help! need better gearing
 

I have a 11-23T Ultegra 6600 cassette and a 53/39T FSA Carbon crank. The bike is geared higher than I'd like. What's the best, most cost effective solution?

Replace the cassette? If so, what combination cogs would you suggest?
Replace the 53T and/or 39T chain rings? If so, what do I need to look for?
Buy a compact crankset? (doubtful....)


I live in Ohio and ride half "hills" and half flats where wind is an issue. Definitely don't need mountain climbing setup, but do need some lower gearing.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Get a 12-27 Ultegra cassette. Your FSA crankset may already be compact (110 BCD) in which case you can install smaller chainrings, but personally I'd swap out the cassette first.

The cheapest option is to replace the cassette, I'd suggest playing around with Sheldon Brown's Gear Calculator to try and get a better idea of what type of range you need and the different ratios you'd get with a wider cassette

Ultegra 12-27. It's unlikely that you need the 11t cog.

Smallest you can go is 38t (which may not work on all 130mm BCD cranks). That's not much different from a 39t.
If the 39x27 isn't low enough for you and your riding, it's the best option.

Only you can answer this question.

How much lower do you need? If you are close with the current, then just get a new cassette. 12/25 would give you one gear lower then you have and 12/27 would give you 2 more gears.

If you need a lot more, then get a compact, but this is going to be a more expensive change.

Thanks all! Looks like a 12-27 or 12-25 cassette is in my future. I obviously need a 10 speed, but what kind of compatibility issues might I run into? Need to stay with Shimano?

Any Shimano spacing 10sp cassette will work, unless you have a rare 10sp-only freehub body (mostly on Dura-Ace wheels). Then SRam cassettes won't fit, as their 10sp cassettes fit 9sp splines.

Very good. Thanks for all your help.