I’m trying to figure out which set would be better for hills. Sorry I don’t have power but on a 5-6* 1500m slope I’m down to 55 rpm & 15km/h on one my climbs. My bike weighs about 21lbs, I’m 185 and I have an 11/23 with a 50/34 compact chain ring. I have a feeling an 11-28 is the better choice but I’m not exactly close to an LBS and I’ve made enough ‘extra’ purchases that I’m getting gun shy. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
On the steepest climbs you do, with your current cassette, are you thinking “oh god I wish I had just ONE more easier gear” or are you thinking “OH GOD I NEED FIVE MORE EASIER GEARS!”
If the former, 11-25, if the latter, 11-28
also some people who are particular about cadence are bothered by 11-28 because there is a bigger gap between some of the gears.
Since you already have a compact I would be inclined to go with an 11-25, which might still leave you wanting an easier gear, but you should get stronger soon and the problem will resolve!
I only use 11-28 on epic hill climbs. I use my 11-25 a lot more often. It depends on if you really use all your gears a lot. If not, then 11-28 will be fine. If you use all gears a lot then 11-25 is better.
11-28 is fine for you.
I have a good number of hills where I live so do a decent amount of climbing on all my rides and I have an 11-28. I don’t plan on switching to an 11-25, however there is a noticeable gap between some of the gears that I could see being useful on flatter hills and roads. I do not have a compact crank though either.
I have 11-28 on my road bike and don’t like the gap between gears.
Jack can you…or anyone list the tooth numbers in 11-25 and 11-28? I’m sure I could search it out, but thought some folks might know off the top of their head 
I have 11-28 on my road bike and don’t like the gap between gears.
Jack can you…or anyone list the tooth numbers in 11-25 and 11-28? I’m sure I could search it out, but thought some folks might know off the top of their head
http://sheldonbrown.com/k10.shtml
don’t rule out an 11/26 or 11/27. Big difference between 11/25 and 11/28. A 34/28 should be sufficient for just about any climb, especially if you are looking to spin on the ascent.
You might consider a SRAM 11-26. 9 of the cogs are exactly the same as the SRAM 11-25, but they swap a 26 for the 25.
http://www.sram.com/sram/road/products/sram-pg-1070-cassette
edit: If you don’t live in an area where you get very strong tailwinds, you might consider something like a 12-26. If you live in an area with a lot of wind, you could probably spin out a 50-12 too easy and having the 11 would be beneficial.
If you’re down to 55 rpm, I’d get the the 11-28. I like the spacing better on the Sram cassettes when getting bigger cogs.
Sram:
11-25: 11,12,13,14,15,16,17,19,21,23,25
11-28: 11,12,13,14,15,16,17,19,22,25,28
Shimano:
11-25: 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25
11-28: 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-28
Is it possible to swap an individual cog? Say add a 16 and take out the 28?
I have the opposite problem of the OP. Running a compact front and 11-28. Not enough gear in some cases…even on the steep stuff. I’d probably keep the 28 around for those days in the 15% + grades.
get 11-28 and keep it simple keep it stupid
you will not notice any gears missing
you will not spin out
most of the info here is madly confusing and you should disregard it
.
If you’re down to 55 rpm, I’d get the the 11-28. I like the spacing better on the Sram cassettes when getting bigger cogs.
Sram:
11-25: 11,12,13,14,15,16,17,19,21,23,25
11-28: 11,12,13,14,15,16,17,19,22,25,28
Shimano:
11-25: 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25
11-28: 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-28I like the Sram ratios better too, but the examples cited are 11 speeds.
I like the Sram ratios better too, but the examples cited are 11 speeds.
Ack! Good catch. I was wondering where the 12-27 option went.
My recommendation stands… Sram 11-28.
10 Speed Sram Cassettes:
11-23: 11-12-13-14-15-16 -17-19-21-23
11-25: 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25
11-26: 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23 -26
11-28: 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-22-25-28
11-32: 11-12-13-15-17-19-22-25-28-32
12-25: 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25
12-26: 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-26
12-27: 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-24-27
12-28: 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-22-25-28
12-32: 12-13-14-15-17-19-22-25-28-32
also some people who are particular about cadence are bothered by 11-28 because there is a bigger gap between some of the gears.
I ran a standard with the 11-28 and I hated it due to this issue, when I was in the middle/top of my cassette I was either at 98-100rpm or down to 84-86rpm instead of my preferred 92-94. The gaps on the 11-28 were not good for me, that said I did love that bailout gear when I needed it!!!
also some people who are particular about cadence are bothered by 11-28 because there is a bigger gap between some of the gears.
I ran a standard with the 11-28 and I hated it due to this issue, when I was in the middle/top of my cassette I was either at 98-100rpm or down to 84-86rpm instead of my preferred 92-94. The gaps on the 11-28 were not good for me, that said I did love that bailout gear when I needed it!!!
When comparing the 11-25 and the 11-28, this only affects the spacing between the last 3 cogs for Shimano and the last 4 for Sram. The Shimano 11-28 is setup to have more of a “bail out gear” while the Sram has more even gaps across cogs. So if tighter spacing were a concern, then Shimano might be the way to go if a 28 is needed. One could also look at getting a 12 instead of an 11.
11-26: 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23 -26
11-28: 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-22-25-28
If those are really the gears they use, that is a good progression.
When comparing the 11-25 and the 11-28, this only affects the spacing between the last 3 cogs for Shimano and the last 4 for Sram. The Shimano 11-28 is setup to have more of a “bail out gear” while the Sram has more even gaps across cogs. So if tighter spacing were a concern, then Shimano might be the way to go if a 28 is needed. One could also look at getting a 12 instead of an 11.
That was a consideration but my final solution was the SRAM 11-25 with a mid compact, I ride a lot of hills here in Colorado so the mid compact just made sense! As much as I wanted the Standard for cool factor, I just dont put down the power thats needed!!!
I’m down to 55 rpm & 15km/h on one my climbs. My bike weighs about 21lbs, I’m 185 and I have an 11/23 with a 50/34…
Your numbers don’t add up. 15 km/hr is 9.3 mph. If you are in the 34/23 going 9.3 mph then your cadence is 81 rpm… not 55. If your cadence is 55, then your speed would be 6.3 mph or 10.1 km/hr.
interesting - took the data off Garmin Connect, maybe I didn’t match it very well? I know I have to stand up to carry the climb. I’ll try to match the data on TP and the map instead of using the graphs.
or better yet I’ll just use Garmins Player