Cassette Question (9)

Triathlon Forum
1

I need to get a cassette for a new set of training wheels I ordered and I’m hoping someone can tell me the performance difference between an 11-34, 12-23 and 11-28 (9 speed). My race wheels have an 11-23 and the cassettes I’m looking at are Nashbar brand and look to be a pretty good deal. I would think the obvious choice to keep it close to my 11-23 would be the 12-23 but I’m not sure and that is where I could use some help. Am I correct to assume the primary difference in a 23 cog and a 34 cog is that the 34 would be preferred for someone doing some pretty a lot more hills and needs but is there much of a difference between and 11 and a 12.

2

11-34 is for a mountain bike.

you would need a whole new rear derailleur because a short-cage rear derailleur (standard on any road bike or tri bike) is not able to extend itself far enough to accommodate the 34 tooth cog.

the difference between an 11-23 and 12-23 in 9sp configuration is that whereas the 12-23 does not have the 11 tooth cog, it does have a 16-tooth cog.

11-23 gearing = 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23
12-23 gearing = 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23

personally, i make love to the 16 tooth cog quite frequently and for that reason have always ridden with 12-21 or 12-23 casettes on my 9 speed bikes.

3

I have a lightly used Ultegra 11-23 I’ll sell you for $25 shipped…let me know if your interested.

4

A standard short-cage derailleur (the ones on most road bikes) will take up to a 27 cog in the back. The larger the range you get, the greater the change in pedalling effort with each shift (so a closer range is better as long as you have the hi/lo gears you need). Skip the 11, that’s for pro sprinters IMO. The 23 should be fine for most topography. Out here in the Bay Area I run with a 25 (pros run a 21 or 23 usually) due to the hills (5+ mile climbs averaging 7%, with some 11-12% sections).

5

I have a lightly used Ultegra 11-23 I’ll sell you for $25 shipped…let me know if your interested.
Interested, I just sent you a PM
.

6

Skip the 11, that’s for pro sprinters IMO.

Or those with compact cranks.