Help needed

fto-si

I am seriously considering treating myself to a new bike from Ribble using their bike builder, i am not sure when it comes to selecting cassettes and chain sets as to which ones are the best for me.
My riding ranges from a 9 mile each way commute to work to 100 mile weekend rides and i am looking at doing LeJog next year. I live in Suffolk so there are no real hills to climb on my rides.
Can someone explain to me why you would choose one size over another?

Doobz

hey FTO

Ribble is a nice company as I have just had a bike built there and everything does what its meant to etc.. build quality is not the best but if you want decent equipment at a decent price then you cant go wrong..

I got an Ultegra Double with a 53/39 chainset and a 13-25 Cassette. I dont tend to use the bigger 53 ring much at the moment as my legs are still not as strong as they should be -

The inner 39 Ring gets used alot so I can keep my cadence up and I seem to manage 16 - 18MPH on most rides -

I am going to replace the 13-25 cassette for a 16-27 because alot of my rides involve some big hills and I find I struggle just slightly up the ones with a very steep gradient so hopefully 16-27 cassette will make a slight difference..

hope this helps
adios
Doobz

Bronzie

Depends on your level of fitness and the terrain you ride over. I tend to use a 52/39 chainset and 12-23 cassette most of the time - I'll change the cassette for a 12-27 for a really hilly ride (Wales, Peak District) and even change the chainset for a 50/34 compact for climbing in the Alps etc. I probably ride 150 miles a week on average at lower end of club level cycling.

I would think a 39x26 bottom gear is probably enough to get you around Suffolk (52/39 with 12/26 cassette).