Jakey

I need taller gears for my rain bike. I currently have a 50-40-30 triple with a 13-26 rear cassette. Problem is I have no top end... I'm going to get a different cassette, I just don't know which way to go....its probably better to be more conservative than to get the 11 and never use it... Hmm....

patentcad

Your top end problem is all wrapped up in that 50 tooth big ring. You need a 53 for sure. 53-40-30 makes MUCH more sense to me. Even a 54 as long as you have that 40 and 30 to fall back on. Why not?

Jakey

Well from what I understand if I go any bigger I can't use the short cage derailer I have... and I really don't need huge gears that much on this bike.... it will also be for my other bike on flatter rides with a 53/39

worker4youth

You are complaining about 50x13 not being big enough? How fast are you going? At 35mph, if you have 700c wheels, you should be at 110rpm. That should be a comfortable cadence at that speed. Are you normally going faster than 35mph?

Jakey

Feels alot higher than 110 to maintain anything over about 28mph. Which in MOST cases is fine... but downhill or pulling in a paceline... I want more. I'm a little more of a masher than a spinner... but I think 11 might overdo it...lol

AnthonyG

A 12 tooth rear cog should be fine. 50 / 13 x 700-23c gives you 101 gear inches. 50 / 12 x 700-23c gives you 110 gear inches. 50 / 11 x 700-23c gives you 120 gear inches.

You have to watch the big jumps in gears at the top end.

Regards, Anthony

TJHOO

Went through similar process buliding new bike recently with 50/34 chain rings. Decided to have 2 rear wheel/cassette combos primarily to have immediate backup, but also for variety. Went w/ 11-23 and 12-25. Have not ridden it yet, bike build just completed.

https://sheldonbrown.com/gears/
Assuming 700x23 tires, 172.5 cranks

11-23: 34-119 gear inch range
12-25: 31-109 gear inch range

Or, look at IRD brand cassettes: https://www.interlocracing.com/cassettes.html

IRD 11-28: 28-119 gear inch range

Anybody out there usig IRD cassettes? I thought about it, but did not want to have to switch out the chain for the 28 vs 23 tooth cassette. Hopefully 11-23 and 12-25 will be able to accept same chain in real riding conditions.

You'd have to look at Shimano or Campy web sites to see what length rear derailleur you'd need for a given cassette.

Good luck w/ your decision

my58vw

I like the IRD 11-28... I may just have to try it.

ggg300

11-23

TheKillerPenguin

How often do you use your 30-26 granny?

chuck731

12-25

travis200

On my rain bike I run a 48/38 with a 12/26 cassette and I have used it in a crit pulling the group at 30+ mph with no problems. Sounds like you need a 12 tooth cassette.

Jakey

Very rarely... Only if I've blown myself up because I thought the top of the climb was around that last corner...but alas...it wasn't. lol

biker7

+1
I ride a 51-42-30 w/13-26 and have all the top end I need. Jakey if you need more then 50-13 on flat land, you don't need a triple buddy. Just pick up a Campy Veloce 53-39 double on e-bay...I just sold a new one. The are listed all the time for around $50...cheaper then even some cassettes.
George

merlinextraligh

You really don't need the 11, even with a 50 front chain ring, so the issue becomes whether you need the 25? If the hills you ride, and your style and fitness, make the 25 useful get the 12-25. If you won't need the 25, then get the 11-23, not because you need the 11, but because it will be a tad lighter.

nitropowered

He's got a triple so you really dont need a 25. You can go with a 23 and be fine.

I've got a standard double and considered getting a 11-23 so I have the 11 in sprints but I decided against that because I'd need the 25 for the massive hills in my area.

merlinextraligh

No one, at least outside the pro peleton, "needs" an 11 for a sprint. 53x12 at 120rpm is over 42 mph, and 53x11 is over 46mph, and 120 rpm is not particularly high cadence for a sprint. So if you're doing 42mph in your 12, you'll just need to up the cadence a tad.

USAZorro

Not with his 50 up front he wouldn't - that's a little under 40 using your figures (but that would be plenty fast enough for me).

OP, you just need to do the math and work out the ratios. Clearly the trade off would be either flying down hills vs having a low gear for steep climbs. Only you know the answer.

shokhead

Thats what i have and never use the 12 or the 25.

timmhaan

since you have a triple, i would recommend a 11-23. you'll have plenty of gear for the type of riding you're doing.

timmhaan

depends - even cat 5 races get pretty fast depending on the course. we have a downhill section on our course which sees speeds of 40+ without much effort. if you wanted to break away here, you'd probably need the 11 so you could bump the speed up to the mid 40's or higher. i've used my 53x11 once or twice last racing season and i'm not particulary good. granted it's uncommon, but i'd still like to have the option.

SteveE

Normally I'd say go with the 11-23 but you did say that this was for your rain bike. In bad weather conditions will the 50x11 give you that much over the 50x12? Think of it as a means to improve your leg speed in a sprint.

galen_52657

+ 1

And I would venture to guess that lots of pros are still sprinting in a 12