn't make that big a difference. I always wind up with buyers remorse after spending big. so, i started training in earnest to make the big climbs more palatable and do-able. YMMV

Caliwild

I went from 29 to 32 Campy and notice a SLIGHT improvement when climbing. Maybe I just don't climb steep enough hills!

Lemond1985

A two-tooth difference, in your lowest climbing gear, pales in comparison to how you're feeling on that particular day. I would say there's no appreciable difference.

colnago62

fietsbob 

They've had a 29 for years , How about a triple crank... 30 instead of the compact double

DaveSSS

I climb hills steep enough that a 34/32 ratio is a must. It's all I can do to keep my cadence in the low to mid 60's, on some of the climbs. Lower cadence than that means you really need a larger sprocket. On really short climbs, I might ride standing in a 34/23 or 34/25, but as soon as I sit, it's past the 28 to the 32. I use a 12-32 11 speed Centaur cassette. The biggest three are 25-28-32. That's the same as 12 speed. I tried an 11-29 cassette briefly, but the 29 just didn't do it.

Psimet2001 

Called Campagnolo NA today looking for some old repair parts. Couldn't get an answer. left a message. Got a call back, "Sorry - it's nuts. Everyone left to go to NAHBS so I'm the only one let and we just announced 12 spd EPS. It's been crazy."