For those with a standard double what are you running for your cassette? I have a 12-25 but really would like to go 11-25. I lose the 16 which is nice but an 11 on top would help at times. If you live in the flatlands like me it probably makes the comparison better too.

deacon mark, It's flat where I am also and I don't think an 11T top would get too much use by me w/53-39 double. You're likely stronger than I as I seldom use my 9S' 12T. On the bike w/8S, 52-42, I do use the 13T top.

Brad

If you are maxing out your cadence then by all means get a cassette with an 11. I have a 53/39 with 12- 25 and on the couple of hills I could possibly turn more I really don't worry about pedaling, I just try to crouch lower.

12-27, hilly.

An 11t is for descending, motorpacing, or, if you are a big-time beefcake with more muscles than souplesse, sprinting.

From your description, I think that you could buy one but it would go unfouled by grease except when it's in the stand.

An 11 for flat lands? Cipo might have been able to push a 54x11 in a sprint but the average joe racer would never use an 11 on a flat sprint and you certainly won't be cruising in that gear. I live in the mountains and I don't even use an 11. If I tuck I'll go faster then spinning an 11 anyway. I can think of very few cases where an 11 is useful.

How many flatlanders actually max out 53/12? More appropriately, how many flatlanders asking about what cassette to get max out 53/12???

FWIW, I have a 12-26 on my most commonly-used wheels (PT Pro+) and a 12-28 on my lightweight wheels.

V.

I have an 11-25, and I don't think I've ever used the 11 other than to test it out. It's somewhat hilly where I live. Looking to change though. I think the 11-28 will still be better for the hills here, than 12-27.

I just had a similar thread. https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ank-vs-Compact

I advise learning to spin and keeping the 16 cog.

According to a quick check on an online calculator running a 53-12 at a cadence of 140 (where I top out) is just under 49mph (100 will get you to 35mph). How fast are you??

Note - I'm not in the 53-12 when I'm spinning out...

I use a standard 53/39 with a 12/25 for moderate climbing, 12/27 for the steep, long stuff. The 12-cog only gets used at speeds above 32 mph.

If I lived in a place like Iowa, I think I'd probably use a 13/23. For civilians, the 11-cog is for use with 50-tooth compacts.

What's your cadence in the 53-12 ? I thought so.

I ride in the flatlands and a 12 is too much for me, unless I have a 40 kph tailwind.

I'm 55, live in (flat) south Louisiana, don't race any more and use 47-41 chain rings with 13-23 on my Ciocc road bike. I've yet to spin out my 47-13, but maybe I'm just old-and-slow compared to all the (must be or wannabe) Cat 1s and Pros here.

How much better is an 11-28 vs a 12-27 for climbing w/a standard? I hear the 28 over the 27 is very minimal. And the 12-27 has the 16 which I heard is nice?